Savitskaya, Svetlana (1948–)

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Savitskaya, Svetlana (1948–)

Soviet astronaut. Pronunciation: SVET-lawn-AH Sah-VIT-sky-AH. Born Svetlana Savitskaya, Aug 8, 1948, in Moscow, Soviet Union; dau. of Yevgeny Yakovlevich (pilot) and Lidiya Pavlovna Savitsky; graduate of Moscow Aviation Institute, 1972; m. Viktor Stanislavovich Khatkovsky; children: son Konstantin (1986).

The 2nd woman in space, won the world flying aerobatics championship (1970); set world flying records for speed and altitude in supersonic aircraft (1974–81); was named a cosmonaut (1980) and flew on 2 missions (1982, 1984), becoming the 1st woman to walk in space (July 25, 1983); published Yesterday and Always (1988); elected to Congress of People's Deputies (1989). Honored twice as a Hero of the Soviet Union and received the Order of Lenin and numerous sports medals, including the Gold Space Medal.

See also Women in World History.