13 Facts About Salizhan Sharipov

Salizhan Shakirovich Sharipov was born on 24 August 1964 and is a retired Kyrgyz cosmonaut of Uzbek descent.

Salizhan Sharipov has been to space twice and has conducted two space walks.

Salizhan Sharipov graduated from the Soviet Air Force Pilot School in 1987.

Salizhan Sharipov was decorated with Gold Star Medal of the Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Federation Air Force Medals and NASA Space Flight Medal.

Salizhan Sharipov has experience flying on MiG-21 and L-39 aircraft.

Salizhan Sharipov served as a mission specialist on the crew of STS-89, the eighth Shuttle-Mir docking mission during which the crew transferred more than 8,000 pounds of scientific equipment, logistical hardware and water from Space Shuttle Endeavour to Mir.

Salizhan Sharipov was flight engineer on Expedition 10 to the International Space Station.

Salizhan Sharipov joined the Expedition 10 crew as a flight engineer.

Salizhan Sharipov participated in ecology studies of the Earth from space.

Salizhan Sharipov has conducted two career spacewalks totalling 10 hours and 34 minutes.

Salizhan Sharipov conducted his first career spacewalk on 26 January 2005.

Salizhan Sharipov conducted his second career spacewalk on 28 March 2005.

Salizhan Sharipov deployed it from the ladder at Pirs, giving it a push in the direction opposite the direction the ISS was traveling.