Mikhail Kornienko

Mikhail Kornienko is a renowned Russian cosmonaut who has spent a significant amount of time in space, working with organizations such as Roscosmos, NASA, and the European Space Agency. Born in Syzyran, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union, Kornienko has had a distinguished career, with missions to the International Space Station and collaborations with astronauts from United States, Canada, and Japan. His work has been closely tied to that of other notable cosmonauts, including Gennady Padalka, Sergei Krikalev, and Pavel Vinogradov, as well as astronauts like Scott Kelly, Timothy Kopra, and Timothy Peake. Kornienko's achievements have been recognized by the Russian Federation, with awards and honors bestowed upon him by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the Russian government.

● Early Life and Education

Mikhail Kornienko was born on April 15, 1960, in Syzyran, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union, to a family of Soviet citizens. He spent his early years in Syzyran, before moving to Moscow, where he attended school and developed an interest in science and technology. Kornienko's education took him to the Moscow Aviation Institute, where he studied alongside future cosmonauts like Yuri Malenchenko and Salizhan Sharipov. After graduating from the Moscow Aviation Institute, Kornienko went on to work for the Russian aerospace industry, collaborating with companies like RKK Energia and S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia. His work in the aerospace industry brought him into contact with notable figures like Boris Chertok, Konstantin Feoktistov, and Vladimir Chelomey.

● Career

Kornienko's career as a cosmonaut began in 1998, when he was selected to join the Roscosmos cosmonaut corps, alongside other notable cosmonauts like Oleg Kononenko and Roman Romanenko. He underwent training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, where he was instructed by experienced cosmonauts like Pavel Popovich and Andriyan Nikolayev. Kornienko's first mission to space was in 2010, when he flew to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft, accompanied by Alexander Skvortsov and Tracy Caldwell Dyson. During his time on the International Space Station, Kornienko worked closely with astronauts from NASA, including Douglas Wheelock and Shannon Walker, as well as cosmonauts from Roscosmos, like Fyodor Yurchikhin and Oleg Kotov.

● Spaceflight Experience

Kornienko's most notable mission was his year-long stay on the International Space Station, from 2015 to 2016, as part of the Year-Long Mission experiment, conducted in collaboration with NASA and the European Space Agency. During this mission, he was accompanied by Scott Kelly, with whom he shared a unique experience, as both men spent nearly a year in space, studying the effects of long-term spaceflight on the human body. Kornienko's time on the International Space Station also overlapped with that of other notable astronauts, including Timothy Kopra, Timothy Peake, and Yuri Malenchenko. His work on the International Space Station involved conducting scientific experiments, performing spacewalks, and maintaining the station's systems, in collaboration with Roscosmos, NASA, and the European Space Agency.

● Awards and Honors

Mikhail Kornienko has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to space exploration, including the Hero of the Russian Federation title, awarded by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. He has also been awarded the Order of Friendship, the Medal for Merit in Space Exploration, and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, in recognition of his work with NASA and the International Space Station program. Kornienko's achievements have been recognized by the Russian government, with awards and honors bestowed upon him by the State Duma and the Federation Council. His contributions to space exploration have also been acknowledged by international organizations, including the United Nations, the European Space Agency, and the International Astronautical Federation.

● Personal Life

Mikhail Kornienko is married to Irina Kornienko, and they have a daughter, Natalia Kornienko. In his free time, Kornienko enjoys hiking, fishing, and reading, and is an avid fan of Russian literature, particularly the works of Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Kornienko's experiences in space have been documented in various books and films, including the IMAX documentary Space Station 3D, which features footage of his time on the International Space Station. His story has also been told in books like An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield and Packing for Mars by Mary Roach, which highlight the challenges and wonders of space travel.