From: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Cosmonauts selected to fly on a Space Shuttle [Release 92-166] (Forwarded)
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 23:36:27 GMT

Debra Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                October 6, 1992
(Phone:  202/358-1639)


RELEASE:  92-166

COSMONAUTS SELECTED TO FLY ON A SPACE SHUTTLE


     NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin has approved the 
selection of cosmonauts Sergei K. Krikalev and Col. Vladimir 
G. Titov as the two Russian candidates who will train to fly 
on a Space Shuttle mission scheduled for launch in November 
1993.

     "We are delighted with the selection of these two 
outstanding cosmonauts and look forward to their impending 
arrival at NASA's Johnson Space Center," Goldin said in an 
Oct. 5, 1992, letter to Yuri N. Koptev, Director-General, 
Russian Space Agency (RSA). 

     The two cosmonauts are scheduled to arrive at NASA's 
Johnson Space Center, Houston, later in October to begin 
mission specialist training on Shuttle systems, flight 
operations, and manifested payload procedures.  One cosmonaut 
will be designated the prime crewmember, and the other will 
be designated as the backup crewmember.

     The flight of a cosmonaut on the STS-60 mission is one 
element of the Implementing Agreement on NASA/RSA Cooperation 
in Human Space Flight that was signed today by Goldin and 
Koptev in Moscow.
 
Cosmonaut Biographies

     Col. Vladimir Georgievich Titov, Soviet Air Force, was 
born Jan. 1, 1947, in the town of Sretensk, Chitinck region.  
Titov graduated from the Higher Air Force College in 
Chernigov, Ukraine, in 1970, where he served as a pilot-
instructor until 1974.  Titov has flown 10 different types of 
aircraft, has logged over 1300 hours flying time and holds 
the qualifications of Military Pilot, lst Class and Test-
Pilot, 3rd Class.

     Titov was selected to join the cosmonaut team in 1976 
and in September 1981, served as a back-up crew member for 
Soyuz T-5 launched on May 18, 1982.

     Titov made his first spaceflight as Commander of Soyuz 
T-8, launched on April 20, 1983.  Titov was supposed to dock 
with Saylut 7, but was unable to because the Soyuz rendezvous 
radar antenna failed to deploy properly.  After several 
attempts, Titov aborted the rendezvous to avoid a crash and 
returned to Earth after a flight lasting just over 2 days.

     Titov next served as backup for the Soyuz T-9 mission 
launched on June 27, 1983.

     Titov was onboard Soyuz T-10 on Sept. 27, 1983, which 
caught fire 1 minute before launch when a propellant line 
valve failed to close at T-90 seconds.  The fire quickly 
engulfed the rocket, but controllers were able to pull the 
Soyuz descent module clear by the launch escape system.  The 
crew landed safely some 2.5 miles (4 km) from the launch 
vehicle.

     In 1987 he graduated from the Yuri Gagarin Air Force 
Academy while working at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training 
Center.

     Titov was Commander of the Soyuz TM-4 launched on Dec. 
21, 1987.  Titov and Musa Manarov set a new record for long 
duration in space of 365 days, 22 hours and 89 minutes.  Upon 
his return to Earth, Titov was awarded the title of Hero of 
the Soviet Union and also received his second Order of Lenin.  
In addition, the French awarded him the title of Commandeur 
de la Legion d'Honneur and in 1990, he and Manarov were 
awarded the U.S. Harmon Prize -- the first Soviet citizens to 
win the award -- in recognition of their world endurance 
record.

     Titov is married and has a daughter born in 1975 and a 
son born in 1985.

     Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev was born on Aug. 27, 
1958, in Leningard.  He completed his studies at the 
Institute of Mechanics in Leningrad in 198l, and then worked 
in a design bureau where he participated in the creation of 
new space technology devices.  He is involved in sport 
aviation and holds a Master of Sport in sport aviation.

     Krikalev began cosmonaut training in November 1985 and 
made his first spaceflight as flight engineer onboard Soyuz 
TM-7, launched on Nov. 26, 1988.  Krikalev returned to Earth 
after having spent 151 days, 11 hours and 8 minutes in space.  
His second flight aboard Mir was from May 18, 1991, to March 
25, 1992 (312 days). 

     Upon his return, Krikalev was awared the title of Hero 
of the Soviet Union and also received the Order of Lenin.  In 
addition, the French awarded him the title of L'Officier de 
la Legion d'Honneur.

     Krikalev is married and has a daughter born in 1990.
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