News: 2007
Sergei news, articles and sightings for 2007.
January
Январь
10/1
Sergei attended the presentation of the new edition of the book Korolyov by Y.K. Golovanov; he appears in photo 41. (Location not given – looks like the Energiya Museum?)
Via Monica: Sergei and Pavel Vinogradov are to go on a skiing holiday in Austria in two weeks with Walter Hopferweiser (Sergei did this last year).
February
Февраль
5/2
Newsweek/MSNBC: “Race to the Moon”. Starts off with a none-too-flattering remark about Sergei, much to our indignation! As the article goes on, it seems that Sergei is (not surprisingly) unhappy with the chronic underfunding of his country’s manned space program, which is bad for morale. (He isn’t the only cosmonaut who is: Pavel Vinogradov lamented the current malaise in the Russian program in a candid interview with Novosti Kosmonavtiki (in Russian); summarized in “Death throes and grand delusions” at The Space Review).
For a space hero, Sergey Krikalev is something of a grump. Krikalev holds the world’s record for time spent in outer space – he has logged an incredible 803 days, including time on Russia’s Mir space station back in the 1980s, when the International Space Station was still a distant dream. Between flights, Krikalev works at Energiya, which makes some of the biggest and most reliable rockets in the world. Despite these accomplishments, however, Krikalev, like many of his colleagues in Russia’s space program, seems to spend much of his time complaining about a lack of funds. He may have a point. Energiya’s glass and concrete offices outside Moscow are drab 1970s retro. Salaries at Energiya average a mere $400 a month, though Krikalev, at the top of the scale, gets $1000.
This legendary stinginess is the bane of Krikalev, and Russia’s ace in the hole. Although it lost the moon race in the 1960s, since then Russia’s space program has made a habit of performing heroic deeds on a shoestring – in many respects besting its well-heeled U.S. rival. While NASA struggled with its unreliable and fabulously complex space shuttle, Russia was racking up the mileage with its simple, durable Proton boosters – even during the chaotic years following the Soviet Union’s collapse. Now, despite Krikalev’s complaints, Russia’s space program is emerging from the lean years.
Energiya official press release: February 5, 2007. Korolev, Moscow region. “New appointments have been recently made in the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia Management.” Sergei has a new assignment: Vice-President of Manned Flights. He appears on the S.P. Korolev RSC Energiya top management page. [Note: photo removed after management restructure on 6 August 2007]
In order to implement long-term space programs it is necessary to promote young managers.
Following the discussion of the personnel problem at the Board of Management, the Corporation’s Management has resolved to accept the applications for resignation of the managers who were older than 65 years, namely: First Vice-President N.I. Zelenschikov; Vice-President V.N. Branets and Vice-President A.L. Martynovskiy.
Also it was resolved to make new appointments:
- S.Yu. Romanov as Vice-President in charge of Manned Space Complexes (49 years);
- N.A. Brukhanov as Vice-President in charge of Advanced Projects (49 years);
- R.M. Samitov as Vice-President of Onboard and Ground Control Systems (50 years);
- S.K. Krikalev as Vice-President of Manned Flights (48 years).
Sergei’s flight status is still unchanged (he was assigned last year as backup for Soyuz TMA-12 to launch in March 2008, and commander of Soyuz TMA-14 [March 2009]). (Discussed in this thread at NASASpaceflight.com.)
March
Март
1/3
Energiya photo-report: “S.P. Korolev RSC Energia. City of Korolev, Moscow region. Boris Yevseevich CHERTOK accepts congratulations from S.P. Korolev Rocket & Space Corporation Energia management and staff, managers and specialists of Rosaviakosmos and allied enterprises, branch-veterans and friends.” Sergei is just visible in this photo at the celebrations of Boris Chertok’s 95th birthday. There is also a photo gallery, Празднование 95-летия Б.Е.Чертока в РКК «Энергия». 01 марта 2007 г. (Celebration of the 95th birthday of Boris Chertok at Energiya, 1 March 2007), at Novosti Kosmonavtiki; Sergei appears in photos 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, 22.
Charles Simonyi writes in his blog for March:
Mr. Sevast’yanov was a gracious host and briefed us – the main and backup crews and the American members of Expedition 15 – on the progress of the preparations, and presented us with beautiful commemorative medals. Among his executives was Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev with a record six missions in space, whom I met before in Star City, and is now a Senior VP at Energiya. The company is a major player in space today, and I am sure it will be an even more important player in this extremely difficult business.
26/3
NASASpaceflight.com – information via Anik:
New information from Sergey Shamsutdinov (one of editors of Novosti Kosmonavtiki magazine): […] Also the new commander for the backup Expedition 17 crew is Gennadii Padalka now (instead of Sergei Krikalyov)…
He is still commander of ISS-19, but does not want to train in the backup crew (too busy).
27/3
Energiya photo-report: March 27, 2007. Baikonur Cosmodrome, RSC Energia’s branch. Sergei was at the Baikonur cosmodrome Krainii, Крайний airport with other Energiya managers to greet the Soyuz TMA-10 prime and backup crews. He appears in photos 3 and 6.
28/3
Energiya photo-report: March 28, 2007. Baikonur launch site, S.P.Korolev RSC Energia branch office. The crew report on their readiness to proceed with their final training phase to General Designer N.N. Sevast’yanov and other managers. Sergei appears in photos 4 and 13.
A photo from Charles Simonyi’s site (which is Flash-animated so I can’t link to photos *grumble*): “Pavel Vinogradov (in the middle) flew one year ago. Sergei Krikalyov (on the left) are briefing us on what to expect up there. Now we are just drinking to Pavel’s anniversary. Suit 306 is now for Fyodor and Oleg, but Pavel stayed there before his flight, and his signature is on the door by tradition.”
April
Апрель
3/4
«Столичные новости»: «Альфа»? На орбите земли такой космической станции не существует» (“ ‘Alpha’? In Earth orbit this station does not exist”). Interview in Russian with Capital News (#12/449, 3-9 April).
The interviewer comments that Sergei has just passed 48 years and he still looks fit and well. The interviewer remarks that Sergei’s opening statement about the Station’s name of Alpha sounds odd. Sergei replies that the name was a politically-inspired one and that it is only informal; not the official name of the ISS (which remains nameless). The Russian side is indignant at the choice of the name (meaning “first”) as it negates the achievements of Mir and the Salyut stations. Sergei does add that he would choose the name Alpha as it is the first letter in both the English and Cyrillic alphabets (originating from the Greek) so it is neutral. It also symbolizes the U.S. and Russian station components. The Russian segment of the ISS was originally intended for the Mir-2 station; after this was not to be, it was nicknamed Mir-1½. In the quality and quantity of research, the ISS in its seventh year will equal that of Mir.
The next question was whether Sergei had any religious beliefs:
No. I was brought up as an atheist. Moreover, it seems to me, that the Christianity, Moslem and Buddhism religious are external forms which often coincide with the private world of the person who believes in them. Therefore I do not recognize any religions. God should reside in the heart. The sacred concepts of “mother” and “native land” should live in each part of the body. I trust in the universal precepts and I adhere to them. But the universal principles which exist in any religion are present in our life and so.
Sergei is not interested in the making of money in the business sense. “I am a civil servant and I work for the state.” A half-year flight in the Soviet era earned a cosmonaut from 10 to 15 000 rubles and a Volga motor car. Now, 5000 dollars are paid for launch and landing, plus 100 dollars allowance for each day of flight. A spacewalk earns a bit extra.
Sergei was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union for his first flight, and the Hero of Russia medal #1 for his second, but nothing for the third and fourth flights. During his fifth flight there was talk of giving him a “for the merit of the Fatherland 4th degree” award.
He considers himself lucky to have begun his career during a high point in the Soviet space program, participating in the beginnings of the Mir and Buran projects. It was, however, the end of a great epoch. The Energiya corporation was shaped by Sergei Korolyov and his legacy fortunately remains in the various reliable systems and tests used.
He thinks the space program should follow a progressive path, going to the Moon first before attempting Mars.
Energiya photo-report: April 3, 2007. Baikonur Cosmodrome, RSC Energia’s branch. The Soyuz TMA-10 crew make an inspection of their spacecraft, and the Progress M-60 in the assembly-test facility, Building 254. Sergei Krikalyov appears in photo 2. He also appears in this photo in the «Плановая подготовка к запуску «Союз ТМА-10» » (Scheduled preparation for the Soyuz TMA-10 launch) report at the Russian Federal Space Agency site.
From Charles Simonyi’s blog for 3 April:
It is always exciting to be near flight hardware, even when it is just an unmanned freighter. Everywhere there is an orderly chaos of fine tubes, red-painted temporary brackets, and black space cloth that is secured sometimes with wide strips of Velcro. Sergei Krikalev and Pavel Vinogradov explain to us what’s where. Sergei is now senior VP of Energia so he is a company officer and a top cosmonaut at the same time—one could not ask for a better briefing than this.
6/4
Energiya photo-report: April 6, 2007. Baikonur Cosmodrome, RSC Energia’s branch. Sergei appears in photos 1, 7, and 9 at a meeting of the State Commission the day before launch of Soyuz TMA-10.
7/4
Energiya photo-report: April 7, 2007. Baikonur Cosmodrome, RSC Energia’s branch. Sergei appears in photos 14 and 16 at the final meeting of the crew and the State Commission.
Novosti Kosmonavtiki photo gallery: Перед стартом 15-й экспедиции на МКС (Котов, Юрчихин, Симоньи) (Before the launch of the 15th Expedition to the ISS). Sergei appears in photos 4, 5.
A photo from Charles Simonyi’s site: “The Commission handed down the final decision about the crews and the flight program. According to the decision, I am spaceflight participant in the primary crew. We are now really ready to fly.” Sergei is standing at far right.
12/4: Cosmonautics Day, День космонавтики
“S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, the city of Korolev, Moscow Region. RF First Vice-Premier S.B. Ivanov is congratulating the ISS crew on the Cosmonautics Day. RF First Vice-Premier S.B. Ivanov, Head of Federal Space Agency A.N. Perminov, the President, RSC Energia’s General Designer N.N. Sevastiyanov congratulated the International Space Station (ISS) crews on the Cosmonautics Day during communication session being held in MCC-M.” Sergei appears in this photo.
Novosti Kosmonavtiki photo gallery:
- День космонавтики в Театре Российской Армии (Cosmonautics Day in the Russian Army Theatre). Sergei appears in photo 5.
- С.Иванов в ЦУПе в День космонавтики (S. Ivanov at TsUP on Cosmonautics Day). Sergei appears in photos 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
19/4
“April 19, 2007. S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, Korolev, Moscow region. S.P. Korolev RSC Energia’s conference hall hosted the grand meeting held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Check and Testing Facility (KIS) of the Corporation Experimental Machinebuilding Plant.” Sergei appears in photos 3, 10.
May
Май
4/5
S.P. Korolev RSC Energiya, Korolev, Moscow region: a meeting took place between Expedition 14 (Mikhail Tyurin and Michael Lopez-Alegria) and the President, N.N. Sevast’yanov. Sergei appears in this photo.
22/5
On 23 May the legislative assembly of Saint Petersburg will approve the selections of 2 new honorable citizens of the city. 10 candidates are under consideration, including Sergei Krikalyov. This tradition was revived 14 years ago after the demise of the USSR; it first appeared in the 19th century when the city parliament selected worthy candidates who were then approved by the Tsar.
23/5
Today the deputies of the legislative assembly of Saint Petersburg revealed the names of the two new honorable citizens of the city («Почетный гражданин Санкт-Петербурга»): Sergei Krikalyov (42 votes) and conductor Valerii Gergiev (29 votes). The ceremony of the presentation of the associating title regalias takes place on 27 May, during the city’s official day. The honorable citizens have the right to introduce laws for examination by the urban parliament, their pensions will be increased, and they do not have to pay public transport fares.
27/5
Photos (low-resolution only) of the presentation of the “Honored Citizen” award presentation are available at the Official Portal of the Administration of St. Petersburg website. Photos showing Sergei (note the tie he is wearing!): 2, 8, 9, 10. Governor V.I. Matviyenko thanked cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov for his help to St. Petersburg, his support of many undertakings and projects, and active participation in the public life of his native city.
Energiya press release (and portrait photo): “St. Petersburg. S.K. Krikalyov On May 27, 2007, in the framework of City Day celebration in St. Petersburg in the solemn atmosphere Petersburg Parliament Speaker Vadim Tyulpanov presented Korolev RSC Energia Vice-President, pilot-cosmonaut Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalyov with St. Petersburg Honorary Freeman diploma and certificate.”
31/5
Energiya photo report: S.P.Korolev RSC Energiya – MCC-M, Korolev, Moscow Region. “The Russian cosmonauts, ISS-15 expedition crewmembers Fyodor Yurchikhin (commander, Korolev RSC Energia test-cosmonaut), Oleg Kotov (flight engineer, Gagarin TsPK RGNII test cosmonaut (Cosmonaut Training Center)) conducted the first spacewalk over the station surface planned in the flight program.” Sergei appears in this photo at TsUP, attending the Expedition 15 spacewalk being directed from there.
June
Июнь
5/6
Energiya photo report: “RSC Energia after S.P. Korolev, the city of Korolev, Moscow Region. S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia hosted the meeting between the Corporation President, General Designer N.N. Sevast’yanov and NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale.” Sergei appears in photos: 1, 4, 5, 6.
13/6
Energiya photo report: “Korolev RSC Energia, Korolev, Moscow Region. S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia took part in the activities of the 11th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. N.N. Sevast’yanov, President, General Designer of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, made a report during the ‘round table’ discussion on the subject ‘Made in Russia’, and participated in the press conference.” Sergei appears in photos: 4, 6 (he seems to have become Nikolai Sevast’yanov’s shadow!).
15/6
At TsUP a press conference was held concerning the situation in the Russian segment of the International Space Station of the failure of the on-board computers. The deputy head of the manned programs Technologies A.G. Botvinko, President and Chief Engineer of RSC Energiya N.N. Sevast’yanov, and the Vice-Presidents of RSC Energia – the leader of the flight of the Russian segment of the ISS V.A. Solovyov and S.K. Krikalyov – appeared before the TsUP-accredited journalists. They described the failure of the on-board computers on June 12 during the deployment and connectivity in the American segment of the ISS’s new solar panels. As N.N. Sevast’yanov explained, there was a static level of more than nominal value. This affected the secondary power supply of computers, causing irregularities in their work. Although there are three separate channels, the interference was so strong that it impacted on all three channels. Analysis of the situation continues, and a series of tests are scheduled with the ISS crew. An option is being considered to transfer a reserve kit to the itinerary in the cargo ship Progress M-61. Its scheduled launch is on 6 August, but it may be moved to 23 July. There are sufficient reserves of oxygen on the Station for 90 days of flight, without activating the Elektron oxygen generator, which is activated with the computers. Nevertheless, the opportunity to use this system independently is being considered. The evacuation of the crew is not being considered.
18/6
Pierre Jullien spotted Sergei at the 47th Paris Airshow! He was with Nikolai Sevast’yanov. Russia had a display pavillion.
July
Июль
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Plasma Crystal experiment, July 2007 news.
Prof. Gregor Morfill, Director at MPE and head of the Theory/Complex Plasma Group (image on the far left), receives the highest award of the Russian Space Agency, the Tsiolkovsky Medal. The medal is handed over by a Russian delegation during a ceremony held at the German Space Agency (DLR) in Bonn-Oberkassel. Head of the Russian space delegation is Prof. Vladimir Fortov, former Russian secretary of science, member of the Russian Acadamy of Science and director of the Institute for High Energy Densities (IHED) in Moscow. Host and speaker is Dr. Ludwig Baumgarten, member of the executive board of DLR. Also present at the ceremony are: Sergey Krikalev (Russian cosmonaut), Thomas Reiter (German astronaut), Oleg Petrov and Vladimir Molotkow (IHED), Hubertus Thomas (MPE), Maria Roth (DLR), the Russian consul in Bonn and numerous members of DLR, MPE and ESA.
Sergei appears in this and this photos. (He performed the Plasma Crystal experiments during his two ISS expeditions.)
August
Август
10/8
After the restructuring of Energiya’s top management on 6 August, Sergei Krikalyov seems to have vanished from the Top Management page (he was elected Vice-President of Manned Flights on 5 February). (First noticed by Olaf.) Has he been removed from his position there after 6 months, or did they just neglect to mention him?
21/8
Energiya photo report: “August 21-23, 2007, S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Korolev – MAKS-2007, Zhukovsky, Moscow region. S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia – a world’s leader in manned space flight – is actively participating in the 8th International Aerospace Show (MAKS-2007), inaugurated on August 21 of this year.” Sergei appears in photos 1 and 8.
“МАКС-2007 – почётные гости салона и пресс-конференции” (MAKS-2007 – the honorable guests of the salon and press conference): Sergei appears in photo 18.
27/8
Sergei turns 49 today! С днём рожденья, Сергей!
October
Октябрь
5/10
From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №658:
05/10/2007/00:01: Sergei Krikalyov could join the crew of the modernized Soyuz spacecraft
Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov considers that he could become part of the crew of the first modernized Soyuz spacecraft. “An experimental crew will be required for the flight of this ship, and it is possible that I will become part of the spacecraft crew as a cosmonaut-tester,” he said.
S. Krikalyov added that at RKK Energiya the work continues on the adaptation of digital equipment of the Soyuz spacecraft, but these works are conducted more slowly than it was planned; consequently the launch of the first digital Soyuz is deferred for half a year.
Furthermore, he reported that the specialists of the corporation continue the development of the new generation spacecraft. As stated previously by the President of RKK Energiya, Vitalius Lapot, the design of the new ship will be transferred to Roskosmos toward the end of the present year. “I do not know if this plan is final or preliminary; let us wait and see,” said S. Krikalyov.
In reply to a journalist’s question, the Russian cosmonaut reported that he will not participate in the experiment on the flight simulation to Mars, which will be held in the headquarters of the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow. “I do not want to participate in the experiment; I already know the answers to all the questions for myself,” he said.
December
Декабрь
A tidbit of information about Sergei Krikalyov from his page at Space Encyclopedia ASTROnote is that “in December 2007 he was a candidate for the Deputies of the State Duma 5th convocation on the list of the All-Russia political party ‘United Russia’, the regional group № 81 (St. Petersburg). Despite the fact that the party overcame the 5% barrier, being the 16th in the list of regional groups in the allocation of seats, in the number of deputies has not shown up.” Is he getting involved in politics?
14/12
According to a post by Olaf at NASASpaceflight.com, Sergei’s job title is now “Deputy General Designer” – Заместитель генерального конструктора, Zamestitel’ General’nogo Konstruktora, assistant to the General Designer.
19/12
A post at Astroaddies:
Autographica message board on Showmasters pages announcing guests, cosmonauts Leonov, Krikalev and Tokarev. Brilliant news!
The venue and date for Autographica 11: the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, England, 18-20 April 2008.
26/12
Sergei seems to have been dropped from the Soyuz TMA-14/ISS-19 crew as commander; he is no longer in the latest ISS flight crew roster up to ISS-21, though the roster is not yet finalized. (Via Olaf and this thread at the Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum, posted in August.) So perhaps he was moved to a later mission? Or will he be in management for a few years, though he is still an active cosmonaut?
| Expedition | Prime crew | Backup crew |
|---|---|---|
| ISS-17 | Sergei Volkov, Oleg Kononenko | Maksim Sura’ev, Oleg Skripochka |
| ISS-18 | Salizhan Sharipov | Yurii Lonchakov |
| ISS-18S (6-person crew begins) | Gennadii Padalka | Maksim Sura’ev |
| ISS-19S | Yurii Lonchakov | Dimitri Kondrat’ev |
| ISS-20S | Mikhail Kornienko, Roman Romanenko | Aleksandr Skvortsov, Oleg Skripochka |
| ISS-21S | Maksim Sura’ev | Fyodor Yurchikhin |