Soyuz TMA-08M launched on 28 March 2013, marking the first crewed mission to utilize a fast rendezvous trajectory, reaching the International Space Station in under six hours. Alexander Misurkin served as a key crew member during this historic flight, which fundamentally altered the duration required for personnel to reach orbit from the previous standard of two days.
Military Training and Education
Born in 1977 in Yershichi, Russia, Misurkin pursued a career in aviation before his selection for space flight. He graduated from vocational school number one in Oryol in 1994. He continued his education at the Kacha High Air Force Pilot School until September 1998, followed by enrollment at the Armavir Military Aviation Institute. He completed his pilot training in October 1999, graduating as a pilot-engineer with a gold medal. He currently holds the military rank of podpolkovnik in the Russian Air Force.
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The Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center accepted Misurkin as a candidate in October 2006. He underwent basic training between February 2007 and June 2009, receiving qualification as a test-cosmonaut on 9 June 2009. Subsequent advanced training focused on the International Space Station program, where he served as a backup crew flight engineer for Expedition 33 and 34.
Expeditions and Spacewalk Records
Following his initial mission in 2013, Misurkin launched on Soyuz MS-06 in 2017 to serve as commander of Expedition 54. On 2 February 2018, he and Anton Shkaplerov performed a spacewalk lasting 8 hours and 13 minutes to upgrade communications hardware. This operation established the record for the longest Russian spacewalk performed to date. Additionally, he participated in the 2014 ESA CAVES mission alongside Scott Tingle, Luca Parmitano, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and Matthias Maurer.
Commercial Spaceflight
In December 2021, Misurkin commanded the Soyuz MS-20 mission. This flight differed from his professional expedition assignments by transporting two space tourists, Yusaku Maezawa and Yozo Hirano, to the International Space Station. The crew remained in space for 12 days before returning to Earth on 20 December.
Fast facts
- Born: 1977, Yershichi
- Military Rank: Podpolkovnik
- Qualified as Test-Cosmonaut: 9 June 2009
- First Spaceflight: 28 March 2013
- Awards: Hero of the Russian Federation
- Languages: Russian
Questions readers ask
What record did Misurkin set during his 2018 spacewalk?
He and Anton Shkaplerov set the record for the longest Russian spacewalk at 8 hours and 13 minutes.
What was the significance of the Soyuz TMA-08M launch?
It was the first crewed mission to reach the International Space Station using a fast rendezvous approach, taking less than 6 hours.
Achievements
- Worked as astronaut and aircraft pilot
