For more than half a century, mankind has been mastering the comic space. The results may seem modest. However, every step hides the colossal work of a large team. Oleg Kononenko is a pilot-cosmonaut who made four flights into low-earth orbit.
Starting conditions
Boys born in the 60s, almost all dreamed of becoming astronauts. Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko was born on June 21, 1964 in an ordinary Soviet family. Parents at that time lived in the city of Chardzhou. My father worked as a driver. Mother is a picker at a local airport. The boy grew up active and inquisitive. He went in for sports with enthusiasm, participated in social events. In parallel with the secondary school he graduated from art.
Oleg loved team games, and in the tenth grade he was awarded the first category in volleyball. Having received a certificate of maturity, he entered the Kharkov Aviation Institute. During his student years, Kononenko did not change his habits. He played volleyball for the national team of the institute. For three years he was listed as the director of the cosmonautics museum at the faculty. In 1988 he graduated and qualified as a mechanical engineer. After assignment, he came to work at a specialized design bureau in the city of Kuibyshev.
Preparatory stage
In a secret design bureau, a young specialist was engaged in the development of power supply systems for spacecraft. Each engineer tried to contribute to the creation of satellites and orbital stations. Kononenko made several rationalization proposals, which were approved for use. But technical creativity on Earth does not replace testing systems in space. Given this circumstance, Oleg applied for admission to the cosmonaut corps.
After considering the application and various checks, the engineer's request was satisfied. The state of health of the candidate was checked especially carefully. Preparations for the flight began in 1998. It is important to note that the training program is designed for several years. Such that three months after enrollment a person was sent into space does not happen. Kononenko not only went through all the necessary procedures, but also continued to work on current projects.
Space vector
In April 2008, the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft went into space with a crew of three. Kononenko was listed as a flight engineer. South Korean citizen - exploration cosmonaut. The commander is pilot-cosmonaut Sergei Volkov. Docking with the ISS took place normally. The flight lasted almost seven months. After the first "voyage" Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko visited orbit three more times.
The personal life of the famous researcher has developed traditionally. Husband and wife have cemented their relationship on Earth once and for all. Twins are growing up in the house: a son and a daughter. In between flights to orbit, Oleg Dmitrievich prefers to relax with his family - at his dacha, at sea, at home. Sometimes he manages to read a historical novel.
