Background
Alexander Poleshchuk was born in 1953.
Alexander Poleshchuk was born in 1953.
From 1961 to 1969 he had been studying studied at the 8th- year school № 19 in the city of Cheremkhovo.
Alexander Poleschuk has worked as a test engineer at RSC ENERGIA since May 26, 1977.
Initially, he was an engineer of the 111th department, from August 1, 1981 he had been working as a senior engineer of the 110th department, and from August 1, 1982 - senior engineer of the 292nd department. From January 10, 1989, and before enlisting in the cosmonaut detachment, he worked as the chief of the sector of the 292nd Division.
He was engaged in organizing the testing of instruments and working out the extra-flying activity of cosmonauts in the maintenance and repair of orbital stations. He personally took part in the tests and worked more than 700 hours under the water in the hydro-basin. Developed and improved tools and adaptations for the work of astronauts in open outer space.
On February 27, 1989 he was selected as a test cosmonaut candidate of 291st Division of the RSC ENERGIA. At the end of April 1982, he began to undergo in-patient medical examination at the Institute of Biomedical Problems within the next set (7th set) of cosmonauts of the RSC ENERGIA, and on December 3, 1982 he was admitted to special training. In 1984, he took part in the internal examinations at the RSC ENERGIA during the 7th set, but was not selected for the cosmonaut detachment.
Every year he was re-examined in IBMP to receive confirmation of admission to special training, and the decision of the State Interdepartmental Commission of January 25, 1989 was selected as a candidate for the cosmonaut of RSC ENERGIA . On February 27, 1989, he was selected as a candidate test cosmonaut of the 291st Division of the RSC ENERGIA.
From September 1989 to January 1991 he underwent the complete course of general space training and was qualified as a test cosmonaut. On February 1, 1991, by decision of the Interdepartmental Qualification Commission he was awarded the test cosmonaut qualification. On June 1, 1991 he was appointed to the position of test cosmonaut of the 291st Division (cosmonaut corps) of the RSC ENERGIA.
From February 1991 to March 1992 he was trained for flights on the Soyuz TM and Mir spacecraft as part of the group.
Since February 1992 he was trained as a flight engineer of the third (reserve) crew on the program of the 12th main expedition to the Mir space station, together with G.Manakov. In March 1992, after the disbanding of the second crew (V.Korzun, A.Laveykin) the crew of G.Manakov - A.Poleschuk was appointed for the second flight. From March to July 7, 1992 he trained as a backup crew member of the Soyuz TM-15 spacecraft together with G. Manakov and Jean-Pierre Haignere (France). On July 27, 1992, he worked as the backup engineer of the ship.
From September 16, 1992 to January 10, 1993, he was trained as a flight engineer of the main crew on the program of the 13th main expedition to the Mir space station, together with G.Manakov.
From January 24 to July 22, 1993 he participated in a space flights along with G. Manakov as a flight engineer of Soyuz TM-16 and OK Mir of program EO-13 (13th main expedition). The landing was carried out together with G. Manakov and Jean-Pierre Haignere (France). Callsign: "Volcano-2".
On March 25, 2004, by order of the president of the RSC Energia, he was dismissed from his post as a test cosmonaut for seniority.
Hero of the Russian Federation