Svetlana Savitskaya
Encyclopedia
Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya ' onMouseout='HidePop("48558")' href="/topics/Moscow">Moscow
, USSR is a former Soviet
female aviator and cosmonaut
who flew aboard Soyuz T-7
in 1982, becoming the second woman in space some 19 years after Valentina Tereshkova
. She served two duty tours on the Salyut 7
space station, and on her second one became the first woman to perform a space walk
on July 25, 1984. She was outside the space station for 3 hours 35 minutes. Of the 57 Soviet/Russian spacewalker through 2010, she is the only female. She is the daughter of Soviet military commander Yevgeniy Savitskiy
. She is married, with one child.
She started training as a cosmonaut in 1980. Upon returning to Earth, Savitskaya was assigned as the commander of an all-female Soyuz crew to Salyut 7 in commemoration of the International Women's Day
, a mission that was later canceled.
She was twice awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union
title. The asteroid 4118 Sveta
is named for her.
She was also a test and sports pilot - starting from 1974 she set 18 international world records on MiG
aircraft and three records in team parachute jumping. She won first place at the 6th FAI World Aerobatic Championship in 1970.
Savitskaya retired in 1993 from the Russian Air Force with the rank of Major.
She is a member of the State Duma
representing the Communist Party of the Russian Federation
. She presently serves as Deputy Chair of the Committee on Defense, and is also a member of the Coordination council presidium of the National Patriotic Union.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, USSR is a former Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
female aviator and cosmonaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
who flew aboard Soyuz T-7
Soyuz T-7
-Backup crew:Mission parameters:*Mass: 6,850 kg*Perigee: 289 km*Apogee: 299 km*Inclination: 51.6°*Period: 90.3 minutes...
in 1982, becoming the second woman in space some 19 years after Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is a retired Soviet cosmonaut, and was the first woman in space. She was selected out of more than four hundred applicants, and then out of five finalists, to pilot Vostok 6 on the 16 June, 1963, becoming both the first woman and the first civilian to fly in...
. She served two duty tours on the Salyut 7
Salyut 7
Salyut 7 was a space station in low Earth orbit from April 1982 to February 1991. It was first manned in May 1982 with two crew via Soyuz T-5, and last visited in June 1986, by Soyuz T-15. Various crew and modules were used over its lifetime, including a total of 12 manned and 15 unmanned launches...
space station, and on her second one became the first woman to perform a space walk
Extra-vehicular activity
Extra-vehicular activity is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth, and outside of a spacecraft. The term most commonly applies to an EVA made outside a craft orbiting Earth , but also applies to an EVA made on the surface of the Moon...
on July 25, 1984. She was outside the space station for 3 hours 35 minutes. Of the 57 Soviet/Russian spacewalker through 2010, she is the only female. She is the daughter of Soviet military commander Yevgeniy Savitskiy
Yevgeniy Savitskiy
Yevgeniy Yakovlevich Savitzky was a World War II fighter ace, 22 individual and 2 group victories, Commanding General of Aviation of the Air Defense Forces of the Country, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Aviation...
. She is married, with one child.
She started training as a cosmonaut in 1980. Upon returning to Earth, Savitskaya was assigned as the commander of an all-female Soyuz crew to Salyut 7 in commemoration of the International Women's Day
International Women's Day
International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and...
, a mission that was later canceled.
She was twice awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
title. The asteroid 4118 Sveta
4118 Sveta
4118 Sveta is a main-belt asteroid discovered on October 15, 1982 by L. V. Zhuravleva at Nauchnyj. It is named for Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya.- External links :...
is named for her.
She was also a test and sports pilot - starting from 1974 she set 18 international world records on MiG
Mig
-Industry:*MiG, now Mikoyan, a Russian aircraft corporation, formerly the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau*Metal inert gas welding or MIG welding, a type of welding using an electric arc and a shielding gas-Business and finance:...
aircraft and three records in team parachute jumping. She won first place at the 6th FAI World Aerobatic Championship in 1970.
Savitskaya retired in 1993 from the Russian Air Force with the rank of Major.
She is a member of the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
representing the Communist Party of the Russian Federation
Communist Party of the Russian Federation
The Communist Party of the Russian Federation is a Russian political party. It is the second major political party in the Russian Federation.-History:...
. She presently serves as Deputy Chair of the Committee on Defense, and is also a member of the Coordination council presidium of the National Patriotic Union.