Aleksey Ovchinin (b. 1971) — Biography & Facts

Soyuz TMA-20M launched on 18 March 2016, marking the first spaceflight for Aleksey Ovchinin. Serving as commander, he spent 172 days in orbit during Expedition 47 and 48. This mission established his role within the Russian cosmonaut corps, building upon decades of rigorous military aviation experience accumulated within the Soviet and later Russian training systems.

Military Aviation Foundation

Born in 1971 in Rybinsk, Ovchinin followed a traditional path into the Russian military. He attended the Borisoglebsk Higher Military Pilot School before moving to the Yeysk Higher Military Aviation Institute, where he earned his qualification as a pilot-engineer. His career trajectory included serving as a pilot instructor at the Yeisk Higher Military Pilot School and the Krasnodar Military Aviation Institute in Kotelnikovo. By the time he was selected for the space program, he had logged over 1,300 flight hours in L-39 and Yak-52 aircraft and attained the rank of podpolkovnik, or lieutenant colonel, in the Russian Air Force Reserve.

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Selection and Cosmonaut Training

The Interdepartmental Commission formally recommended Ovchinin as a cosmonaut candidate in October 2006. He underwent specialized training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, receiving his official certification in June 2009. His preparation included water landing drills in Sevastopol and underground exploration during the 2013 CAVES mission in Sardinia. This international exercise involved collaborating with astronauts from various agencies in challenging, multi-ethnic team environments. In 2015, he also participated in food testing for the International Space Station, evaluating 160 dishes over eight days.

Expedition Cycles and Launch Abort

Ovchinin's tenure on the International Space Station involved multiple rotations. Following his initial 2016 mission, he prepared for Expedition 57 alongside Nick Hague. During the launch on 11 October 2018, the Soyuz MS-10 booster failed mid-flight. The craft reached an apogee of 93 kilometers before executing an emergency ballistic descent. The crew returned safely to Earth 19 minutes and 41 seconds after liftoff. He successfully returned to the station on 14 March 2019 aboard Soyuz MS-12, later assuming command of Expedition 60. He returned to flight in September 2024 for his third major mission on Soyuz MS-26.