Oleg Novitsky is often called the first cosmonaut in the history of sovereign Belarus: although his citizenship is Russian, his roots are Belarusian. Oleg was born in Cherven and graduated from school here. His career took off: after graduation, Novitsky became a military pilot, then an astronaut - and spent six months on the International Space Station. But we found Oleg in his native Cherven. “It’s unlikely that I’ll be able to get out here again before the flight,” the cosmonaut says with regret. According to Roscosmos' plan, on November 16 it will go to the ISS again.
The main attraction of Cherven
Snow-covered Cherven is located 64 kilometers from Minsk. Perhaps the most remarkable fact from his biography: until 1923, this city was called Igumen. 9,752 people live here, and the main attraction of Cherven is Oleg Novitsky.
— Guys, look who came to you, — the director of secondary school No. 2 announces to the second-graders the appearance of a real astronaut in the lesson.
— Father Frost?- the children are not sure.
— This is Oleg Novitsky, our cosmonaut!— the director explains patiently.
But older guys have no problem recognizing the former graduate. And Novitsky admits without mincing words: his favorite subjects at school were physical education and military training.
— But there was an incentive to study: I played football at a sports school. If you get a bad grade, you won’t go to training.
When Oleg Novitsky was on board the ISS in 2013, a competition “Write a letter to the astronaut” was organized for schoolchildren. A stack of children's drawings and writings was sent into orbit. Novitsky not only patiently answered children’s questions (“How many stars are there in the sky?”, “Why are aliens green?”), but also called those who left their phone numbers directly from space. Only one boy from Cherven answered the phone. The rest were probably scared by an unfamiliar number with an unprecedented code. Well, the astronaut calls only the brave.
Today, in Cherven secondary school No. 2 there is even a Museum of Cosmonautics (“ This used to be a dentist's office."- recalls Oleg). On the wall are Novitsky’s childhood photos, in the windows is Yulia Novitskaya’s book “The Voice of the Heart. Diary of an Astronaut's Wife,” as well as real space food, a glove and a suit that Oleg wore in space.
— There are 167 exhibits in total, the main ones are those that you gave - the director proudly reports . — We want to dedicate a separate room to you!
— Maybe we should not?- Oleg Viktorovich is embarrassed. He's obviously not very comfortable, but the director is enthusiastic.
Let's take a break to look at the space food. Do you know that there are almost no products left in tubes on the ISS? Only honey and seasonings. Everything else is in the bags: dehydrated food, actually powder, to which you just need to add water. And even tiger shrimps can be sent into orbit!
— Recently, in preparation for the flight, we were given a tasting,— Novitsky smiles. — For a week, instead of lunch, the crew went to the medical office, where they served about twenty dishes every day. We tried them and rated them on a nine-point scale. Based on our taste priorities, nutritionists will create a diet for life at the station.
However, not all the research that astronauts encounter on the eve of a flight is so pleasant. There is, for example, an isolation chamber: a small soundproof room with artificial lighting, where you need to spend five days in complete solitude, but under CCTV cameras. You can sleep on the first and last night. Three days between - a mode of continuous activity: you perform physical exercises and tests without a break for sleep. This is done in order to make sure that in the event of an emergency at the station, the astronaut will be able to work as long as possible. It’s possible to fail such a task: Oleg recalls how on the second day one of the guys started brushing aside a non-existent midge...
But for Novitsky, the most difficult thing was not the five days in the isolation cell, but the waiting. Five years passed from the moment he became a test cosmonaut until the day he found himself on the ISS - and that was lucky.
— My friend Max Suraev waited almost twelve years for his first flight. It is very difficult to duplicate the crew over and over again and remain on Earth all the time. Astronautics is a good thing, but you fly too rarely.
Gun, plane, Novitsky
From the school we move towards the center of Cherven. It feels like Novitsky really loves this city:
— I come as soon as possible. In November we were going on vacation, and I told my wife: let’s you and your daughter go to the Emirates, and I’ll go to Belarus. It didn't work out. They convinced that the family should relax together.
The astronaut is connected with Cherven not only by nostalgia: Novitsky’s mother, other relatives and friends still live here. He himself moved from here in 1988 - and says that the city has changed a lot since then. Little things come to mind. The monument to Lenin was moved from the central square. The football field has been built up. In place of the toy store there is now a hardware store. We drive past a former sporting goods store: I saved money as a child, and still only had enough for one dumbbell. But sooner or later, all conversations with astronauts inevitably return to space.
— Did your wife and daughter tell you how they felt while watching you take off from Baikonur? Fear or pride?
— More fear. Pride comes later when you return to Earth. And so... This is a ballistic missile that they “shoot” you into space. Once upon a time I myself launched rockets into the ground, but now I have to fly on them.
Oleg Novitsky served in the North Caucasus. He talks about this on the way to another city landmark, unofficially dedicated to Novitsky. This is a Su-24 bomber, which was recently installed at the entrance to Cherven.
— But I didn’t fly one, I flew a Su-25,” corrects Oleg Viktorovich.
Behind the plane is a cannon, a favorite meeting place for the dawn of graduates of three schools and one gymnasium in Cherven. Novitsky calls her unusual. It turns out that there used to be a “forty-five” here. Once they took it to a parade in Minsk, but they returned another weapon. Maybe they just got confused?..
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
A Canadian astronaut was on the ISS with Oleg Novitsky Chris Hadfield- the same one who became an Internet star thanks to his cover of David Bowie's Space Oddity. Last year, his book “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth” was published in Russian. Among other things, Hadfield described in it many traditions that are observed at Baikonur - such as the collective viewing of “White Sun of the Desert” (according to the Canadian’s description, “a Russian film, the main character of which is somewhat reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia”).
— Why exactly “White Sun of the Desert”? There is nothing about space there.
— There are many versions,” Novitsky jokes. — Either someone liked this film, or there was no other.
Hadfield also wrote that an important place in training is occupied by the so-called simulation of unforeseen circumstances, that is, the death of an astronaut. They say that in the presence of the “dead man” himself and even his wife, they discuss what to do with the corpse, how quickly it will decompose on the ISS and how to fight off journalists.
— First time I've heard about this,” Novitsky is sincerely surprised.
Then let's check another incredible fact from the book: is it true that astronauts take off in diapers?
— Those from NASA - yes,” Oleg Viktorovich grins. — Our mentality is different; we are not ready for diapers.
— Do you need to drink a sip of rocket fuel with the ship’s designers before the flight?
— This is a sip of pure alcohol. An optional action, because not every foreigner can handle it. By the way, I also refused to drink “rocket juice”.
At Baikonur, it is now fashionable to receive the blessing of a priest: he will generously sprinkle water on all astronauts, regardless of religion. Another tradition Hadfield called "getting a kick in the ass from a high-ranking official."
— There is such a thing, - Oleg Viktorovich laughs. — When the cosmonauts, already in spacesuits, climb the ladder, one of the accompanying people lightly gives you a knee in the ass. Push up! We are warned in advance: there is no need to turn around and fight back.
Worm from Space
We approach the sports school where the future cosmonaut trained. They, as you know, need to be in perfect physical shape. Astronauts undergo four medical examinations a year, but it is still difficult to endure the overload.
— At first you feel very bad: your face swells, your nose starts to runny. Then you get used to it. You come back and it’s bad again. But the better your physical training, the faster you get in shape.
Although it's hard to imagine from Earth, there is plenty of routine in life on an orbital station. Astronauts have a lot of work: they need to conduct experiments, maintain the functionality of the ISS. Saturday and Sunday are closed, but the station still needs vacuuming! And even celebrating the New Year in space can turn out to be quite prosaic.
— The Russian New Year came at 23.00 station time, so we finished work, opened canned food, took juice... But already at 0.30 Moscow time the toilet broke down: we had to repair it.
I know that Oleg Novitsky took the Belarusian flag and the Cherven flag with him on board the ISS. From space he examined and even photographed Minsk. Maybe Worm can be seen from orbit?
— The city is small and lacks contrast, especially in winter. It was hard, but I found it!— the astronaut smiles.
Oleg Novitsky was born on October 12, 1971 in the city of Cherven, Belarus. After graduating from secondary school No. 2, in 1988 he entered the Borisoglebsk VVAUL named after V.P. Chkalova. From 1990 to 1993, in connection with the reorganization of BVVAUL, he continued his studies at the Yeisk Higher Military Aviation Order of Lenin Pilot School named after V.M. Komarova in the city of Yeisk.
In 1993, in connection with the reorganization of EVVAUL, Oleg was transferred to the Kachinsky Higher Military Aviation Order of Lenin Red Banner Pilot School named after A.F. Myasnikov in Volgograd, where he graduated in 1994 with a degree in Command Tactical Fighter Aviation with the qualification of Pilot Engineer.
For 10 years, Oleg Viktorovich served in the North Caucasus Military District as a pilot, senior pilot, and deputy commander of an aviation squadron of the attack air regiment of the 4th Air Army and the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army. Mastered the L-39 and Su-25 aircraft, the total flight time was more than 600 hours. Oleg received the rank of military pilot 2nd class. He took part in establishing constitutional order in the Chechen Republic, and subsequently was awarded the title “Combat Veteran”.
From 2004 to 2006, Novitsky studied at the Yu.A. Air Force Academy. Gagarin at the command faculty.
In October 2006, after passing a medical examination at the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and then being considered by the Interdepartmental Commission, the 35-year-old pilot was enrolled as a candidate cosmonaut in the Cosmonaut Training Center detachment.
Since 2007, Novitsky underwent general space training for two years. In June 2009, Oleg Viktorovich was qualified as a test cosmonaut. In August of the same year, he was assigned to a position of the same name in the detachment of the Cosmonaut Training Center.
In 2010, the test cosmonaut was awarded the rank of colonel. In the summer of 2012, Oleg was transferred from military service to the reserve.
In May 2012, Novitsky commanded the backup crew of the Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft. In addition to Oleg, the crew included Evgeny Tarelkin and Kevin Ford. In September, the same composition was approved as the main crew of the Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft, which launched to the International Space Station on October 23, 2012 as participants in the main expedition of ISS-33.
For the courage and heroism shown during a long-term space flight on the International Space Station on May 28, 2014, Oleg Viktorovich Novitsky was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
On November 17, 2016, the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which launched the Soyuz MS-03 manned transport spacecraft into orbit of an artificial Earth satellite. The crew of the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft included members of long-term expeditions ISS-50/51: ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. This expedition became the anniversary - the 50th launch to the International Space Station.
Oleg Novitsky was awarded the medals “For Distinction in Military Service” 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree, “For Military Valor” 2nd degree and “For Service in the Air Force”.
QUOTES:
“True, it’s impossible to reach us by phone. Only we can unilaterally leave the board. My wife, it’s just happiness when she can’t call herself, but only me. Everything is organized in such a way that we can only organize communication from our side.”
“I served in the North Caucasus for ten years. We flew a lot, flew in the mountains. And, to be honest, the call sign “Elbrus” already existed. The height of Kazbek is 5 thousand 33 meters. And we just had the 33rd expedition. I connected it a little and chose this call sign.”
“It just depends on the person. For example, even on Earth I rarely have dreams. I feel about the same way in space. Very rarely do you dream of color pictures.”
INTERVIEW:
Listen to the interview
MORNING SHOW: Good morning, friends! We continue "Space Week" on Retro FM. Today we have another guest. Naturally, with a cosmic past and a good cosmic future, let’s say so! Our guest today is Hero of the Russian Federation Oleg Novitsky. Oleg, good morning!
Novitsky: Good morning!
MORNING SHOW: We congratulate you on the upcoming Cosmonautics Day. And you know what I would like to point out. Now you'll find out. After all, we talked to you exactly on Cosmonautics Day a year ago, when you were on the ISS. We had a communication session. And our conversation was broadcast to the whole world.
MORNING SHOW: This is us for real. Tell me, how often do they get through or call you to the ISS? Do you often talk in orbit with people who have nothing to do with space?
Novitsky: Quite often. True, it is impossible to reach us by phone. Only we can unilaterally leave the board. My wife, it’s just happiness when she can’t call herself, but only me. Everything is organized in such a way that we can only organize communication from our side.
MORNING SHOW: You can avoid answering!
Novitsky: We can say that there was no connection - that’s all.
MORNING SHOW: Since we are talking about holidays and the Cosmonautics Day holiday, tell me... This is your professional holiday. It is customary to give gifts on holidays, such as New Year. Do they give you anything on Cosmonautics Day? How does your family congratulate you?
Novitsky: The family’s congratulations are quite simple. It's a blessing if they have this opportunity. Because we usually make a lot of trips on all our professional holidays.
MORNING SHOW: Are you just never at home?
MORNING SHOW: And the gifts! Do they give gifts?
Novitsky: They give gifts. Usually this is some kind of space paraphernalia. Maybe some mugs with photographs. Some more posters. So much for the little things. But it's nice.
MORNING SHOW: What about materially significant? Don't they give out bonuses?
Novitsky: No prizes. Probably, we are not finalizing some things after all.
MORNING SHOW: But what prospects are opening up!
Novitsky: There are always prospects.
MORNING SHOW: That's right! Let's remember 2012. In 2012, you were the commander of the Soyuz. And when you arrived at the ISS, you were already a flight engineer. How is this transition from commander to engineer? Easy or not so easy?
Novitsky: The transition is not felt, since we all work in the same team. Just one person should lead the entire crew in case of some situation. These situations are worked out on Earth. Therefore, the transition is very simple.
MORNING SHOW: How do you transfer the authority of the commander?
Novitsky: Very simple. When I leave the ship and become a flight engineer, all power automatically passes to the station commander. If we go back, then again I am in charge.
MORNING SHOW: And out of habit, don’t you give out orders left and right?
Novitsky: We are officers, we take their word for it.
MORNING SHOW: By the way, when you were a commander, your command call sign was “Kazbek”.
Novitsky: I served in the North Caucasus for ten years. We flew a lot, flew in the mountains. And, to be honest, the call sign “Elbrus” already existed. The height of Kazbek is 5 thousand 33 meters. And we just had the 33rd expedition. I connected this a little and chose this call sign.
MORNING SHOW: Finally, you've dotted the i's. And I suffered! My thoughts were connected with cigarettes! You have enormous space experience. Is it somehow useful at home? Was it useful to you?
Novitsky: Honestly, probably not. Probably, on the contrary, home, everyday experience can be useful in space. Any skills that may be on Earth.
MORNING SHOW: Screw on the shelf?
Novitsky: Why? And it will hang like that.
MORNING SHOW: How to rotate a shelf in zero gravity? What if instead of a drill you start spinning yourself?
Novitsky: A well-fixed officer.
MORNING SHOW: Sounds good.
Novitsky: Scotch tape, a stapler - everything helps.
MORNING SHOW: Is this used there in everyday life?
Novitsky: I'm joking, of course. Why can't I tape my legs? In fact, every week we do wet cleaning and vacuum our segment. Therefore, homework skills can come in handy.
MORNING SHOW: Can you skip homework at home and tell your wife “Sorry, I can’t!”?
Novitsky: Of course! “I’ve worked so hard!” and that's all.
MORNING SHOW: Or: “I can’t, I’m used to weightlessness! Inconvenient! I can’t hold the vacuum cleaner in my hands!” By the way, regarding technology. You flew together with a humanoid robot. He was on board with you. Is it of any use at all? Is there any sense?
Novitsky: Not much for the Russian crew. Because he is in the partners segment. And they perform all sorts of manipulations with it. In any case, you can take photos.
MORNING SHOW: What manipulations are possible? Is this actually a female robot or a male robot?
Novitsky: And it was made only to the waist.
MORNING SHOW (laughing): Waist-deep at the top or waist-deep at the bottom?
Novitsky: Waist-deep from the top.
MORNING SHOW: Got it. You won't understand. This is probably on purpose. Ours would have done it entirely! Our “Space Week” on Retro FM was opened by Fedor Yurchikhin. And he told a very interesting fact. The astronauts will watch the “White Sun of the Desert” before the flight. This is a known fact. And the fact that astronauts practically study this film, it opened our eyes to this. He even tested us. We didn't pass the test.
Novitsky: It happens, it happens. It's OK.
MORNING SHOW: Does it happen that things don’t work out? And the astronauts don’t get through?
Novitsky: This also happens.
MORNING SHOW: Let's try it! Are you ready to take the test now?
Novitsky: No, I’m not ready.
MORNING SHOW (laughing): You should! Please answer what the name of Vereshchagin’s wife was.
Novitsky: Not ready, no, I don’t know!
MORNING SHOW: We'll tell you if Yurchikhin suddenly asks.
Novitsky: But I know my wife’s name!
MORNING SHOW: This is the most important thing! And in the film, Vereshchagin’s wife’s name is Nastya.
Novitsky: Probably.
MORNING SHOW: Remember? Nastasya. It's nice to feel in the same boat with an astronaut!
Novitsky: I can’t leave you alone!
MORNING SHOW: I understand that you did it out of solidarity! This is the kind of mutual assistance the astronauts feel. Friends, colleagues, partners are not abandoned in trouble!
MORNING SHOW: I still can’t calm down about Fedor Yurchikhin. He told us one more thing. That a real astronaut, in addition to all the qualities and advantages, must have two daughters. He has two daughters. He mentioned Yuri Gagarin. You have two daughters.
Novitsky: That's for sure. Two.
MORNING SHOW: Tell me, is this also the result of training and special training? This is some kind of exercise, maybe? Are there special trainers?
Novitsky: I think this is the result of the work of nature after all. Not an astronaut.
MORNING SHOW: Is there any way to tune in to this thing?
Novitsky: It’s hard to tune in only twice in your life.
MORNING SHOW: No, no, I mean, just tune in to your daughters!
Novitsky: The main thing is that the child is healthy.
MORNING SHOW: It's true. Oleg, tell me, is it true that you lost a spoon on the ISS?
Novitsky: Yes, it’s true:’(
MORNING SHOW: You say with sadness. Well, no one found her?
Novitsky: I feel sorry for the spoon. We found it later, but the residue still remained. Found by Roman Romanenko. I think about two weeks later in the truck.
MORNING SHOW: How can this be? Maybe someone put her there on purpose?
Novitsky: No, I showed how to eat food. All options. And somehow he turned, touched her with his elbow, and she flew away. That's all.
MORNING SHOW: It hangs where it hangs. Class!
MORNING SHOW: No, it turns out that it doesn’t hang where it hangs, it hangs there!
MORNING SHOW: You're right about that!
MORNING SHOW: By all means, keep your spoons to yourself when you're with friends! We have a radio listener on the air. It was Alexey from Lipetsk who called. Alexey, good morning!
Alexey: Hello!
MORNING SHOW: Consider yourself incredibly lucky. You have a chance to meet Oleg Novitsky and personally ask him any question. So please, hold the cards in your hands!
Alexey: I'm very glad! Hello!
Novitsky: Hello!
Alexey: I heard that it was a unique experience. You gave yourself a filling while on the ISS. Is there really a drill at the station? And there’s another question: weren’t you offered to become a dentist later?
MORNING SHOW: Good question! Thank you, Alexey.
Novitsky: There is a drill at the station. My comrades will always help me.
MORNING SHOW: Are you talking about pliers? Will they keep it?
Novitsky: Yes, they will drill everything out. The main thing is to hit the right tooth. Kidding. In fact, a filling is a strong word. They simply teach us to carefully repair a crack or chip in order to wait for normal medical care on Earth. Therefore, there were no big problems. The only thing was that it installed well after about the third time. They say that experience comes from powerlessness over the years. But I won't be a dentist.
MORNING SHOW: Wait, what do you mean the third time? You set one up, and it just floated in zero gravity? Did it jump out of a tooth and start flying?
Novitsky: One fell out a day later. The second one is in five days. Well, the third one was already holding on until landing.
MORNING SHOW: Is she standing now?
Novitsky: No, they corrected it for me. Real specialists, good craftsmen. I hope for a long time.
MORNING SHOW: I would like to talk about life in space and on earth. It’s probably not even about life. Some such everyday moments. Do you have the same dreams in space and on Earth? Or something different? Does this have any effect?
Novitsky: It just depends on the person. For example, even on Earth I rarely have dreams. I feel about the same way in space. Very rarely do you dream of color pictures.
MORNING SHOW: Do you feel good both on Earth and in space?
Novitsky: Yes. No dreams.
MORNING SHOW: Did you dream about your wife, for example?
Novitsky: It would be ridiculous to answer that no. Of course I dreamed.
MORNING SHOW: Is it because she listens to the radio?
Novitsky: Of course!
MORNING SHOW: Your wife Yulia on the Roscosmos website, we know, kept a diary of the cosmonaut’s wife. This diary was very popular on the Internet. Everyone read and quoted directly. Wouldn’t you like to write a diary of Yulia Novitskaya’s husband in response?
Novitsky: As some famous hero said: “No, I don’t speak the language.” Writing something is not my thing.
MORNING SHOW: Would there be something to tell?
Novitsky: I think there is always something to tell.
MORNING SHOW: In pictures, for example.
Novitsky: In the drawings.
MORNING SHOW: Draw diagrams. Do star maps exist? Map in the life of an astronaut.
Novitsky: There are. You can also try. We need to patent it.
MORNING SHOW: Then we will draw up a business plan together with you.
Novitsky: Agreed, I have a share!
MORNING SHOW: We will make money in space! Hurray, friends! Oleg, they say that during the selection of candidates for the cosmonaut corps, they are asked whether you are lucky or not. Do they say that?
Novitsky: There is such a thing.
MORNING SHOW: Have they asked you? Are you lucky?
Novitsky: Yes, they asked. I consider myself very lucky. Very.
MORNING SHOW: What do you consider to be the luckiest thing in your life?
Novitsky: Yes, I was lucky with everything! I was lucky with my parents, and they with me. I was lucky with my instructors, teachers, teachers. I'm lucky with my friends. And in general, I’m lucky in life. Lucky to get to you on Retro FM.
MORNING SHOW: Come with me and buy a lottery ticket, please. I really need!
MORNING SHOW: Why do you think you should get it?
(laugh)
MORNING SHOW: Okay, we'll figure it out ourselves about the lottery tickets. Oleg, today is the eve of Cosmonautics Day. From yourself, from the cosmonauts, to our radio listeners, congratulate us on the upcoming holiday.
Novitsky: Dear friends, with all my heart and with great pleasure I congratulate everyone on the upcoming holiday, on Cosmonautics Day, on this international holiday! Of course, I would like to wish and say a huge thank you to all those who in some way participated in the development of our profession. Starting from the people who mined ore, and ending with the scientists and designers who made huge, reliable rockets! Happy holiday everyone!
MORNING SHOW: How great! Thank you very much! Good luck to you in all your endeavors, so that your space activities do not end with two flights. We wish you to visit space many more times and visit our studio. Once again, happy new year to you!
Oleg Viktorovich Novitsky(born October 12, 1971, Cherven, Minsk region) - Russian cosmonaut, member of the cosmonaut corps of the Cosmonaut Center. Commander of the Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft, whose flight took place October 23, 2012 - March 16, 2013. Hero of the Russian Federation (2014), pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation (2014).
Biography
Born on October 12, 1971 in the city of Cherven, Minsk region, Belarusian SSR. After graduating from secondary school No. 2, in 1988 he entered the Borisoglebsk VVAUL named after V.P. Chkalov. In 1994, he graduated from the school with the qualification “pilot engineer”.
Air Force service
For 10 years, he served in the North Caucasus Military District as a pilot, senior pilot, and deputy commander of an aviation squadron of the attack air regiment of the 4th Air Army and the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army. Mastered the L-39 and Su-25 aircraft, the total flight time was more than 600 hours. Military pilot 2nd class. He took part in establishing constitutional order in the Chechen Republic. He has the title “Combat Veteran”.
In 2004-2006 he studied at the Air Force Academy. Yu. A. Gagarin (command faculty).
Space training
In October 2006, after passing a medical examination at the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and then consideration by the Interdepartmental Commission, 35-year-old Oleg Novitsky was enrolled as a candidate cosmonaut in the Cosmonaut Training Center (CPC) detachment.
In 2007-2009, he underwent general space training and passed the exams with excellent marks. On June 9, 2009, he was awarded the qualifications of a test cosmonaut. In August of the same year, he was assigned to the position of the same name in the TsPK detachment.
In 2010, he was awarded the rank of colonel, and in the summer of 2012 he was discharged from military service into the reserve.
In May 2012, he was the commander of the backup crew of the Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft. In addition to Oleg Novitsky, the crew included Evgeny Tarelkin and Kevin Ford. In September, the same composition was approved as the main crew of the Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft, which launched to the International Space Station on October 23, 2012 as participants in the main expedition of ISS-33.
On October 26, 2016, at a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission at the Cosmonaut Training Center, he was included as commander in the main crew of Soyuz MS-03, along with Thomas Pesquet and Peggy Whitson.
Family
- Wife - Yulia Vladislavovna Novitskaya. Journalist, employee of the magazine “Soldiers of Russia”.
- Daughter - Yana Olegovna Novitskaya (born 1996).
- Daughter - Margarita Olegovna Novitskaya (born 2016).
Awards
- Hero of the Russian Federation (May 28, 2014) - for courage and heroism shown during a long-term space flight on the International Space Station
- Pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation (May 28, 2014)
- Medal "For Distinction in Military Service" I, II, III degrees
- Medal "For Military Valor" II degree
- Medal "For Service in the Air Force"
On November 17 at 23.20 Belarusian, Russian citizen Oleg Novitsky will fly into space. Together with him, 55-year-old American Peggy Whitson and 37-year-old Frenchman Thomas Pesquet are sent into orbit. This is already the second flight of our fellow countryman: he first went into orbit in 2012 and stayed there for 144 days. This time the space expedition will last 180 days - Oleg will return to Earth in May.
On the eve of the flight, Komsomolskaya Pravda contacted Oleg’s wife Yulia to find out about the traditions in the cosmonaut’s family, whether he would post pictures from space on Instagram, and whether it is true that, according to tradition, cosmonauts must get a kick in the ass before launch.
“Oleg made pendants for my daughter and me in the form of the expedition emblem”
- Julia, is it easier for you to part with your husband before the second flight than before the first?
It's always exciting. Any business trip is very difficult and dangerous. The feelings are the same as during the first flight. We will also be bored and worried, although we are sure that our equipment is the most reliable and that everything will be fine. We will try not to show our excitement.
- Are you and your husband in Baikonur now?
Our eldest daughter Yana (she is 19 years old. - Ed.) flew to Baikonur. Just in case, I bought waterproof mascara - it is very emotional, and there is such an atmosphere before the launch that even experienced cosmonauts’ eyes become moist... And I stayed with my youngest daughter in Star City near Moscow. Margarita is now 6.5 months old, and we decided that traveling with a child would be quite difficult. So we will watch the launch and docking live at the Mission Control Center in Korolev.
- How did you see your husband off? Do you have family traditions?
By the second flight they started appearing (smiles). Both before the first and second flight, Oleg made pendants for my daughter and me in the form of the expedition emblem. Yana and I decided that we would wear them until landing. I'm wearing this pendant now.
- Does Oleg take some kind of talisman or icon with him?
He didn’t take the talisman, but he took the icon. He left the icon that he took with him on his first flight at home and gave it to his eldest daughter. Now that our second daughter was born, we decided that we needed to take another one. These icons were given to Oleg by the priest in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
“When my husband flies away, everything in the house starts to break down”
You told me that when your husband flew away last time, everything in your house started to break down, break, leak... Is it like that this time too?
Yes, although Oleg has not yet flown away, but simply gone on a business trip, it has already begun... This happens to all the wives of astronauts. We joke that it is the brownie who senses the absence of the owner.
Is it true that before each flight, astronauts traditionally watch the film “White Sun of the Desert”?
Yes its true. The film is watched by the main crew, the backup crew, and the families who are at Baikonur. Only the astronauts are separated from their families by a glass wall - on the eve of the flight, communication is limited so that they do not catch any infection.
They say that when the cosmonauts are already climbing the ladder in their spacesuits, one of the accompanying people should give them a slight knee in the ass. Is it true?
Is it true. It's like wishing good luck.
Photos from space will be posted on the Internet
- How do you keep in touch during the flight?
Oleg calls me on my mobile phone when there is connection to the ISS and when he is free. This happens every day, sometimes several times. But I can’t call him there. I joke that I, as in Semyon Slepakov’s song, am every man’s dream - he can call me, but I can’t call him. I can only write an email, send photos or small videos, less than a minute. Once a week we have a video call for 30 - 50 minutes. We are given tablets with the program installed and a call from Mission Control to tell us the time.
- Does your husband send you photographs of our planet from space?
Yes, sure. With Oleg’s permission, I will publish photographs in my “Diary of a Cosmonaut’s Wife,” which I keep on the official website of Roscosmos.
“They searched for two weeks for the spoon that flew into another compartment.”
- Is your daughter eager to go into space?
No, she sees how difficult it is. Not everyone can handle this. There are guys who took their first flight after 16 years of waiting. And many prepared for a long time, but never flew into space... Oleg succeeded, he put a colossal amount of effort into this. He wants to fly for the third time!
- Now he is 45. Are there any age restrictions?
No, there are only health restrictions. Here Pavel Vladimirovich Vinogradov celebrated his 60th anniversary in orbit. And the oldest astronaut to have been in space is American John Glenn. He was 77 years old at the time of the flight.
- What is the most difficult thing for Oleg in space?
Working with small objects - if they are not secured, they will scatter in different directions. Once Oleg recorded a video for us, showing us that he would have breakfast. He accidentally touched the spoon and it flew off into another compartment, so he then looked for it for two weeks... Of course, it’s difficult that you can’t wash yourself in the shower - astronauts only wipe themselves with wet wipes. We suffer here when our water is turned off for two weeks, and then you can’t wash yourself properly for months.
“They no longer feed astronauts food from tubes”
- Is their food tasty in tubes?
Delicious, I tried it too. But now there is almost no food in the tubes - only seasonings and jams remain. Nowadays food is either canned or freeze-dried, into which you need to add water.
- How do you add water in zero gravity?
It has its own system: water is poured under pressure from a special tap. They feed well in space: they have a 16-day diet, that is, in 16 days the food is never repeated. Tastings took a long time, they gave points - what they liked, what they didn’t like... Based on this, a list was formed.
- But there’s still not enough homemade food?
Certainly. Last time, upon arrival, Oleg asked me to prepare him a Belarusian fried potato pie, pork ribs, sauerkraut, and red fish. I don’t know what he wants this time.
- What did you treat your husband to before leaving?
He loves pork meatballs mixed with game. In general, Oleg is an omnivore - he will never say that it is tasteless. When times were difficult and they didn’t give me a salary, I could eat only pasta and say that it tasted great to me.
- Don’t you bake pies in the shape of rockets?
Pies - no, but for my husband’s birthday this year I ordered a cake in the shape of a planet on which an astronaut with a stroller stands. The spacesuit is like Oleg’s, and the stroller is the same color as my daughter’s. It was a shock for both the husband and the guests!
- What do you send in parcels into space?
Birch sap in small packages, nuts, dried fruits, Moskvichka candies. Photos, magazines. By the way, each parcel undergoes an examination. On the last flight, one magazine was rejected - we didn’t like the quality of the printing ink.
- When your husband flies away, do you often look at the sky?
Yes, I `m watching. By the way, now you can install a program on your phone that shows the trajectory of the ISS. You can find out when the station will fly over your city, see this luminous point and mentally talk, think about what Oleg can do at this time.
- Will you cross out the days on the calendar?
Of course, definitely. We need to do something to occupy these 180 days. It is too long!
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Oleg Novitsky is the third Belarusian cosmonaut to fly into space. Born in the city of Cherven, Minsk region. Pilot engineer, Air Force colonel
Oleg will return to Earth in May. Photo: personal archive.
