Soyuz TM-32 was the mission assigned to Nadezhda Kuzhelnaya in 2001, but her seat was ultimately reassigned to space tourist Dennis Tito. This event marked a significant turning point in the career of a Russian engineer who transitioned from designing space hardware to training as a cosmonaut before shifting her focus toward commercial aviation.
Engineering and Training
Born in 1962 in Alexeyevskoye, Kuzhelnaya initially pursued architecture, graduating from the Prydniprovska State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture in 1984. Influenced by Svetlana Savitskaya, she redirected her career path by enrolling at the Moscow Aviation Institute, completing her degree in 1988. She spent her early professional years at RKK Energia, where she performed technical duties related to spaceflight equipment design. Her entry into the Russian cosmonaut programme occurred in 1994, leading to two years of study at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.
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Kuzhelnaya qualified as a flight engineer with responsibilities including piloting Soyuz spacecraft and performing dockings with the International Space Station. Between 1999 and 2004, she served as the only female cosmonaut in the Russian corps. During her tenure, she held backup positions for missions involving Claudie Haigneré and Roberto Vittori. Despite her rigorous preparation, the policy shift regarding female flight assignments prompted her departure from the space program in May 2004.
Aviation Career
Following her retirement from the cosmonaut service, Kuzhelnaya transitioned into commercial aviation with the carrier Aeroflot. By 2007, she had established herself as a rarity in the industry as one of only two female pilots operating the Tupolev Tu-134, working alongside approximately one thousand male counterparts. She later expanded her operational expertise to include piloting the Airbus A320 and Airbus A330 aircraft. Her contributions to the field have been acknowledged with the Jubilee Medal «100 Years of Civil Aviation in Russia».
Fast facts
- Born: 6 November 1962, Alexeyevskoye
- Citizenship: Russia
- Cosmonaut training start: 1994
- Primary career fields: Aerospace engineering and commercial aviation
- Academic background: Moscow Aviation Institute; Prydniprovska State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture
- Awards: Jubilee Medal «100 Years of Civil Aviation in Russia»
- Notable aircraft piloted: Tupolev Tu-134, Airbus A320, Airbus A330
- Retirement from cosmonaut duty: 2004
Questions readers ask
Did Nadezhda Kuzhelnaya ever travel to space?
No, although she completed extensive training and was assigned as a backup for multiple missions, she did not participate in a flight to the International Space Station.
What is Nadezhda Kuzhelnaya's profession today?
She is a commercial airline pilot who has flown various aircraft, including the Tupolev Tu-134 and Airbus models for Aeroflot.
Achievements
- Educated at Moscow Aviation Institute and Prydniprovska State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture
- Worked as astronaut, aircraft pilot and engineer
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