The late 1980s and early 1990s were pivotal years in history. The Soviet Union was in turmoil, and the end of this vast union of republics, established in 1917, seemed inevitable. Then, in 1991, the once unthinkable happened: the greatest and longest-lasting socialist experiment (or socialist dictatorship, if you prefer) in history came to an end. On December 26, 1991, the Soviet Union officially became a thing of the past, marking the conclusion of an era.
In those years, I was a student at a science high school. Although I wasn’t particularly interested in politics, the Soviet Union was one of the two superpowers in the world for us, especially due to its achievements in space (it truly was in space, but we didn’t yet know that it wasn’t the case in many other areas).
As someone who spent their childhood in the 1980s reading the golden age of science fiction novels and following scientific magazines, particularly the space-related news, and articles published in them, I was astonished by the collapse of a country that had advanced so far in space exploration. At the same time, I was trying to make sense of what was happening by following the news in the newspapers as much as I could.
During those years, I began to notice news stories about a Soviet cosmonaut “stranded” in space, usually mentioned briefly in the corners of newspapers with just 3-4 sentences.
Of course, since the internet had not yet entered our lives and it was impossible to find international magazines in Malatya, a city in the eastern part of Anatolia (I attended a science high school, a special type of school for “special” children, primarily focused on fundamental sciences, or at least that’s what it promised), I was trying to follow the event through those 3-4 sentence snippets.
It was truly fascinating: how could the mighty Soviet Union leave a cosmonaut in space? What would happen now? How would he return to Earth? How could there not be a backup spacecraft at that seemingly sci-fi space station (which, as I later learned, was somewhat different from what we imagined as kids) to bring him back?
Of course, in the following years, with the advent of the internet, I was finally able to explore the story of Sergei Krikalev, the “last Soviet cosmonaut,” in greater detail.
Sergei Krikalev: The Last Soviet Cosmonaut in Space
Sergei Krikalev (born August 27, 1958), who had gone up to the Mir space station when the Soviet Union still existed, found himself orbiting Earth as his country ceased to exist below him.
The return mission, originally planned for a few months later, was delayed due to the political and economic turmoil back home. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian space agency struggled to organize a rescue mission. As the country that had sent him into space no longer existed, Krikalev ended up spending a total of 311 days in space, nearly twice the duration originally planned.
Krikalev was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in the Soviet Union in 1958 and was selected as a cosmonaut in 1985.
His first spaceflight took place in 1988 as a flight engineer on Soyuz TM-7, launched on November 26, 1988. Alongside Commander Aleksandr Volkov (USSR) and French astronaut Jean-Loup Chrétien, Krikalev conducted scientific experiments aboard the Mir Space Station. The crew also prepared the station for a period of uncrewed operations and performed six spacewalks. After 151 days aboard Mir, they returned to Earth on April 27, 1989.
When they arrived at the space station, the previous crew, Vladimir Titov, Musa Manarov, and Valeri Polyakov, were still on board and stayed for another 25 days. At the time, this was the longest period a six-person crew had been in orbit. Today, such extended crew rotations are a regular part of life aboard the International Space Station.
Communicating with Amateur Radio Operators on Earth
While in orbit, Krikalev frequently communicated with amateur radio operators (hams) on the ground, a hobby he maintained throughout his career as a cosmonaut.
He developed a close relationship with an amateur radio operator named Margaret Iaquinto. Together, they made history by successfully communicating via packet radio-the first time this had been achieved between an orbiting space station and an amateur radio operator.
Packet radio is a digital mode of communication used by amateur radio operators to send data over radio frequencies. It functions similarly to the internet, breaking down data into packets and transmitting them individually. When in orbit, Krikalev used this technology to send and receive messages from Earth, enabling efficient and reliable communication. Packet radio is particularly useful for long-distance communication, as it allows operators to transmit text, telemetry, and other data in a structured format, ensuring that the information is received accurately even in challenging conditions.
Stranded in Space During the Fall of the Soviet Union
On May 19, 1991, Sergei Krikalev embarked on his second journey into space aboard Soyuz TM-12, once again serving as a flight engineer. He was accompanied by Commander Anatoly Artsebarsky (USSR) and British astronaut Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space.
Before this mission, Krikalev married Yelena Terekhina, a ground engineer at RSC Energia, the Russian company that manufactures ballistic missiles, spacecraft, and space station components. While in orbit, Krikalev frequently communicated with her via radio, and their bond deepened into love.
As Soyuz TM-12 approached Mir, the automatic docking system failed. Sharman later revealed that while she was worried, Krikalev remained calm and composed under the pressure, successfully performing a manual docking with the Mir station.
After just eight days, Sharman returned to Earth with the previous crew, while Krikalev and Artsebarsky stayed aboard Mir for the summer. They conducted six EVAs (ExtraVehicular Activities, or spacewalks, any activity done by an astronaut or cosmonaut in outer space outside a spacecraft), carried out scientific experiments, and performed various maintenance tasks on the space station.
In July 1991, due to the economic difficulties facing the Soviet Union, two planned spaceflights to Mir were reduced to one. Krikalev volunteered to stay on Mir as the flight engineer for the incoming crew, as the new flight engineer was not trained for long-duration missions.
On October 10, 1991, Artsebarsky returned to Earth, leaving Krikalev on the station with Commander Alexandr Volkov.
As the two cosmonauts carried out their duties aboard the Mir Space Station, the country that had sent them into space was beginning to unravel.
Krikalev’s friend, Margaret Iaquinto, a radio operator, set up a makeshift digital bulletin board, allowing the Mir cosmonauts to access uncensored Western news. Krikalev also maintained regular communication with his wife, Yelena, who was now caring for their 9-month-old daughter on her own.
On the ground, the situation grew increasingly dire. In August 1991, a failed coup by Soviet hard-liners, known as the August Coup, aimed to seize control from Mikhail Gorbachev, further destabilizing the nation. The future of the Soviet space program became uncertain.
In response to mounting economic difficulties, the Soviet Union began selling seats on its spaceflights to foreign governments. Rumors even circulated that the Mir Space Station might be sold.
A Choice to Stay: Krikalev and Volkov’s Dedication to Mir
There was an escape option available: just like on the International Space Station today, a Soyuz capsule was always attached to Mir for a quick return in case of an emergency. Krikalev and Volkov could have used it, but doing so would have meant abandoning Mir to its fate, likely leading to the end of the valuable space station.
So, despite the uncertainties, the two cosmonauts chose to stay, continuing their daily routines and maintaining the station to keep it in working condition.
Sergei Krikalev, The Last Citizen of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)
Finally, the inevitable happened: the USSR officially came to an end on December 26, 1991. As the Soviet Union dissolved, the two cosmonauts orbiting 250 miles (400 km) above Earth were far down the priority list for the newly formed nations emerging from the remnants of the Soviet Union.
With no clear end to his mission in sight, Krikalev began to worry about his extended stay in space. He questioned himself, “Do I have enough strength? Can I readjust to this extended stay and complete the program? Naturally, I had my doubts.” Despite these concerns, Krikalev and Volkov continued to carry out their duties, maintaining the Mir space station as best as they could under increasingly uncertain circumstances.
In January 1992, relief came when the Russian Progress M-10 uncrewed supply ship arrived, bringing much-needed supplies such as food, water, oxygen, and personal mail. The Progress M-10 also carried the fourth VBK-Raduga capsule, which was used to return experiment results and equipment to Earth. After retrieving the contents of the Raduga capsule, Krikalev and Volkov reloaded it with data, samples, and scientific results before Progress M-10 undocked from Mir on January 20, 1992, at 07:13:44 GMT. The Raduga capsule safely landed at 12:03:30 GMT, providing some reassurance to the isolated cosmonauts.
However, just as they were adjusting to the extended mission, another challenge emerged. A workers’ strike at ground control, driven by demands for better wages during Russia’s economic crisis, nearly compromised the delivery of the next supply craft, Progress M-11. Despite the minimal ground support, Krikalev and Volkov successfully coordinated the arrival of Progress M-11, ensuring the continuity of their mission.
On February 20, 1992, Krikalev and Volkov conducted the first extravehicular activity (EVA) following the USSR’s collapse. This spacewalk was a significant milestone, symbolizing a new chapter in space exploration under the newly formed Russian Federation. During the EVA, they retrieved equipment from the Kvant-1 and Kvant-2 modules and cleaned a TV camera lens. The mission was not without its dangers, as the heat exchanger in Volkov’s spacesuit failed, forcing him to rely on an umbilical connection from Kvant-2 for life support. Despite the complications, the EVA was a success, further demonstrating the resilience and resourcefulness of the cosmonauts.
Returning to Earth
As their prolonged mission finally neared its end, the first post-Soviet Soyuz mission, TM-14, was launched on March 17, 1992. This mission was a significant event, marking the first Russian Soyuz mission after the Soviet Union’s collapse. The TM-14 crew included Russian cosmonauts Aleksandr Viktorenko and Aleksandr Kaleri, along with German astronaut Klaus Dietrich Flade, who became the second German to visit a space station.
Flade joined Krikalev and Volkov aboard Mir for a few days, sharing the experience of space exploration during a time of profound geopolitical change. Finally, on March 25, 1992, after 311 days in orbit, Krikalev and Volkov boarded Soyuz TM-14 and returned to Earth. Their landing marked the end of one of the most extraordinary and historically significant missions in space history.
Krikalev was dubbed the last Soviet cosmonaut, a title reflecting the unique circumstances of his mission. He is also often referred to as ‘the last citizen of the USSR’ in a symbolic sense, as he was in space aboard the Mir space station when the Soviet Union officially dissolved on December 26, 1991. While Krikalev was not literally the last citizen of the USSR-since citizenship transitioned to the new Russian Federation for all former Soviet citizens-he symbolizes the last person who left Earth as a Soviet citizen and returned to a very different country.
During their time in space, Krikalev and Volkov witnessed the disintegration of the country that had sent them there, including the transformation of Krikalev’s hometown from Leningrad to Saint Petersburg. Their remarkable story, a testament to human endurance and adaptability, is documented in Romanian filmmaker Andrei Ujică’s 1995 documentary Out of the Present and also inspired the 2017 Cuban film Sergio & Sergei, directed by Ernesto Daranas.
Krikalev’s Post-Mir Career: From the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station
Space Shuttle
Krikalev also played a key role in STS-60, the first joint U.S.-Russian Space Shuttle mission, which launched on February 3, 1994. During this historic flight, he was responsible for significant portions of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) operations, also known as Canadarm. His expertise with the RMS was crucial for the mission’s success, particularly in handling various payloads and experiments that demonstrated the growing collaboration between the U.S. and Russia in space.
Krikalev’s experience and skills were further highlighted during STS-88 aboard Endeavour, which took place from December 4-15, 1998. This mission marked the beginning of the International Space Station (ISS) assembly, a milestone in global space cooperation. During the 12-day mission, Krikalev and his crewmates successfully mated the Unity module with the Zarya module, effectively laying the foundation for what would become the ISS. In addition to this pivotal task, the crew deployed two satellites, MightySat 1 and SAC-A, contributing to further research and development in space technology.
International Space Station (ISS)
Krikalev was a key member of the Expedition 1 crew, the first long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Launched on October 31, 2000, aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, this historic mission marked the beginning of continuous human presence aboard the ISS. The crew consisted of:
- Commander: William Shepherd, NASA (fourth and final spaceflight)
- Flight Engineer 1: Yuri Gidzenko, RSA (second spaceflight)
- Flight Engineer 2: Sergei Krikalev, RSA (fifth spaceflight)
During this mission, Krikalev played a crucial role in establishing the operational capabilities of the ISS, helping to set up essential systems and conducting various scientific experiments. His experience and expertise were invaluable in ensuring the success of the first expedition to the orbiting laboratory.
Krikalev later returned to the ISS as the Commander of Expedition 11, which launched on April 25, 2005. This mission marked his sixth and final spaceflight. Over the course of six months, Krikalev lived and worked aboard the ISS, overseeing operations, conducting scientific research, and leading his crew through the challenges of long-term space habitation.
With the completion of this last mission, Krikalev accumulated an impressive 803 days, 9 hours, and 39 minutes in space, including eight extravehicular activities (EVAs). As of January 2022, this achievement places him third, behind Gennady Padalka and Yuri Malenchenko, for the most time spent in space.
Two things [are my favorite part of being up in Space]. Firstly, the view of Earth from the viewing port. Secondly, the sense of freedom which you experience in weightlessness, you feel like a bird that is able to fly!
Sergei Krikalev
Sources
- Sergei Krikalev on Wikipedia
- Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev on the European Space Agency website
- Progress M-10 on Wikipedia
- List of Mir Spacewalks on Wikipedia
- Soyuz TM-14 on Wikipedia
- Expedition 1 [To the International Space Station – ISS] on Wikipedia
- Expedition 11 [To the International Space Station – ISS] on Wikipedia
- “I was a Russian cosmonaut in space as the Soviet Union collapsed – your questions answered” on The Guardian
