Sergey Aleksandrovich Volkov

Infobox Astronaut
name =Sergey Volkov
native_name =Сергей Александрович Волков


type = Cosmonaut
nationality =RUS
date_birth =birth date and age|1973|04|01
place_birth =Chuhuiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
occupation =Fighter pilot
rank =Captain
selection =1997
time =
mission = Soyuz TMA-12, Expedition 17
insignia = |

Sergey Aleksandrovich Volkov (Russian: Сергей Александрович Волков, born April 1, 1973, in Chuhuiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union) is a Russian cosmonaut and is the first second generation cosmonaut, the son of cosmonaut Alexander Volkov.

After graduating from the academy, Volkov served in the air force as an assistant aircraft commander. He has mastered the L-29, L-39, Il-22 (Iliushin), and Ty-134 (Tupolev) aircraft, and has accumulated 450 flight hours. He is a Class 3 military pilot.

From December 1997 to November 1999, Volkov underwent general cosmonaut training. In November 1999, he was qualified as a test cosmonaut. Since January 2000, he has been part of a group of test cosmonauts training for missions to the International Space Station (ISS).

From August 2001 to February 2003, Volkov trained as part of the Expedition 7 backup crew as a Soyuz TMA Commander and ISS Flight Engineer. From March 2003 to December 2004, he trained as part of the Expedition 11 primary crew for launch on the Orbiter. From January 2005 to February 2006, he trained as part of a group of test cosmonauts for missions to the ISS. In February 2006, he was appointed as a member of the Expedition 13 backup crew and Visiting Crew 10 as a Soyuz TMA Flight Engineer 2 and an ISS Visiting Crew Flight Engineer.

In June 2006, he was appointed a member of the Expedition 17 prime crew as Soyuz TMA Commander and ISS Commander. His mission is scheduled to last from April to September 2008. He is the youngest ISS commander to date.

When he returns to Earth, space tourist Richard Garriott, son of astronaut Owen Garriott will be aboard the same spacecraft.

External links

* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/cosmonauts/english/volkov_sergei.htm Spacefacts biography of Sergey Volkov]
* [http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/volkov.html NASA biography]
* [http://www.orionspace.net/iss/08/08-apr-2008-1.html Expedition 17 Launches Successfully from Baikonur (includes video)]