 salizhan shakirovich sharipov () (born 24 august 1964 in uzgen, osh oblast, kirghiz ssr, now in kyrgyzstan) is a kyrgyzstani cosmonaut of uzbek ancestry. sharipov is a co-author and investigator for the advanced diagnostic ultrasound in microgravity project. he has been to space twice and has conducted two spacewalks. sharipov retired on 18 july 2008. ==personal== sharipov, ethnic uyghur, was the first cosmonaut of the kyrgyz republic. he is married to nadezhda mavlyanovna sharipova. they have one daughter, nigara salizhanovna sharipova, born in 1988 and one son, zhakhongir salizhanovich sharipov, born in 1992. he is known to enjoy football and reading. his father, mr. shakirzhan sharipov, resides in uzgen. sharipov is famous for his unibrow. ==education== sharipov graduated from the soviet air force pilot school in 1987. in 1994, he graduated from moscow state university with a degree in cartography. == awards and honors== pilot-cosmonaut of the russian federation (1988), hero of the kyrgyz republic (kyrgyz respublikasynyn baatyry) (1998). he was decorated with gold star medal of the hero of the kyrgyz republic (ak shumkar medal, 1998), russian federation air force medals and nasa space flight medal (1998). on 20 april 2005, kyrgyz republic issued a postal stamp depicting salizhan sharipov.{{cite web|url=http://www.stamp.elcat.kg/english/2005.html|title=postage stamps of the kyrgyz republic 2005|accessdate=j
1964_births Crew_members_of_the_International_Space_Station Heroes_of_the_Russian_Federation Kyrgyzstani_people Kyrgyzstani_people_of_Uzbek_descent Living_people Moscow_State_University_alumni Russian_cosmonauts Soviet_Air_Force_officers