Gennady Padalka holds the distinction of serving as commander of the International Space Station on four separate occasions, a unique feat in the history of human spaceflight. Throughout his career with the Russian Air Force and the Roscosmos State Corporation, he spent a cumulative 878 days in orbit, working extensively on both the Mir station and the ISS.
Early Career and Military Service
Born in 1958 in Krasnodar, Padalka pursued a career in aviation early on. He graduated from the Yeysk Higher Military Aviation Institute in 1979. Serving in the Russian Air Force, he reached the rank of colonel and attained status as a First Class Pilot, logging 1,500 flight hours across six different aircraft types. Beyond his flying duties, he qualified as an instructor of general parachute training, completing more than 300 jumps.
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Padalka joined the cosmonaut candidate program in 1989 and earned his qualification as a test-cosmonaut in 1991. His first major mission occurred in 1998 aboard the Mir space station. Launched with Sergei Avdeyev on Soyuz TM-28, he spent 198 days aboard the aging station. During this period, he conducted critical maintenance on life support systems and performed multiple spacewalks, including one to deploy an amateur-radio satellite.
Commanding the International Space Station
Transitioning to the ISS program, Padalka commanded four separate expeditions: Expedition 9 in 2004, Expedition 19/20 in 2009, Expedition 32 in 2012, and Expedition 44 in 2015. During his tenure, he oversaw the transition to the first six-person crew configuration and managed complex science operations. His time aboard the station included various spacewalks, though one 2004 attempt was curtailed after only 14 minutes due to oxygen pressure issues.
Transition to Retirement
Following a distinguished career, Padalka resigned from the Roscosmos cosmonaut corps in April 2017. He expressed his departure was driven by a lack of future flight opportunities. At the time of his retirement, he held the record for the longest total duration spent in space, a title he maintained until it was surpassed by Oleg Kononenko in 2024. Today, he remains in second position for cumulative time in orbit.
Fast facts
- Born: 1958, Krasnodar
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Education: Yeysk Higher Military Aviation Institute
- Cumulative Time in Space: 878 days
- ISS Expeditions Commanded: 4
- Primary Employer: Roscosmos State Corporation
- Career Start: 1989
Questions readers ask
How many times did Padalka command the International Space Station?
He served as ISS expedition commander four times, specifically during Expeditions 9, 19, 20, 32, and 44.
What is Padalka's status regarding space duration records?
He held the record for the most time spent in space with 878 days until Oleg Kononenko surpassed this total on 4 February 2024.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Roscosmos State Corporation
- Educated at Yeysk Higher Military Aviation Institute
- Worked as aircraft pilot, astronaut and military personnel
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