Born: 1948
Biography:
Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya (Russian: Светлана Евгеньевна Савицкая; born 8 August 1948) is a Russian former aviator and Soviet cosmonaut who achieved several groundbreaking milestones in space exploration. She became the second woman to travel to space and later became the first woman to perform a spacewalk. Savitskaya also set several world records as a pilot, earning her a place in aviation history.
Born into a privileged family, Savitskaya’s father, Yevgeny Savitsky, was a highly decorated fighter pilot during World War II who later rose to the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Soviet Air Defense. Her mother was a leader in the Moscow Communist party. Despite her parents’ knowledge, Savitskaya secretly began parachuting at the age of 16. It was only when her father discovered a parachute knife in her school bag that he realized her hidden talent. Rather than discouraging her, he encouraged and supported her passion. By the time she turned seventeen, she had already completed 450 parachute jumps, including record-breaking jumps from the stratosphere. She continued to achieve three world record jumps from the stratosphere and 15 world record jumps from jet planes.
After graduating from the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) in 1972, Savitskaya trained as a test pilot at the Fedotov Test Pilot School, where she graduated in 1976. In 1978, she joined the aircraft manufacturer Yakovlev and became a test pilot. Savitskaya’s impressive flying experience led her to become the first woman to reach a speed of 2,683 km/h in a MiG-25 aircraft. Her expertise and dedication made her an asset to the Soviet Space Program.
In 1979, Savitskaya participated in the selection process for the second group of female cosmonauts. Her extensive experience in aeronautics distinguished her from Valentina Tereshkova, who was chosen primarily for political reasons. Savitskaya’s technical skills and qualifications made her a serious and highly respected candidate for space missions.
On June 30, 1980, Savitskaya was officially admitted to the Soviet cosmonaut team. In 1982, she flew aboard Soyuz T-7, becoming the second woman to venture into space. This achievement alone would have secured Savitskaya’s place in history, but she wasn’t done yet. In 1984, during the Soyuz T-12 mission, she made history once again by becoming the first woman to fly to space for the second time and the first woman to perform a spacewalk. Savitskaya’s spacewalk lasted three and a half hours, during which she conducted various experiments and repairs on the outer surface of the spacecraft. This extraordinary feat demonstrated her courage, intelligence, and resourcefulness as a space explorer.
Apart from her contributions to space exploration, Savitskaya was also a successful competitive pilot. Between 1969 and 1977, she was a proud member of the Soviet national team for aerobatics. In 1970, at the FAI World Aerobatic Championships in Hullavington, Savitskaya flew a Yak-18 and, together with an all-female team, won the world championship. Her remarkable performance led a British journalist to nickname her Miss Sensation. Savitskaya continued to participate in championships and placed third at the 1972 World Championships in Salon-de-Provence and fifth in 1976 in Kiev.
Svetlana Savitskaya’s achievements have left an indelible mark on the history of women in aviation and space exploration. Her determination, bravery, and groundbreaking accomplishments continue to inspire generations of women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She will forever be remembered as a trailblazer and an icon of women’s empowerment in space exploration.
Awards:
– Various FAI world records for parachute jumps and world championship titles in aerobatics.