Selected for the RKKE-15 cosmonaut group in 2003, Oleg Artemyev transitioned from engineering roles in neutral buoyancy laboratories to becoming a three-time flight veteran. Throughout his tenure with the Russian Federal Space Agency, he performed extensive duties aboard the International Space Station, eventually serving as an expedition commander during a career marked by both technical honors and geopolitical complexities.
Engineering and Training
Born in Riga in 1970 and raised in Leninsk, Artemyev pursued technical education, graduating from the Tallinn Polytechnical School in 1990 and the Bauman Moscow State Technical University in 1998. His early professional work involved developing testing procedures for extravehicular activity equipment at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. By 2000, he attained medical clearance for flight operations, leading to his selection as a cosmonaut candidate in 2003. His preparation included rigorous survival and emergency water training sessions alongside international crews.
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Artemyev’s flight history spans several long-duration missions. He served as a flight engineer for Expedition 39 and 40 in 2014. In 2018, he returned to the station as commander of Soyuz MS-08 for Expedition 55/56. His third mission occurred in 2022 aboard Soyuz MS-21, during which he joined Expedition 67. On May 5, 2022, he assumed command of the International Space Station. He returned to Earth that September after logging 195 days in orbit during this final rotation.
Regulatory Controversy and Retirement
In 2025, Artemyev was designated as a backup for the SpaceX Crew-11 mission and slated for the Crew-12 flight. This assignment would have marked the first instance of a veteran Russian cosmonaut utilizing the SpaceX Crew Dragon. However, he was removed from the mission in December 2025. Following reports involving an investigation into technology handling protocols at a California facility, he retired from Roscosmos on July 24, 2026.
Fast facts
- Born: 1970, Riga
- Selected for cosmonaut group: 2003
- Education: Bauman Moscow State Technical University
- Expedition 67 Commander: 2022
- Award: Hero of the Russian Federation (2016)
- Award: Order of Gagarin (2024)
- Retirement date: July 24, 2026
- Citizenship: Russia
Questions readers ask
How many times did Oleg Artemyev visit the International Space Station?
He flew to the International Space Station three times, serving as a crew member on Expeditions 39/40, 55/56, and 66/67.
What was the official reason for his removal from the SpaceX Crew-12 mission?
Roscosmos cited a transition to other work, though external reports linked his removal to an investigation regarding the handling of technology at a SpaceX facility.
Achievements
- Educated at Bauman Moscow State Technical University
- Worked as astronaut and engineer
