Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya (born August 8, 1948) is a retired Soviet aviator, test pilot, and cosmonaut who became the second woman to fly in space and the first woman to conduct a spacewalk. A pioneering figure in the history of space exploration, Savitskaya broke significant barriers for women in aviation and spaceflight, demonstrating exceptional technical skill, courage, and professionalism throughout her career with the Soviet space program.
Savitskaya was born in Moscow, Soviet Union, into a family deeply connected to aviation—her father, Yevgeny Savitsky, was a Marshal of Aviation and a highly decorated Soviet fighter ace. Inspired by her father’s career, she developed an early interest in flying and joined a parachuting club as a teenager, completing her first jump at the age of 16. By the time she turned 18, she had already performed hundreds of parachute jumps and had earned qualifications as a pilot-instructor.
She graduated from the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) with a degree in mechanical engineering, specializing in aircraft design, and later trained as a test pilot at the prestigious Fedotov Test Pilot School. Her outstanding performance led her to become one of the few women in the Soviet Union to fly supersonic jet aircraft. Before entering the cosmonaut program, she tested advanced military and experimental aircraft, accumulating extensive flight experience across multiple aircraft types.
In 1980, Savitskaya was selected as a cosmonaut by the Intercosmos program. Her first spaceflight took place on August 19, 1982, aboard Soyuz T-7, making her the second woman in history to travel into space, nearly 20 years after Valentina Tereshkova. During the mission, Savitskaya and her crew docked with the Salyut 7 space station, where she spent several days conducting scientific experiments and testing equipment in microgravity conditions.
Her second and more historic mission came in July 1984, aboard Soyuz T-12. During this flight, Savitskaya performed a 3-hour, 35-minute spacewalk (EVA) outside the Salyut 7 station, becoming the first woman ever to walk in space. She conducted welding, cutting, and soldering experiments in open space, demonstrating the feasibility of in-orbit repair and assembly tasks — a crucial step for the future of long-term space missions. Her achievement marked a major milestone in both Soviet and world spaceflight history, highlighting the growing role of women in advanced scientific and technical fields.
Following her space missions, Savitskaya continued to serve in the Soviet space program until the late 1980s. She retired from active duty with the rank of colonel in the Soviet Air Force and later entered public service. After the dissolution of the USSR, she became a member of the Russian State Duma, where she worked on issues related to science, defense, and education.
Throughout her career, Savitskaya received numerous honors, including the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (twice), the Order of Lenin, and various other state awards recognizing her contributions to space exploration and aviation.
Svetlana Savitskaya remains a symbol of determination and excellence, remembered as a trailblazer who expanded humanity’s reach into space and paved the way for future generations of women in science, engineering, and astronautics.
