Anna Kikina | |
---|---|
Анна Кикина | |
Born |
Novosibirsk,
Russian SFSR, Soviet Union | 27 August 1984
Status | Active |
Nationality | Russian |
Occupation | Cosmonaut |
Awards | Hero of the Russian Federation |
Space career | |
Roscosmos cosmonaut | |
Current occupation | Engineer |
Time in space | 157 days, 10 hours and 1 minute |
Selection | TsPK-16 Cosmonaut Group |
Missions |
SpaceX Crew-5 ( Expedition 68) Soyuz MS-29 |
Mission insignia |
Anna Yuryevna Kikina ( Russian: Анна Юрьевна Кикина; born 27 August 1984) is a Russian engineer and cosmonaut, selected in 2012. [1] She is the only female cosmonaut currently in active service at Roscosmos. [2] In June 2020, fellow cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko said that Kikina was expected to fly on a fall 2022 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and perform a spacewalk during the mission. [3] In September 2021, RIA Novosti reported that Kikina had been assigned to the Soyuz MS-22 mission, set to launch on 21 September 2022, for a 188-day mission. [4]
In December 2021, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin announced she would fly on an "American commercial spacecraft" in September 2022, while a NASA astronaut would take her seat on Soyuz making her the first Russian cosmonaut to fly a Crew Dragon and the first Roscosmos cosmonaut to fly aboard a U.S. spacecraft since 2002. [5] In October 2022, the commercial flight launched as the SpaceX Crew-5 Crew Dragon. [6]
On 11 March 2023, the SpaceX Crew-5 returned to Earth after 157 days. [7] The flight lasted about 19 hours, and their capsule landed in the Gulf of Mexico. [8]
Kikina graduated with honors from the Novosibirsk State Academy of Water Transportation Engineering. [9] She also earned her degree in economics and management. [10]
Kikina was born in Novosibirsk. She worked as a tour guide in Altai region, as well as a swimming and paratrooper instructor. [10] She also worked as radio host for Radio Siberia. [11]
In spring 2021, toy manufacturer Mattel released a Barbie astronaut doll in Kikina’s image. [10]
Kikina is married to Alexander Serdyuk, a physical training instructor at the Cosmonaut Training Center.