You have disabled JavaScript. The Life and Unusual Adventures of Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev Krikalev Sergey Konstantinovich

In 1981 he graduated from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Development engineer

After graduating from the institute, he worked at NPO Energia. He tested equipment used in space flights, developed methods of work in space and participated in the work of the ground control service. In 1985, when malfunctions arose at the Salyut-7 station, he worked in the recovery group, developing methods for docking with an unmanaged station and repairing its on-board systems.

Krikalev was selected for training for space flights in 1985, the following year he completed the basic training course and was temporarily sent to the group under the Buran reusable spacecraft program.

In early 1988, he began preparations for his first long-term flight at the Mir station. The training included preparations for spacewalks, for docking with new modules, for the first tests of the cosmonaut relocation facility, and for work on the second Soviet-French scientific expedition.

space flights

Soyuz TM-7 was launched on November 26, 1988, the crew consisted of commander Alexander Alexandrovich Volkov, flight engineer Krikalev and French astronaut Jean-Loup Chretien. The previous crew remained at the Mir station for another twenty-six days, thus establishing the longest stay at the station for a crew of six. After the previous crew returned to Earth, Krikalev, Polyakov, and Volkov continued to perform experiments aboard the station. Due to the fact that the arrival of the next crew was delayed, they prepared the station for an unmanned flight and returned to Earth on April 27, 1989. For this flight, Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In 1990, Krikalev was preparing for his second flight as a member of the backup crew for the eighth long-term expedition to the Mir station.

In December 1990, Krikalev began preparations for participation in the ninth expedition to the Mir station. Soyuz TM-12 was launched on May 19, 1991 with commander Anatoly Pavlovich Artsebarsky, flight engineer Krikalev and British astronaut Helen Sharman. A week later, Sharman returned to Earth with the previous crew, while Krikalev and Artsebarsky remained on Mir. During the summer, they carried out six spacewalks, while conducting numerous scientific experiments, as well as maintenance work on the station.

According to the plan, Krikalev's return was supposed to take place in five months, but in July 1991 Krikalev agreed to remain at the Mir station as a flight engineer with another crew (which was supposed to arrive in October), since the next two flights were merged into one. On October 2, 1991, the flight engineer position in the Soyuz TM-13 spacecraft was taken by Toktar Aubakirov, a cosmonaut from Kazakhstan who was not prepared for a long flight. He and Franz Viebeck, the first astronaut of Austria, together with Artsebarsky returned to Earth on October 10, while commander Alexander Volkov remained with Krikalev. After a crew change in October, Volkov and Krikalev continued their experiments on Mir, made another spacewalk, and returned to Earth on March 25, 1992. This flight is interesting because the cosmonauts flew away from the USSR, and returned to Russia - during their flight, the Soviet Union ceased to exist. For this flight, Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (Star of the Hero of the Russian Federation No. 1).

During the first two flights, Krikalev spent more than a year and three months in space and made seven spacewalks.

In October 1992, NASA officials announced that a Russian cosmonaut with space flight experience would fly on an American space shuttle. Krikalev was one of two candidates sent by the Russian Space Agency to train with the STS-60 crew. In April 1993, he was announced as the main candidate.

Krikalev participated in the STS-60 flight, the first joint US-Russian flight on a reusable ship (Discovery shuttle). Flight STS-60, which began on February 3, 1994, was the second flight with the Spacehab (Space Habitation Module) and the first flight with the WSF (Wake Shield Facility) device. Within eight days, the crew of the Discovery spacecraft performed many different scientific experiments in the field of materials science, both in the WSF device and in the Spacehab module, biological experiments and observations of the Earth's surface. Krikalev performed a significant part of the work with a remote manipulator. After completing 130 orbits and flying 5,486,215 kilometers, on February 11, 1994, the Discovery spacecraft landed at the Kennedy Space Center (Florida). Thus, Krikalev became the first Russian cosmonaut to fly on an American shuttle.

After the STS-60 flight, Krikalev returned to his work in Russia. He periodically went on missions to the Lyndon Johnson Space Center in Houston to work at Mission Control with Search and Rescue during joint US-Russian flights. In particular, he participated in ground support for STS-63, STS-71, STS-74, STS-76 flights.

Krikalev was appointed to the first crew of the International Space Station and was the first in December 1998 to be on a short-term mission to the ISS on the shuttle Endeavor.

In October 2000, as part of the first crew of the long-term expedition, Sergei Krikalev, together with Yuri Gidzenko and William Shepherd, began permanent manned flights to the ISS. In this flight, the astronauts met the 21st century in orbit.

On October 11, 2005, Sergei Krikalev completed his sixth flight, returning to Earth from the ISS in the descent module of the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft after six months in orbit.

Work in vacuum

Work at enterprises and institutions of the space industry

• Since February 2007 - Vice-President of RSC Energia for manned flights (while maintaining flight status in the cosmonaut corps). Subsequently - Deputy General Designer.
• March 27, 2009 - with the transfer to another job, he was relieved of his position as an instructor-test cosmonaut of the 1st class of OAO RSC Energia im. S. P. Korolev.
• Since March 30, 2009 - Head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Scientific Research Testing Center for Training Cosmonauts. Yu. A. Gagarin.

Hobbies

Aerobatics, swimming, scuba diving, skiing, windsurfing, tennis, amateur radio (X75M1K). Candidate for master of sports in all-around. Master of Sports of the USSR in aerobatics. Member of the championships of the USSR, Europe and the world in aerobatics. Champion of the USSR in the team event (1986). European champion in the team event (1996). World champion in the team event (1997).

The amateur radio callsign is U5MIR.

Awards and titles

• Hero of the Soviet Union (April 27, 1989)
• Order of Lenin (1989)
• Hero of the Russian Federation (April 11, 1992) - for courage and heroism shown during a long space flight on the Mir orbital station (Gold Star medal No. 1)
• Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV degree (April 5, 2002) - for courage and high professionalism shown during a long-term space flight on the International Space Station
• Order of Honor (April 15, 1998) - for successful participation and achievement of high sports results in the First World Air Games
• Order of Friendship of Peoples (March 25, 1992) - for the successful implementation of space flight on the Mir orbital station and the courage and heroism shown at the same time
• Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" (April 12, 2011) - for great merits in the field of exploration, exploration and use of outer space, many years of conscientious work, active social activity
• Medal "In memory of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg" (2005)
• Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honor (France, 1989)
• Honorary title "Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR" (1989)
• Three NASA Space Flight Medals (1996, 1998, 2001)
• NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal (2003)
• Honorary citizen of St. Petersburg (2007)
• Honored Master of Sports of Russia

• Lifetime Honorary Member of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain
• Laureate of the National Prize "Golden Eye of Russia"

His cosmic destiny is worthy of a thrilling novel or adventure film. In total, over six starts, he flew 803 days

The whole world knows him - he is almost as popular as the first astronaut Yuri Gagarin. Not only that Sergey Krikalev- a real space long-liver: on one of his trips to orbit, he had to spend a year in space instead of 5 months, and in total, during six launches, he “flew” 803 days. Krikalev is also a master of all trades, who impressed the American astronauts with his skills.

Sergei Krikalev was included in the 9th expedition, which launched from Earth to the Mir space station. The launch took place on May 19, 1991. On board were the commander of the ship - Anatoly Artsebarsky, flight engineer Sergey Krikalev and an astronaut from the UK Helen Sharman. A few days later, the British woman returned to Earth, she was taken by members of the previous crew.

Krikalev and Artsebarsky remained at the Mir station. They carried out serious scientific work, set up experiments, several spacewalks were carried out. This was Krikalev's second flight.

In August, when it was time to return home, shocking news arrived from Earth. The Soviet Union was no more. The budgets of space programs, which had previously spared no expense, were greatly reduced. However, the program of international space cooperation had to be carried out - the refusal of Russia's obligations to other countries was not allowed.

In order to somehow save money, instead of two ships - with crews from Kazakhstan and Austria - one was sent into orbit, uniting the crews. When returning in this ship, there was not enough space for Krikalev. The astronaut had to stay and wait for the next ship to arrive. This happened only six months later. Altogether Sergei Krikalev spent almost a year in space. The country failed to ensure his return in time. And when he finally returned in March 1992, he ended up in another country - not the one he left a year ago ...

For this long flight, Sergei Krikalev, who by that time was already a Hero of the Soviet Union, received the honorary title of Hero of Russia and the Gold Star medal. He is one of the few who holds both of these titles at the same time.

Russian "Kulibin"

Krikalev's career continued. In the fall of 1992, it was decided to include him in the US-Russian space expedition. He was the first Russian to fly with the Americans on a shuttle. The expedition started on February 3, 1994. The Discovery shuttle made 130 orbits around the Earth and landed in Florida on February 11, 1994.

During the flight, an emergency situation arose. The electronic life support system suddenly failed, and then the air duct failed. The Americans, strictly following the instructions received, reported the incident to Earth and began to wait for instructions.

Everyone was very nervous. Condensate began to accumulate in the air ducts, it slowly froze, it was necessary to urgently do something, but the Earth could not make a decision. Krikalev at first silently watched - after all, he was part of the American crew on the sidelines. When the situation approached critical, the Americans asked him: “What would you do?” Our cosmonaut shrugged his shoulders and replied: "I would fix it."

And fixed it. Without waiting for instructions from Houston. The astronauts were against it - they wanted to wait for help to come from Earth. But Sergei Krikalev did it his own way: he found the cause of the malfunction, restored and restarted the shuttle's complex instruments.

His decisive and professional actions were the cause of extreme surprise and admiration of the Americans: it would never have occurred to anyone that it was possible, without relying on help from the Mission Control Center, to fix the breakdown on their own.

Russian cosmonaut from "Armageddon"

The style of work of Sergey Krikalev, as well as his decisive character, made an indelible impression on the Americans - however, as well as on everyone else, when this became known. It is assumed that the prototype of the Russian cosmonaut Lev Andropov from the movie Michael Bay"Armageddon" to some extent became exactly Krikalev.

Of course, the image of Lev Andropov turned out to be grotesque and caricatured - a Russian cosmonaut, flying alone in a spaceship, wears a padded jacket and earflaps, is constantly drunk and unshaven, gives the impression of being insane, because he hits instruments with iron, opens the fuel supply system with a crowbar, and then and completely blows up the station. Ultimately, however, it is Andropov who saves the American astronauts - by tapping the shuttle's computer with a wrench and thus turning it on.

Today's work of Sergei Krikalev takes place on Earth. He is the first deputy general director of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering for manned programs. On August 27, 2018, he will turn 60 years old.

Full member of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.

Sergey Krikalev was born on August 27, 1958 in St. Petersburg. In 1975, he graduated from the tenth grade of secondary school No. 77. Since 1977, he has been involved in aircraft sports at the local flying club. Four years later, he graduated with honors from the Baltic State Technical University with a degree in Design and Production of Aircraft.

From September 14, 1981, Krikalev worked as an engineer in the 111th department of the Main Design Bureau of the Energy Research and Production Association. He was engaged in the development of instructions for astronauts. A year later he became an engineer, and from June 1, 1985, a senior engineer of the 191st department of the Main Design Bureau of NPO Energia.

On September 2, 1985, by decision of the state interdepartmental commission, Krikalev was selected for the cosmonaut corps of NPO Energia. During the following year, he underwent general space training. At the end of November 1986, he was qualified as a test cosmonaut. Further, for two years he was trained under the Buran program.

On March 22, 1988, Sergey Krikalev replaced Kaleri in the main crew of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft, who was suspended from training for health reasons. Until November 11, 1988, he was trained as a flight engineer for the main crew of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft under the Aragats program at the Mir orbital complex, together with Volkov and Jean-Loup Chretien. He also underwent training as the first tester of the cosmonaut's vehicle and was preparing to work with the Kvant-2 module, but the flight program was changed.

Krikalev made his first space flight from November 26, 1988 to April 27, 1989 as a flight engineer of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft and the Mir orbital complex under the program of the fourth main expedition and the Soviet-French program Aragats. Launched together with the spacecraft commander Volkov and cosmonaut researcher Jean-Loup Chretien, a citizen of the French Republic. Having completed the flight program, the station was prepared for operation in unmanned mode and landed on April 27, 1989. The duration of the space flight was 151 days 11 hours 08 minutes 24 seconds.

By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 27, 1989, for the successful implementation of a space flight on the Mir orbital research complex and for the courage and heroism shown, Krikalev Sergey Konstantinovich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

In 1990, Krikalev was preparing for his second flight as a member of the backup crew for the eighth long-term expedition to the Mir station. In December 1990, Krikalev began preparations for participation in the ninth expedition to the Mir station. Soyuz TM-12 launched on May 18, 1991 with commander Anatoly Pavlovich Artsebarsky, flight engineer Krikalev, and British female cosmonaut Helen Sharman. A week later, Sharman returned to Earth with the previous crew, while Krikalev and Artsebarsky remained on Mir. Over the summer, six spacewalks were carried out, while numerous scientific experiments were carried out, as well as maintenance work on the station.

According to the plan, Krikalev's return was supposed to take place in five months, but in July 1991 Krikalev agreed to remain at the Mir station as a flight engineer with another crew due to arrive in October. This flight is interesting because the cosmonauts flew away from the USSR, and returned to Russia: during their flight, the Soviet Union ceased to exist. The flight duration was 311 days 20 h 00 min 34 s.

By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 387 of April 11, 1992, for courage and heroism shown during a long space flight on the Mir orbital station, the USSR pilot-cosmonaut Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation with the award of a special distinction of the Gold Star medal » № 1.

In October 1992, NASA officials announced that a Russian cosmonaut with space flight experience would fly on an American space shuttle. Krikalev was one of two candidates, the other being Vladimir Titov, sent by the Russian Space Agency to train with the STS-60 crew. In April 1993, Krikalev was announced as the main candidate.

Krikalev made his third space flight from February 3 to February 11, 1994 as a specialist in the crew aboard the STS-60 Discovery reusable transport spacecraft. This was the first U.S.-Russian joint space shuttle flight in the history of manned space exploration. The flight duration was 8 days 7 hours 10 minutes 13 seconds.

Krikalev made his fourth space flight from December 4 to 16, 1998 as part of the STS-88 mission as a flight-4 specialist. Together with the shuttle commander Robert Kabana, Sergey Krikalev opened the hatch to the International Space Station for the first time. The flight duration was 11 days 19 hours 18 minutes 47 seconds.

Krikalev made his fifth space flight from October 31, 2000 to March 21, 2001 as a flight engineer of the Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft and the ISS under the program of the first main expedition of the ISS. He landed on the Discovery shuttle STS-102 as a flight specialist. The flight duration was 140 days 23 hours 40 minutes 19 seconds.

In his sixth space flight, Krikalev led the prime crew of the first expedition to the International Space Station, launching into space on April 15, 2005 on the Soyuz TM6 spacecraft with crew members: NASA astronaut John Phillips and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori. During the flight, Krikalev made one spacewalk: on August 18, 2005, lasting 4 hours and 57 minutes. On October 11, 2005, together with NASA astronaut John Phillips and space tourist, US citizen Gregory Olsen, he returned to Earth on the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft. The flight duration was 179 days 0 hours 22 minutes 35 seconds.

Sergey Krikalev is the record holder for the total stay in space. For six flights, it amounted to 803 days 09 hours 41 minutes 12 seconds. Performed eight spacewalks, the total duration of work in open space was 41 hours and 26 minutes.

At the end of March 2009, Krikalev was relieved of his post as "test cosmonaut instructor" first class. By order of the head of Roscosmos dated March 27, 2009, he was appointed head of the Yury Gagarin Research and Testing Cosmonaut Training Center. At the end of March 2014, he left this position.

Since March 2014, Krikalev has been appointed First Deputy General Director of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering for manned space programs, as well as Executive Director of the State Corporation Roscosmos for manned space programs. Since April 2014, the representative of the city of Sevastopol in Moscow and St. Petersburg. From August 2014, he took the position of First Deputy General Director of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering.

At a meeting of the Board of Directors of PJSC Rocket and Space Complex Energia on January 24, 2019, it was decided to appoint Sergey Konstantinovich Krikalev as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC Rocket and Space Complex Energia.

Sergei Konstantinovich, in addition to space, also has sports achievements. For a long time he was engaged in aircraft sports. He played at the USSR Championship for the team of the Central Aeroclub and was a candidate for the USSR national team in aircraft sports. In this sport, he became the champion of the USSR, the champion of Europe and the world champion in the team event.

At the First World Air Games in Turkey, he was a member of the Russian national team in aerobatics on gliders. He took first place in the team competition, and also became the silver medalist in the individual competition. At the Second World Air Games in Spain, he was the head coach of the Russian team. Krikalev was awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports of the Russian Federation.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe November 7, 2019 awarded Sergei Krikalev with one of the highest awards in the country: the Order of the Rising Sun on a neck ribbon with a star. The award ceremony took place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Sergey Krikalev's awards

Hero of the Russian Federation (April 11, 1992) - for courage and heroism shown during a long space flight on the Mir orbital station (Gold Star medal No. 1).

Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV degree (April 5, 2002) - for courage and high professionalism shown during a long-term space flight on the International Space Station.

Order of Honor (April 15, 1998) - for successful participation and achievement of high sports results in the First World Air Games.

Order of Friendship of Peoples (March 25, 1992) - for the successful implementation of a space flight on the Mir orbital station and the courage and heroism shown in this.

Order of Lenin (1989).

Order of the Rising Sun II degree (7.11.2019).

Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" (April 12, 2011) - for great merits in the field of exploration, exploration and use of outer space, many years of conscientious work, active social activity.

Medal "In memory of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg" (2005).

Honorary title "Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR" (1989).

Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honor (France, 1989).

Three NASA Space Flight Medals (1996, 1998, 2001).

NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal (2003)

Honorary citizen of St. Petersburg (2007).

Honored Master of Sports of Russia.

Lifetime Honorary Member of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain.

Laureate of the national award "Golden Eye of Russia".

Laureate of the national award "Russian of the Year" (2011).

Merit recognition

Bust on the Alley of Heroes of the Moscow Victory Park (St. Petersburg)

Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev(born August 27, 1958 in Leningrad, USSR) - Soviet and Russian aviation athlete and cosmonaut, from October 2005 to June 2015 - Earth's record holder for the total time spent in space (803 days for six launches - as of October 11, 2005 year; the new record belongs to Gennady Padalka). Hero of the Soviet Union and the first Hero of the Russian Federation (one of four people awarded both titles).

First Deputy Director of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering for manned programs (since March 2014). Full member (academician) of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky (2011). Head of the Yu. A. Gagarin Research Institute Cosmonaut Training Center (2009 - 2014). PhD in Psychology (2008). World champion in aerobatics in gliders. President of the International Environmental Foundation "Clean Seas" (2009 to present).

Biography

In 1981 he graduated from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Development engineer

After graduating from the institute, he worked at NPO Energia. He tested equipment used in space flights, developed methods of work in space and participated in the work of the ground control service. In 1985, when malfunctions arose at the Salyut-7 station, he worked in the recovery group, developing methods for docking with an unmanaged station and repairing its on-board systems.

Krikalev was selected for training for space flights in 1985, the following year he completed the basic training course and was temporarily sent to the group under the Buran reusable spacecraft program.

In early 1988, he began preparations for his first long-term flight at the Mir station. The training included preparations for spacewalks, for docking with new modules, for the first tests of the cosmonaut relocation facility, and for work on the second Soviet-French scientific expedition.

The first flight

Soyuz TM-7 was launched on November 26, 1988, the crew consisted of commander Alexander Alexandrovich Volkov, flight engineer Krikalev and French cosmonaut Jean-Loup Chretien. The previous crew remained at the Mir station for another twenty-six days, thus establishing the longest stay at the station for a crew of six. After the previous crew returned to Earth, Krikalev, Polyakov, and Volkov continued to perform experiments aboard the station. Due to the fact that the arrival of the next crew was delayed, they prepared the station for an unmanned flight and returned to Earth on April 27, 1989. For this flight, Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (star No. 11595). The flight duration was 151 days. 11 h 08 min 24 s.

In 1990, Krikalev was preparing for his second flight as a member of the backup crew for the eighth long-term expedition to the Mir station.

Second flight

In December 1990, Krikalev began preparations for participation in the ninth expedition to the Mir station. Soyuz TM-12 was launched on May 18, 1991 with commander Anatoly Pavlovich Artsebarsky, flight engineer Krikalev and British female cosmonaut Helen Sharman. A week later, Sharman returned to Earth with the previous crew, while Krikalev and Artsebarsky remained on Mir. During the summer, they carried out six spacewalks, while conducting numerous scientific experiments, as well as maintenance work on the station.

According to the plan, Krikalev's return was supposed to take place in five months, but in July 1991 Krikalev agreed to remain at the Mir station as a flight engineer with another crew (which was supposed to arrive in October), since the next two flights were merged into one. On October 2, 1991, the flight engineer position in the Soyuz TM-13 spacecraft was taken by Toktar Aubakirov, a cosmonaut from Kazakhstan who was not prepared for a long flight. He and Franz Viebeck, the first cosmonaut of Austria, together with Artsebarsky returned to Earth on October 10, and commander Alexander Volkov remained with Krikalev. After a crew change in October, Volkov and Krikalev continued their experiments on Mir, made another spacewalk, and returned to Earth on March 25, 1992. This flight is interesting because the cosmonauts flew away from the USSR, and returned to Russia - during their flight, the Soviet Union ceased to exist. For this flight, Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (Star of the Hero of the Russian Federation No. 1). The flight duration was 311 days. 20 h 00 min 34 s.

27.08.1958 -
Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Russian Federation

Krikalev Sergey Konstantinovich - flight engineer of spacecraft (SC) "Soyuz TM-7", "Soyuz TM-12" ("Soyuz TM-13") and orbital station (OS) "Mir", 67th cosmonaut of Russia (USSR) and 212th cosmonaut of the world.

Born on August 27, 1958 in the city of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in the family of an employee. Russian.

In 1975 he graduated from the 10th grade of secondary school No. 77 in the city of Leningrad. Since 1977, he began to engage in aircraft sports at the Leningrad aeroclub DOSAAF. In 1981 he graduated with honors from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute with a degree in Design and Production of Aircraft.

From September 14, 1981, he worked as an engineer in the 111th department of the State Design Bureau of NPO Energia. He was engaged in the development of instructions for astronauts. From September 1, 1982, he worked as an engineer, and from June 1, 1985, as a senior engineer of the 191st department (former 111th department) of the State Design Bureau NPO Energia.

On September 2, 1985, by decision of the GMVK, he was selected for the cosmonaut corps of NPO Energia. From November 1985 to October 1986 he passed general space training. On November 28, 1986, by decision of the MVKK, he was awarded the qualification of "test cosmonaut".

From November 1986 to March 1988 he was trained under the Buran program.

On March 22, 1988, he replaced A.Yu. Kaleri in the main crew of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft, who was suspended from training for health reasons. Until November 11, 1988, he was trained as a flight engineer for the main crew of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft under the EO-4 / Aragats program at the Mir OK, together with A.A. Volkov and Jean-Loup Chretien (France). He was trained as the first tester of the cosmonaut's vehicle (SPK) and was preparing to work with the Kvant-2 module, but the flight program was changed.

The first space flight of S.K. Krikalev made from November 26, 1988 to April 27, 1989 as a flight engineer of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft and the Mir orbital complex under the 4th main expedition program (EO-4) and the Soviet-French Aragats program. Launched together with the commander of the ship A.A. Volkov and cosmonaut-researcher citizen of the French Republic Jean-Loup Chretien. During the flight, a partial replacement of the crew of the Mir-Soyuz TM orbital complex took place. After the return of the previous crew to Earth, cosmonauts A.A. Volkov, V.V. Polyakov and S.K. Krikalev continued their work on board the Mir OS. Having completed the flight program, they prepared the station for operation in unmanned mode and landed on April 27, 1989. The duration of the first space flight of S.K. Krikaleva was 151 days 11 hours 08 minutes 24 seconds.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 27, 1989, for the successful implementation of a 151-day space flight on the Mir orbital research complex and the courage and heroism shown at the same time, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

From June to November 17, 1990, he was trained as a flight engineer for the backup crew of the Soyuz TM-11 spacecraft under the EO-8 program (and under the Soviet-Japanese program) at the Mir OK, together with A.P. Artsebarsky and Ryoko Kikuchi (Japan).

The second space flight of S.K. Krikalev made from May 18, 1991 to March 25, 1992 on the Soyuz TM-12 spacecraft together with commander A.P. Artsebarsky, and cosmonaut-researcher British citizen Helen Sharman, who returned to Earth on May 26, 1991 with the previous crew on the Soyuz TM-11 spacecraft, and S.K. Krikalev and A.P. Artsebarsky remained on the Mir OS.

In July 1991, S.K. Krikalev agrees to continue work on the Mir OS with the next crew (who arrived in October on the Soyuz TM-13 spacecraft).

After October 10, 1991, a visiting expedition consisting of flight engineer T.O. Aubakirov and cosmonaut-researcher Franz Fibek, citizen of Austria, together with A.P. Artsebarsky returned to Earth on the Soyuz TM-12 spacecraft, S.K. Krikalev remained at the station with a new commander - A.A. Volkov. During the second space flight of S.K. Krikalev made seven spacewalks:
06/24/1991 - duration 4 hours 58 minutes;
06/28/1991 - duration 3 hours 24 minutes;
07/15/1991 - duration 6 hours 4 minutes;
07/19/1991 - duration 5 hours 28 minutes;
07/23/1991 - duration 5 hours 34 minutes;
07/27/1991 - duration 6 hours 49 minutes;
02/20/1992 - duration 2 hours 12 minutes.
The flight duration was 311 days 20 hours 00 minutes 54 seconds.

At Order of the President of the Russian Federation No. 387 dated April 11, 1992 "for courage and heroism shown during a long space flight on the Mir orbital station, to the USSR pilot-cosmonaut Krikalev Sergey Konstantinovich was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation with the award of a sign of special distinction - the Gold Star medal No. 1.

On September 29, 1992, he was selected for the first flight of a Russian cosmonaut on an American shuttle. From November 5, 1992 to January 1994, he was trained at the Johnson Center as a Mission Specialist for the crew of the Discovery shuttle under the STS-60 program. He received a certificate for working with a shuttle manipulator, was trained to fly a T-38 aircraft as a co-pilot.

The third space flight of S.K. Krikalev made from February 3 to February 11, 1994 as a flight specialist-4 as part of the crew (Charles Bolden, Kenneth Richtler, N. Jean Davis, Ronald Shiga, Franklin Chang-Diaz) on board the reusable transport spacecraft STS-60 "Discovery" (USA). It was the first U.S.-Russian joint space shuttle flight in the history of manned space exploration. The flight duration was 8 days 7 hours 10 minutes 13 seconds.

From April 1994 to January 1995 he was trained at the L. Johnson Center as an understudy flight-4 specialist in the crew of the Discovery shuttle under the STS-63 program. He was trained to work in the exit suit under the ISS assembly program. During the STS-63 flight, as well as the STS-71, STS-74 and STS-76 flights, he was the head of the 1st Advisory Group of Experts of the Moscow Mission Control Center in Houston, helped to establish interaction between the Russian and American Mission Control Centers.

From May 1995, he served as Deputy Flight Director of the Mir OK. After the depressurization of the Spektr module, he was a member of the emergency commission.

On January 30, 1996, he was appointed flight engineer for the prime crew of the first expedition to the International Space Station (ISS-1). The launch of the first expedition was originally scheduled for May 1998. From October 1996, he was trained as a flight engineer for the ISS-1 prime crew, together with Yu.P. Gidzenko and William Shepherd (USA). Expedition flights to the ISS were delayed, and on July 30, 1998, by agreement between the RSA and NASA, he was assigned to the crew of the Endeavor shuttle under the STS-88 program (the first flight to assemble the station, ISS-01-2A). In September - November 1998 he was trained at the Center. Johnson as part of the STS-88 crew.

His fourth space flight S.K. Krikalev made December 4-15, 1998 as part of the STS-88 mission (13th flight of the shuttle "Endeavour") as a flight-4 specialist (shuttle crew - Robert Cabana (commander), Frederick Sturkow (pilot), Jerry Ross, Nancy Carrie, James Newman). During the flight, the first Russian module of the ISS, the Functional Cargo Block (FGB) Zarya, was docked to the first Russian module of the ISS, which was launched earlier into orbit, the American node module Unity. Together with the shuttle commander Robert Kabana, Sergey Krikalev opened the hatch to the ISS for the first time. Participated in the work on board the ISS. The flight duration was 11 days 19 hours 18 minutes 47 seconds.

The fifth space flight of S.K. Krikalev worked from October 31, 2000 to March 21, 2001 as a Soyuz TM-31 and ISS flight engineer under the ISS Expedition 1 program. He took off on the Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft, landed on the Discovery shuttle STS-102 as a flight specialist. The flight duration was 140 days 23 hours 40 minutes 19 seconds.

In October 2000, he was appointed commander of the backup crew of Expedition 7 to the ISS (ISS-7d) together with M.V. Suraev and Paul Richards (USA). In September 2001 M.V. Suraev was replaced by S.A. Volkov, and in March 2002 Paul Richards was replaced by John Phillips. Under this program, the crew trained until February 2003, when, due to the death of the Columbia shuttle, all crews were reorganized. Krikalev's crew became the prime crew for the ISS assembly program with a shuttle launch (ULF-1 flight). It was planned that this crew would go to the station on the first shuttle (STS-114). However, as the timing of the resumption of shuttle flights was constantly shifted, the crews and flight programs changed again. Krikalev began training as the prime crew commander of Expedition 11 to the ISS together with John Phillips. In October 2004, Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori was included in the crew of the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft as a member of a short-term visiting expedition.

In his sixth space flight, S.K. Krikalev led the prime crew of Expedition 11 to the International Space Station (ISS), launching into space on April 15, 2005 on the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft with crew members: NASA astronaut John Phillips and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Roberto Vittori. On April 17, 2005, Soyuz TMA-6 docked to the ISS, after which its crew transferred to the station. During the flight of S.K. Krikalev made one spacewalk: August 18, 2005 - duration 4 hours 57 minutes. October 11, 2005 S.K. Krikalev, together with NASA astronaut John Phillips and space tourist, US citizen Gregory Olsen, returned to Earth on the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft. The flight duration was 179 days 0 hours 22 minutes 35 seconds.

S.K. Krikalev is the record holder for the total stay in space. For six flights, it amounted to 803 days 09 hours 41 minutes 12 seconds. Performed 8 spacewalks, the total duration of work in open space - 41 hours 26 minutes.

In May 2006, by decision of Roskosmos, CPC and RSC Energia, he was provisionally appointed spacecraft commander for the ISS-17d backup crew and the ISS-19 prime crew, together with M.V. Suraev. In August, by a joint decision of Roskosmos and NASA, he was provisionally appointed as backup commander of the ISS-17d and flight engineer of the Soyuz-TMA-12 spacecraft, the launch of which is scheduled for April 2008. On February 13, 2007, the appointment was approved by NASA. However, already in March 2007, he was withdrawn from the backup crew.

By order of the President of RSC Energia dated February 5, 2007, S.K. Krikalev was appointed Vice-President of RSC Energia for manned flights, retaining the post of instructor-test cosmonaut. At the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of RSC Energia on July 31, 2007, S.K. Krikalev was not elected vice-president of the corporation, remaining as an instructor-test cosmonaut of RRK Energia.

March 27, 2009 S.K. Krikalev was dismissed from the post of "instructor-test cosmonaut" 1st class. By order of the head of Roscosmos dated March 27, 2009, he was appointed head of the Yu.A. Gagarin Research and Testing Cosmonaut Training Center. At the end of March 2014, he left this position. Since April 2014 - the representative of the city of Sevastopol in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Since August 2014 - First Deputy General Director of FSUE TsNIIMash.

Lives in the city of Korolev, Moscow Region.

Has sporting achievements. Since 1977, he has been involved in aircraft sports. In 1982, he played at the USSR championship for the team of the Central Aeroclub and was a candidate for the USSR national team in aircraft sports. In 1983 he became the absolute champion of Moscow in aerobatics. In 1986 he became the champion of the USSR and the champion of Europe in the team event. In 1997 he became the world champion. In 1997, at the First World Air Games in Turkey, he was in the Russian national team in glider aerobatics. He took first place in the team competition, and also became the silver medalist in the individual competition. In 2001, at the Second World Air Games in Spain, he was the head coach of the Russian team. In 2007 he was awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports of the Russian Federation.

Reserve major, cosmonaut 1st class (04/07/1992).

He was awarded the Soviet Order of Lenin (04/27/1989), the Russian orders "For Merit to the Fatherland" 4th degree (04/05/2002), Honor (04/15/1998), Friendship of Peoples (03/25/1992), medals, including "For merit in space exploration" (04/12/2011), as well as orders and medals of foreign countries, including the badge of an officer of the Order of the Legion of Honor (1989, France), medals "For space flight" (USA, NASA, 1996, 1998, 2001) , "For Outstanding Public Service" (USA, NASA, 2003).

Honorary citizen of St. Petersburg (05/23/2007). A bust of the twice Hero was erected in St. Petersburg (2017).