The career of Yury Lonchakov spans over 200 days in orbit and two spacewalks, representing a shift from naval aviation to the Russian cosmonaut program. Born in 1965 in Balkhash, he transitioned from a military pilot and paratroop instructor to a commander for critical International Space Station logistics and science missions during the early 21st century.
Aviation and Military Background
Lonchakov completed his foundational education at the Orenburg Military Aviation Piloting High School in 1986, graduating as a pilot-engineer. His military service included roles as a squadron senior pilot and aviation brigade commander within the Russian Navy. He holds the rank of colonel and attained the status of a Class 1 Air Force pilot. His training also included extensive experience as a paratroop instructor, documenting 526 jumps throughout his career.
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In December 1997, he was selected as a test-cosmonaut candidate for the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. His orbital flight experience began with the STS-100 mission on the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2001, where he served as a mission specialist during the installation of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. By 2002, he was involved in the Soyuz taxi flight program, serving as commander during the mission that utilized the Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft to reach the International Space Station.
Expedition Operations and Spacewalks
During Expedition 18 in 2008, Lonchakov served as a flight engineer and Soyuz commander. He performed two spacewalks totaling 10 hours and 27 minutes. The first occurred in December 2008 to install experimental equipment, including a Langmuir probe and the Expose-R package on the Zvezda module. A second excursion in March 2009 involved further maintenance on the universal science platform. He later served as the head of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center from 2014 to 2017.
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Balkhash
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Academic Degree: Doctor in Engineering
- Space Missions: 3
- Total Space Time: 200 days
- Total Spacewalks: 2
- Career Shift: Head of Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (2014-2017)
Questions readers ask
What military branch did Yury Lonchakov serve in before becoming a cosmonaut?
He served in the Russian Navy as a pilot and aviation brigade commander.
What was the duration of his time in space?
He spent a total of 200 days in orbit across three separate missions.
Achievements
- Educated at Orenburg Military Aviation Piloting High School and Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy
- Worked as engineer, astronaut and aircraft pilot
