Background
Sergei Ryzhikov was born on August 19, 1974.
Sergei Ryzhikov was born on August 19, 1974.
In 1991, S. Ryzhikov graduated from the 12th secondary school and completed his training at the Young Pilot club in Nizhnevartovsk, Tyumen oblast.
In 1991 – entered the Orenburg Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots (OVVAUL) named after I.S. Polbin. When OVVAUL was dissolved, S. Ryzhikov continued his studies at the Kachinsk Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots. In 1996, S. Ryzhikov graduated from the above mentioned school majoring in the field of tactical fighter aviation and got the diploma of a pilot-engineer.
From 1996 to 1997, S. Ryzhikov served as a pilot of the training air force regiment in Sennoy urban settlement, Saratov oblast;
In 1997 – served as a senior pilot of the Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment belonging to the 76th Air Army in the city of Andreapol, Tver oblast;
From July 1997 to February 2007, S. Ryzhikov served as a pilot, senior pilot, Air Force Flight Commander, Chief of Staff, Deputy Commander of the Aviation Squadron, Air Force Flight Commander of the Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment belonging to the 23rd Air Army and to the 14th Air Force Army and Air Defense in Chita oblast.
By the time S. Ryzhikov joined the cosmonaut team, he had already flown L-39 and MIG-29 aircrafts. The total flight time makes up over 700 hours. S. Ryzhikov is the 2nd class Military Pilot, Dive Officer and Parachute Training Instructor who conducted more than 350 parachute jumps.
On October 11, 2006, under the decision of the Interdepartmental Committee for the Selection of Cosmonauts, S. Ryzhikov was chosen to join the 14th cosmonaut team for a general space training (GSP);
In February 2007, according to the decision of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, S. Ryzhikov was included into the RGNIITsPK cosmonaut team as a candidate for the test-cosmonaut position;
Since June 2009, S. Ryzhikov has served as a test-cosmonaut.
From July 2009 to January 2014 – underwent the spaceflight training;
From January 2013 to December 2014, S. Ryzhikov served as a deputy to the Shift Flight Operator and trained the crew at the Mission Control Center (MCC).
From December 2014 to March 2016 – was training for the space flight within the ISS-47/48 back-up crew as the commander of the Soyuz TMA-2-M transport manned space vehicle and as the ISS flight engineer.
From March to October 2016 – underwent training within the ISS-49/50 main crew as the commander of the Soyuz MS-02 transport manned space vehicle and as the ISS-49/50 flight engineer.
From October 19, 2016 to April 10, 2017, S. Ryzhikov flew for his first space mission as the commander aboard the Soyuz MS-02 transport manned vehicle and as the ISS-49/50 flight engineer alongside with Roscosmos Cosmonaut Andrey Borisenko and NASA Astronaut Shane Kimbrough. While working aboard the ISS, S. Ryzhikov conducted dozens of experiments under the Russian scientific program in the following fields of study: medicine, space biology, biotechnologies, physical and chemical processes and etc. The cosmonaut worked aboard Russian and foreign cargo spacecraft, ensured the ISS on-board system service and on-board photo and video shooting.
The flight duration: 173 days, 03 hr., 16 min. Crew code name: Favory.
S. Ryzhikov holds the test-cosmonaut position in the Roscosmos cosmonaut team.