Background
Gennady Padalka was born at June 21, 1958 in Krasnodar, Russian Federation
Gennady Padalka was born at June 21, 1958 in Krasnodar, Russian Federation
In 1975 he graduated from the 10th grade of secondary school № 57 of Krasnodar. 29 October 1979 – graduated from Higher Military Aviation School of Yeysk named after V.M. Komarov. Major in «Command tactical fighter-bomber aircraft» with qualification pilot-engineer. 1 February 1992 – 7 April 1994 – studied at International Center of Educaional Systems, faculty of «Aerospace and Ecology», speciality «Conjugated processing of aerospace-ecological materials» with qualification « engineer-ecologist» and a Master's degree in ecological management. In 2009 – graduated from the Russian Presidential Academy of Public Adminiatration, speciality «Public and municipal administration», specialization « Public Adminiatration and National Security».
25 January 1989 – by the decision of the SIDC G. Padalka was recommended for including in the cosmonauts team of 1SSRT CTC (10th admission); Since 19 December 1979. A pilot, a senior pilot of military unit 81776. Since 27 August 1984 he was a senior pilot of military unit 44346. Since 22 April 1989 – a test cosmonaut candidate; since 6 April 1991 – a test cosmonaut. Since July 1999 – a test-instructor cosmonaut.