Pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, detachment of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Cosmonaut Center
Date and place of birth:
EDUCATION:
In 1989 he graduated from high school in Sevastopol and entered the Chernigov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots.
In 1992, he transferred to the Kachin Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, from which he graduated with honors with a degree in “Command Tactical Aviation” with the qualification of “pilot engineer” in 1994.
After graduating from college, he was enrolled in the first year at the Air Force Engineering Academy named after Professor N.E. Zhukovsky and graduated in 1997 with a degree in “Aircraft Testing” with the qualification “pilot-engineer-researcher”.
From 2006 to 2010, he studied at the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation and graduated with honors in the specialty “Jurisprudence” with the qualification “lawyer”.
In 2014, he defended his dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences at the Air Force Academy named after Professor N.E. Zhukovsky and Yu.A. Gagarin.
EXPERIENCE:
After graduating from the Academy named after N.E. Zhukovsky served in Air Force units as a pilot and senior pilot. Since 1998, he served as a senior pilot-instructor of the “Sky Hussars” aerobatics team at the Air Force Aviation Equipment Display Center at the Kubinka airbase, Moscow region. Mastered the Yak-52, L-39, MiG-29 aircraft. The total flight time is more than 500 hours. Performed more than 300 parachute jumps.
Military pilot-instructor 2nd class, parachute service instructor, diver officer.
PREPARATION FOR SPACE FLIGHTS:
In 2003, he was enrolled in the cosmonaut corps of the Yu.A. Gagarin.
From June 2003 to July 2005, he underwent general space training. In July 2005, A.N. Shkaplerov was awarded the qualification “test cosmonaut”.
From July 2008 to November 2009, he underwent training as part of the backup crew of ISS-22/23 as the commander of the Soyuz TMA TPK and ISS flight engineer.
From December 2009 to March 2011, he prepared for a space flight as part of the backup crew of ISS-27/28 as the commander of the Soyuz TMA TPK, ISS flight engineer.
From April to September 2011, he underwent training as part of the main crew of ISS-29/30 as the commander of the Soyuz TMA TPK and the ISS flight engineer.
From January 2013 to May 2014, he prepared for a space flight as part of the backup crew of ISS-40/41 as the commander of the Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft and the ISS flight engineer.
From June to November 2014, he underwent training as part of the main crew of ISS-42/43 as the commander of the Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft and the ISS flight engineer.
From October 2016 to March 2017, he underwent training as part of the backup crew of ISS-54/55.
From March to September 2017, he underwent training as part of the backup crew of ISS-53/54 as the commander of the Soyuz MS-06 spacecraft and the ISS flight engineer.
Since September 2017, he has been training as part of the main crew of ISS-54/55 as commander of the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, flight engineer of ISS-54 and commander of ISS-55.
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE:
1st space flight of A.N. Shkaplerov flew from November 14, 2011 to April 27, 2012 as commander of the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft and flight engineer of ISS-29/30. During the flight, he performed a spacewalk lasting 6 hours and 15 minutes. The flight duration was 165 days.
He made his 2nd space flight from November 24, 2014 to June 11, 2015 as commander of the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft and flight engineer of ISS-42/43. In accordance with the flight program of A.N. Shkaplerov performed work with the Russian transport cargo ships “Progress M-M” and the European ATV, and met the TPK “Soyuz TMA-16M”. During his activities on board the ISS, the cosmonaut conducted about 50 scientific and applied research and experiments, and performed on-board photo and video filming. The flight duration was 199 days.
HONORABLE TITLES AND AWARDS:
Hero of the Russian Federation, Gold Star medal;
honorary badge “Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation”;
Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree;
medals of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation: “For military valor” II degree, “For distinction in military service” I, II and III degrees, “For service in the Air Force”.
Honorary citizen of the hero city of Sevastopol and the city of Gagarin, Smolensk region.
HOBBIES: tennis, football, badminton, golf, fishing.
Cosmonaut: Shkaplerov Anton Nikolaevich (02/20/1972)
- 111th cosmonaut of Russia (524th in the world);
- Flight duration (2011): 165 days. 07 h 31 min;
- Flight duration (2015): 199 days. 16 hours 43 minutes
On February 20, 1972, in Sevastopol, Ukrainian SSR, the future cosmonaut Anton Nikolaevich Shkaplerov was born. At the age of 17, Anton completed high school in Sevastopol, after which he went to study at the Chernigov VVAUL. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Shkaplerov wished to remain in the ranks of the Russian army, and for this reason he was transferred to the Kachin VVAUL. He graduated from this aviation school with honors in 1994. Three years later, the future cosmonaut graduated from the Zhukovsky Military Engineering Academy, where he received a diploma in the field of research and testing of aircraft.
After completing his studies at the school, from 1997 to 1998, Anton Nikolaevich served in a combat unit of the air force in the Kaluga region. Then he served in the aerobatic team of the Aircraft Display Center. Until 2003, he was the commander of an Air Force squadron in the village. Kubinka, Moscow region. He had experience in flying such aircraft as L-39 and MiG-29.
Space training
In September 2002, Anton Nikolaevich received permission to train from the Main Medical Commission. In May 2003, Shkaplerov was enlisted as an astronaut to undergo further two years of general space training. Having passed the state exams with excellent marks, in July 2005 Anton Shkaplerov received the qualification of “test cosmonaut”. For the next six years, Anton Nikolaevich is preparing for space expeditions to the ISS. He undergoes survival training and exams on simulators - models of spacecraft. As a result of lengthy training, he was appointed commander of the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft.
In addition, in 2006, Anton Nikolaevich began studying at the Presidential Civil Service Academy in the field of jurisprudence.
Space flights
On November 14, 2011, the crew commander, cosmonaut A. Shkaplerov, as well as on-board engineers A. Ivanishin and D. Burbank (USA) set off towards the ISS on board the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft.
After successful automatic docking with the station, cosmonauts Ivanishin and Shkaperov accepted the change of command of the Russian segment of the station from. During the time spent on board the ISS, Anton Nikolaevich performed one 6-hour spacewalk to perform installation work.
After 165 days, on April 27, 2012, the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft undocked from the ISS and set off towards planet Earth.
Further training of cosmonaut Shkaplerov was aimed at future expeditions to the ISS. In the winter of 2013, I took part in a two-day training session to carry out work after landing the descent vehicle in a wooded and swampy area. This training was carried out in a forest near Moscow and was successfully completed. Anton Nikolaevich also passed exams on spaceship model simulators a couple of times with excellent marks. In 2014, he was finally approved for the role of commander of the main crew of the Soyuz TMA-15M.
On November 24, 2014, Anton Shkaplerov launched aboard the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft, together with on-board engineers Terry Vertis (USA) and Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy). Almost six hours later, a group of astronauts had already boarded the space station, where they spent the next 199 days.
Anton Nikolaevich Shkaplerov(born February 20, 1972) - Russian test cosmonaut of the FSBI “Research Institute of Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu. A. Gagarin” detachment, colonel of the Russian Air Force.
Cossack Colonel of the Moscow Regional Cossack District of the Union of Cossacks of Russia.
Education
- From 1989 to 1992 he studied at the Chernigov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots (VVAUL).
- In 1994 he graduated with honors from the Kachinsky VVAUL.
- In 1997 he graduated from the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy with a degree in research pilot engineer.
In 2010, he graduated from the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation with a degree in Jurisprudence.
experience
From 1997 to 1998 - service in the Air Force combat unit in the Kaluga region.
Since 1998 - senior pilot-instructor of the "Heavenly Hussars" aerobatic team at the Air Force Aviation Equipment Display Center, then - squadron commander of the Air Force air regiment in the city of Kubinka, Moscow Region. He flies L-39 and MiG-29 aircraft. On May 29, 2003, by decision of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Selection of Cosmonauts, he was enrolled in the cosmonaut corps to undergo general space training.
From June 16, 2003 to June 28, 2005, he completed a general space training course and on July 5, 2005, by decision of the Interdepartmental Qualification Commission, he was awarded the qualification “test cosmonaut”.
In July 2008, reports appeared about his appointment to the backup crew of Expedition 22 to the ISS. On September 21, 2008, this appointment was confirmed in the flight plan to the ISS published by the Roscosmos press service.
In July 2009, information appeared about his appointment to the backup crew of Expedition 27 and the possibility of his appointment to the main crew of Expedition 29 to the ISS. On October 7, 2009, this designation was confirmed by NASA (Press Release No. 09-233).
In November 2009, he underwent a clinical and physiological examination and was declared fit for space flight at a meeting of the State Medical Committee on November 19, 2009. On December 19, 2009, the Interdepartmental Commission approved him as the commander of the backup crew of the Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft and a member of the 22/23rd main crew of the ISS.
During the launch of the Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft on December 21, 2009, he was the backup commander of the spacecraft. At a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the selection of cosmonauts and their appointment to manned spacecraft and stations on April 26, 2010, he was certified as a cosmonaut of the detachment of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Institute Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu. A. Gagarin."
Assigned to the long-term crews of ISS-29 and ISS-30.
Flying
He launched for the first time on November 14, 2011 as commander of the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft and flight engineer of the ISS crew under the program of the 29th and 30th main space expeditions. The flight was completed on April 28, 2012 - the descent of the Soyuz-TMA TPK.
He launched for the second time on November 24, 2014 as commander of the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft. The flight was completed on June 11, 2015 - descent of the Soyuz-TMA TPK
Family status
Married, family has 2 daughters: Kira and Christina.
Awards and titles
- Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (January 26, 2017) - for courage and high professionalism shown during a long-term space flight on the International Space Station.
- Hero of the Russian Federation (Decree of the President of Russia dated November 2, 2013)
- Pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation
- Medals of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation: “For military valor” II degree, “For distinction in military service” I, II, III degrees, “For service in the Air Force”.
- “Honorary citizen of the hero city of Sevastopol” (09.11.2012)
- Since March 9, 2013, honorary citizen of Gagarin “for great services in the field of research, development and use of outer space, many years of conscientious work, active social activities, continuation of the stellar feat of Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.”
Sh Kaplerov Anton Nikolaevich - pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, 111th cosmonaut of Russia and 524th cosmonaut of the world, test cosmonaut of the cosmonaut corps of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Testing Center for Cosmonaut Training named after Yu.A. Gagarin", colonel.
Born on February 20, 1972 in the city of Sevastopol (Crimea). In 1989 he graduated from secondary school No. 30 in Sevastopol. In 1989-1992 he studied at the Chernigov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots. In 1994 he graduated with honors from the Kachin Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, in 1997 from the Aircraft Faculty of the Air Force Engineering Academy named after N.E. Zhukovsky, in 2010 from the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation with a degree in Jurisprudence. .
In 1997-1998, he served in a combat unit of the Air Force in the Kaluga region, in the village of Shaikovka. In 1998-2003, senior pilot instructor of the “Heavenly Hussars” aerobatic team at the Air Force Aviation Equipment Display Center, then squadron commander of the Air Force aviation regiment in the village of Kubinka, Moscow Region. Mastered the Yak-52, L-39, MiG-29 aircraft. Total flight time is more than 500 hours. Performed over 300 parachute jumps. Since August 2012, Colonel A.N. Shkaplerov has been in reserve.
Back in 1995, while studying in his second year at the N.E. Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy, he underwent a medical examination for two weeks as part of the 12th recruitment into the cosmonaut corps of the Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (CPC). ). On September 12, 2002, he received a positive conclusion (admission to special training) at a meeting of the Main Medical Commission.
On May 29, 2003, at a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Selection of Cosmonauts, he was enrolled in the cosmonaut corps to undergo general space training. On June 16, 2003, he began general space training, which he completed on June 28, 2005, having passed the state exams at the Cosmetic Training Center with an “excellent” grade. At a meeting of the Interdepartmental Qualification Commission on July 5, 2005, he was awarded the qualification of “test cosmonaut”.
In July 2008, reports appeared about his appointment to the backup crew of Expedition 22 on the International Space Station (ISS-22, until July 2008 designated ISS-20B). According to plans, the crew of the main expedition was supposed to launch on the Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft in November 2009. On September 21, 2008, this appointment was confirmed in the flight plan to the ISS published by the press service of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos).
In July 2009, information appeared about his appointment to the backup crew of the 27th expedition to the ISS (ISS-27, launch on the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft on March 31, 2011) and about the possibility of his appointment to the main crew of the 29th expedition to the ISS ISS (ISS-29, launch on the Soyuz TMA spacecraft on September 30, 2011). And on October 7, 2009, this appointment was confirmed by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
In November 2009, he underwent a clinical and physiological examination and was declared fit for space flight on November 19. On December 19, 2009, the Interdepartmental Commission approved him as the commander of the backup crew of the Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft and a member of the 22/23rd main crew of the ISS. During the launch of the Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft on December 20, 2009, he was the backup commander of the spacecraft.
In the period from January 20 to February 2, 2010, as part of a conditional crew, together with A.A. Ivanishin and Daniel Christopher Burbank (USA), he participated in two-day training on the ability to survive in a deserted area in the event of an emergency landing of the descent module. The training took place in a forest near Moscow. At a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the selection of cosmonauts and their appointment to manned spacecraft and stations on April 26, 2010, he was certified as a cosmonaut of the detachment of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Testing Center for Cosmonaut Training named after Yu. A. Gagarin."
On March 4, 2011, at the CPC, together with A.A. Ivanishin and D.K. Burbank, he passed the examination training on the TDK-7ST simulator (the Soyuz TMA spacecraft simulator). On March 5, 2011, the crew passed pre-flight examination training on the Russian segment of the ISS. The CPC commission assessed the crew’s work during the comprehensive two-day training as “excellent.” On March 11, 2011, the Interdepartmental Commission at the TsPK approved him as the commander of the backup crew of the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft. On April 4, 2011, at a meeting of the State Commission at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, he was approved as the commander of the backup crew of the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft. During the launch of the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft on April 4, 2011, he was the backup commander of the spacecraft.
On August 22, 2011, at a meeting of the State Medical Commission at the Central Training Center, he was declared fit for space flight as the commander of the main crew of the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft. On September 1, 2011, at the CPC, together with A.A. Ivanishin and D.K. Burbank, he passed the examination training on the Russian segment of the ISS. On September 2, 2011, the crew passed pre-flight examination training on the TDK-7ST simulator. On November 12, 1011, at a meeting of the State Commission for Flight Testing of Manned Space Systems, he was approved as commander of the main crew of the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft.
He made his first flight into space as commander of the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft and flight engineer of the 29th and 30th main expeditions to the ISS from November 14, 2011 to April 27, 2012. Started with A.A. Ivanishin and D.K. Burbank. On November 16, 2011, Soyuz TMA-22 successfully docked to the ISS, and on April 27, 2012, it undocked from the ISS and on the same day the spacecraft’s descent module successfully landed on the territory of Kazakhstan, 88 km northeast of the city of Arkalyk. The total flight duration was 165 days 7 hours 31 minutes 34 seconds. During the flight, he made one spacewalk, lasting 6 hours and 15 minutes.
On December 20, 2012, by decision of the Interdepartmental Commission, he was appointed to the main crew of the ISS-42/43 expedition (commander of the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft (planned launch date - November 30, 2014) and ISS-43, flight engineer of the ISS-42) and to the backup crew ISS-40/41 (commander of TC and ISS-41, flight engineer of ISS-40). From January 31 to February 1, 2013, I successfully completed training in a forest near Moscow to practice actions after landing in a wooded and swampy area in winter for 48 hours.
U Order of the President of the Russian Federation dated November 2, 2013 for the courage and heroism shown during a long-term space flight on the International Space Station, Shkaplerov Anton Nikolaevich awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation with a special distinction - the Gold Star medal.
Colonel (December 30, 2009), pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation (2013), military pilot-instructor 2nd class, parachute service instructor, diver officer. Awarded medals.
Honorary citizen of the city of Sevastopol, Republic of Crimea (09/11/2012) and the city of Gagarin, Smolensk region (03/6/2013).
“Three things are incomprehensible to me and four I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea and the way of a man to a woman’s heart,” confessed the sage Solomon. Let me continue: “I don’t understand the infinity of the Universe, the countless stars, and why people are born on Earth for whom the natural state is to fly, as if they have invisible wings behind them.” Who will explain why the Balaklava boy, who loved to dive from a cliff into the sea in the summer, lived with his soul in the sky, in the endless, high, blue ocean? Why were you ready to go beyond the horizon towards a winged, daring dream? After all, at first, Anton Shkaplerov had nothing but a childhood dream. Adults smiled when asked, “Boy, what do you want to be when you grow up?” he answered: “Astronaut.”
One day, my wife and I took our son from kindergarten and took us for a walk to the Komsomolsky Park for the rides,” recalls Nikolai Ivanovich Shkaplerov, the father of the cosmonaut. - We met a friend who worked as a library collector. She jokingly asked Anton: “What will you be?”, and the son seriously replied: “First a pilot, and then an astronaut.” After some time, the woman handed us a book about space. We revered. Later, I began to buy more books on space topics, seeing my son’s genuine interest. Anton was fascinated by everything related to aviation. He spent his pocket money, for example, on purchasing a construction set for assembling various aircraft models. His entire room was covered with airplanes, and then the entire loggia. This “wealth” is still kept in my garage to this day,” my father says with a smile.
But if Anton had followed the family tradition, he would have been a sailor now. Nikolai Ivanovich Shkaplerov performed naval service on a submarine. Once, when his wife, Tamara Viktorovna, fell ill and suddenly went to the hospital, the father of the family had to take his son with him on duty.
It was urgent to intervene. Antoshka is nearby, you won’t leave him alone. When the divorce went through, I quietly carried him into the cabin and put him to bed. At night - check. The brigade duty officer saw the child and was simply stunned: “Who is this?” Somehow he explained himself. But in the morning Anton was happy to spin the periscope. Romance!
In Balaklava, which was closed at that time, it was customary to celebrate holidays together. Families of sailors were allowed to visit military units, and Anton felt comfortable in this environment. On open days, the boys were treated to the same thing that conscript sailors were fed in the canteen. The future space conqueror liked naval pasta and compote. He demanded this “menu” at home too.
With great warmth, Nikolai Ivanovich goes through childhood photographs of his son, who at that moment is flying over the Earth at a speed of 9 km per second on the International Space Station. Sighs:
Of course, I didn’t have the opportunity to spend as much time with Anton as I would have liked. After all, I am a military man. But sometimes I took him and friends with me, the same boys. We went to the mountains, lit fires, looked at the sea... I know that Balaklava holds a special place in Anton’s heart. For him this is not just a point on a geographical map. This is the environment in which he grew up. In a word - Motherland.
In a leisurely conversation, it turned out that the roots of the Shkaplerov family were Belarusian. The parents of the future “celestial” come from the Bykhovsky district of the Mogilev region.
I was born in the village of Kipyachi. Today there is no longer a settlement with that name. But I’m sure there is a forest that we planted with our forester father,” Nikolai Ivanovich continues the story. - Studying at school was easy for me, but local conditions allowed me to complete only 8 classes. At the age of 16, my relatives took me to another city. In Kurgan I went to work at a military factory, where there were excellent craftsmen, my teachers. I also served as a mechanic on a submarine. And even if someone called us “butterheads,” thanks to technical literacy I feel in demand all my life. I can understand any mechanism, including electronics...
- You are telling, and I involuntarily remember the biography of the first cosmonaut of the Earth, Yu.A. Gagarin.
He also came from a village. I also went to a big city for education - my relatives helped. The first specialty was a worker - a molder-foundry worker. From the Saratov Industrial College he came to the flying club. That generation of Soviet youth literally raved about the sky...
Yes, I also wanted to fly! I hoped to enter the Kurgan Flight School of Pilot-Navigators. But at the medical examination a misunderstanding arose. I understand this now, but then I retreated. But when Anton’s turn came and the story with the medical board almost repeated itself, I reacted differently. I asked for a double check, and it turned out I was right. Anton is healthy without any comments!
- In one interview, journalists asked Anton Nikolaevich what nationality he considers himself to be. The astronaut replied that the roots were Belarusian. Born and raised in Sevastopol when the Soviet Union existed. But first of all, he is a Russian officer and serves Russia. It seems that it was not without your personal example that your son chose the military profession.
I'll tell you more. When Anton entered the Chernigov Higher Military Flight School, my wife, daughter Lena, and I were present at the taking of the oath. Later, the cadets were asked to re-oath allegiance to Ukraine. It was the beginning of the 90s. Anton, alarmed, called home, and I said: “Son, I’ve already been to your oath. I won’t come again.” He understood me correctly. He refused to re-swear and was sent to Russia of his own free will, where he entered and graduated with honors from the Kachinsky Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots in Volgograd.
The family remembers that Anton received his license to fly an airplane during his school years, that is, much earlier than his driver’s license. The future cosmonaut spent days on end on the airfield of the Sevastopol DOSAAF. This is how he himself recalls that period of his life:
My instructor was Mikhail Fedorovich Dudatin. At first I didn't succeed. But by the end of the export program (flights before the first independent flight), I tasted the thrill of flying on an airplane. He was one of the first to fly out. Then there was another year of flights. So, towards the end of school, my classmates, the guys from Kachi, could not come to the airfield. They were preparing hard for their final exams at school. I focused on airplanes. To avoid idle aircraft, under the cover of Mikhail Fedorovich, I flew under someone else’s call sign, slightly changing the intonation of my voice.
There were days when I, alone in the group, flew all day, as pilots say, without leaving the cockpit. Quantity turned into quality, and by the end of my training I was already flying like a young athlete. It was then that I decided to definitely connect my life with the sky! Now I am in touch with the head of the Sevastopol flying club, Oleg Anatolyevich Okhonko. At my time, he was an instructor in a neighboring air group. Now he is trying to preserve the flying club within the new, Russian framework. I hope that the flying club will train many more future Russian Air Force pilots and Roscosmos cosmonauts. On my next visit to Sevastopol, I will be happy to visit the airfield in Yukharin Balka and, perhaps, fly on a small propeller plane, like 25 years ago...
After graduating from the Kachinsky Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots A.N. Shkaplerov was enrolled as a first-year student at the Air Force Academy. NOT. Zhukovsky, from which he graduated in 1997 with a degree in aircraft testing with the qualification of pilot engineer-researcher. In 2014, at the same academy, he defended his dissertation and was awarded the academic degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences. In 2003, A.N. Shkaplerov was enrolled in the cosmonaut corps and underwent general space training for several years. He was awarded the qualification “test cosmonaut” in 2005. Twice Anton Nikolaevich underwent training as part of backup crews. Finally, in September 2011, his first space flight took place.
Balaclava was looking forward to the astronaut's return. His visit to his native school No. 30 in 2012 created a sensation. To meet with A.N. Many people came to the Shkaplerovs: teachers, former classmates, children and their parents. Everyone was interested in the path of an ordinary Balaklava boy to the stars, and for many schoolchildren the following words became memorable:
I have something to say. Perhaps for someone my success will become a living example of the fact that you need to go towards your dream, no matter what! If someone tells you that what you have in mind is impossible, do not believe it. I always say: “If you really want to, you can fly into space!” You are now at the age when you need to set yourself a life goal. Nothing is impossible!
February 20 Hero of Russia, pilot-cosmonaut of Sevastopol origin A.N. Shkaplerov will celebrate his 43rd birthday in low-Earth orbit. This will be the 88th day of his second space flight. The staff of the newspaper "Glory of Sevastopol" joins the numerous congratulations that are sure to be heard on this day. We will try to convey sincere, warm wishes into space from all our subscribers and readers.
See you on Earth!
In the photo: Shkaplerov family, late 80s.
Photo from the family archive.
