posted 08-11-2009 04:46 PM            

Twenty-five years ago Russian cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya became the second woman to travel into orbit, the first also Russian, but she was the first woman to walk in space.

Svetlana was 36 when she was thrust into the Cold War space race. While in orbit she undertook hours of experiments and, in doing so, broke new ground for women to join the front line of space exploration.

"Americans were preparing to send women into space. I was called to our Ministry. The question was - what about us? Would we able to do it? Was there enough time? I said then, 'why not?'" remembers Svetlana Savitskaya. "We had to keep our priority positions where possible."

posted 08-12-2009 08:12 AM               

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Originally posted by garymilgrom:
Did she use the inflatable airlock that nearly trapped Leonov?

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No, she made her spacewalk from the Salyut 7 station.

At the risk of having the KGB knocking on my door for insulting a Hero of the Soviet Union, Ms. Savitskaya does not come across as being a particularly pleasant or endearing individual.

Clearly when her dad blagged her Soyuz seat, her personality and lack of post flight media appeal weren't any impediment.

Rare interview though - thanks Francis

posted 08-12-2009 09:50 AM               

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Originally posted by issman1:
Sad to think that no Russian woman has ventured into space since 1997. If there was any doubt as to how sexist the Russian space programme still is, then one need only listen to Svetlana Savitskaya

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