The only woman currently in active service at Roscosmos

Space · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In a landscape dominated by men, Anna Kikina stands alone as the sole female cosmonaut currently serving in Russia's space program. Her journey to the International Space Station marked a historic shift in international cooperation, breaking two decades of orbital routine.

Anna Kikina’s ascent to the stars is defined by a significant geopolitical pivot. During September 2022, she achieved a milestone by becoming the initial Russian cosmonaut to travel inside an American vessel since 2002. This diverse training led to her 2012 appointment and later position as flight engineer for Expedition 68. This transition occurred when Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin announced that Kikina would travel on an American commercial craft—the SpaceX Crew-5 Crew Dragon—while a NASA astronaut took her place on the traditional Soyuz vehicle.

Before reaching orbit, Kikina built a diverse professional foundation in Novosibirsk. She holds degrees in water transportation engineering and economics, with a background as a tour guide, swimming instructor, paratrooper instructor, and radio host. The lengthy mission spanned 157 days until her March 11, 2023, return home.

Her contributions have been recognized with high state honors. On April 3, 2024, she was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation for her courage and heroism during her time on the International Space Station. She also holds the title of Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation and received the Medal "For the Promotion of Rescue Work" in 2023.

Kikina’s influence extends beyond the cockpit into popular culture; in early 2021, Mattel released a Barbie astronaut doll modeled after her image. She is currently preparing for further missions, including a scheduled flight on Soyuz MS-29 in July 2026 to serve as a flight engineer for ISS Expeditions 74/75.

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