The article describes the woman-cosmonaut, on whose account the longest stay in the Earth's orbit, her rewards and family.

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The first woman in the history of space exploration, who made the longest flight, was Elena Kondakova. The astronaut for today has behind him two successful expeditions to the airless space, the first of which lasted for five months. Also, brave Elena Vladimirovna was worthy to be called the Hero of Russia, she was awarded many medals and awards from Russia and the United States. However, at the end of time, she decided to leave science, trying herself in the political arena.

Such a multi-faceted experience has behind his shoulders the famous cosmonaut Yelena Kondakova. The biography of this brave woman is very rich, and we'll get acquainted with it below.

School and student years of cosmonauts

Elena was born in the Moscow region, in the city of Mytishchi in 1957, on March 30. She was not the only child in the family. In addition to her parents, Kondakovs Vladimir Andreevich and Claudia Sergeevna, there was another son, Mikhail Vladimirovich, born in 1952, who is currently an assistant professor of MLTI.

Elena Kondakova grew very active and smart child, and when she reached the school age, her parents gave her to a general school. Successfully completing 10 classes and receiving a certificate of secondary (complete) general education, she enters the Bauman Moscow Higher Technical School, which ends in 1980 in the direction of "Production of aircraft." Further, in 1983, she with the same success finishes the faculty of the history of art and aesthetics of the All-Union Institute of Marxism and Leninism. And after a lapse of time, relatively recently, in 2006, she becomes a graduate of the Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Preparing for a journey into space

At the end of the Bauman School in 1980, Elena Kondakova began to develop scientific projects, to implement experiments, conduct necessary observations and other research activities under the leadership of the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia. Day after day, Elena showed very good results, and already in 1989, her candidacy was approved by the company, and she was recommended to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, where she subsequently carried out all the necessary training. After the end of the training in the spring of 1990 she was awarded the additional qualification of the cosmonaut-researcher. Since the beginning of 1994, Elena Vladimirovna, already sparing no effort, prepared for further participation in the seventeenth scientific expedition to the Mir space station, where she was invited as a member of the leading crew.

The first and longest flight in her life

For her life, she carried out two long-awaited flights into space. The first start was given in 1994 between October 4 and March 9 on the space complex called Soyuz TM-20. In this expedition she played the role of an onboard engineer. That flight for a long time was listed as one of the longest stays in outer space. Back to Earth, Elena Vladimirovna flew in March 1995, leaving behind her being in space for 169 days for 5 hours and 35 seconds. Of course, this was a record, because before Elena, none of the women dared to spend in orbit so much time. The crew, which included Elena, performed all the operations assigned to the team.

Upon returning home, Kondakova Elena Vladimirovna, an astronaut who spent a long time in the vast outer space was awarded the title Hero of Russia for the assistance provided by the Rocket and Space Corporation during the flight. For the peaceful development of outer space, as well as for her unprecedented steadfastness and courage, Elena Kondakova was awarded many awards and praise.

The second flight

For the time of the second flight, their haven was the American spacecraft, called "Atlantis." He started in May 1997 and stayed in space for a little over nine days.

Kondakova has a very warm relationship with the first woman in the world, who went to conquer the airless space, Valentina Tereshkova. With the then young and inexperienced Elena she shared her wisdom, impressions, gave the right advice. Valentina Vladimirovna met and accompanied Kondakov during all her flights.

A family

Space travel in this family is a common thing. And it is not just words. Kondakova's husband, Valery Ryumkin, has behind him not less than his wife's valor and honor. He is an astronaut pilot who managed to visit the airless space four times. If we put together the time that he spent in space, then we get a year - 365 days of life outside the house, observations and scientific experiments.

"I got a lottery ticket in this life!" - this phrase was repeated many times by Elena Kondakova in her interviews. She literally worships her husband and believes that she did not meet a more decent person in her life. The couple have a daughter, Eugenia, who is currently a student of one of the higher educational institutions of Moscow.

The only thing the cosmonauts regret is that they have only one child growing up. Elena always wanted to have a big family, at least - three children. But fate decreed otherwise, and all parents devoted their care and unspent love to their only and dearly beloved daughter.

Hobbies and other activities Kondakova

Among Elena's hobbies are theater, fishing, reading, mountaineering and traveling. The woman has always been a versatile person - she was interested in literally everything.

In addition to space, Kondakova Elena Vladimirovna attempted to realize herself and as a politician, but after the first elections she realized that it was not for her, and decided to leave the race as soon as possible.

A few words in conclusion

For some reason, it's not that much about her, who has spent the longest period of time in space than her predecessors. The third in the history of the USSR, a woman astronaut, a public figure, a loving mother and a faithful spouse - this is the brave woman who devoted herself to science, Elena Kondakova. Her biography by right can become an example and a parting word for just beginning space explorers. The only thing Elena regrets is that she did not manage to feel the cosmos in all its splendor. The woman for all the time that she spent in orbit, was not fortunate enough to go outside the station.