The History-Making Journey of the First Belarusian Woman in Space

Marina Vasilevskaya is the first female cosmonaut from Belarus to fly into space - Photo: SUPERCLUSTER

On April 6, the Russian Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft from the ISS returned to Earth, landing safely in Kazakhstan with Russian astronaut Oleg Novitsky, American Loral O'Hara and Belarusian Marina Vasilevskaya.

Marina Vasilevskaya has just made history by becoming the first female cosmonaut from Belarus to fly into space.

According to BelTA News Agency, Marina Vasilevskaya (September 14, 1990) said she was extremely proud and honored to have the opportunity to become the first Belarusian woman to work in space.

In an interview with BelTA News Agency on March 6, Mr. Vitaly Vasilevsky, Marina Vasilevskaya's father, said that his daughter had long cherished the dream of flying high and reaching beyond the sky, even when she was working as a flight attendant for Belavia Airlines.

“We miss our daughter very much and look forward to seeing her soon. We are sure that everything will go well. I am proud and honored that my daughter will participate in the space flight and represent our Motherland Belarus,” Vitaly Vasilevsky emphasized.

Cosmonaut Marina Vasilevskaya receives special assistance after the Soyuz spacecraft landed in Kazakhstan on April 6 - Reuters screenshot

Marina Vasilevskaya was a flight attendant and then became a flight instructor for Belarus' Belavia Airlines.

She spent 12 days on the International Space Station (ISS).

In 2022, Ms. Vasilevskaya was selected by the Belarusian Academy of Sciences and the Belarusian Space Agency from more than 3,000 female candidates to be in the top 6 finalists. She won the leading position after going through many rigorous selection rounds.

She underwent training at a special center in the Russian city of Zvyozdny Gorodok, starting in the summer of 2023.

Before starting her career at Belavia Airlines, Vasilevskaya devoted 15 years to competing as a professional ballroom dancer. Since childhood, Vasilevskaya had a special love for dancing.

She was also the first citizen of the Republic of Belarus (which split from the Soviet Union in 1991) to fly into space.

The previous two cosmonauts, Pyotr Klimuk and Vladimir Kovalyonok, both from the former Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR), made their first space flights in 1973 (Soyuz 13) and 1977 (Soyuz 25), respectively.

According to the information site Collect Space , for the first time, a spacecraft flying into space has a flight attendant accompanying it, but it is not intended to provide amenities and food services during the flight.

“Vasilevskaya really tries and puts in the effort in any task she is assigned. For what she lacks in spaceflight experience, she makes up for with a great attitude,” NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson said in an interview with Collect Space.

Dyson and Vasilevskaya were the first two women to fly into space together on the Russian Soyuz MS-25 launch. Astronaut Dyson was impressed with Vasilevskaya's work ethic and style.

Ms Dyson said that working as a flight attendant made Ms Vasilevskaya familiar with emergency situations and always calmly handle problems.

“She always showed good emotional control during the training and working together, especially when it came to the machines and spacesuits. I think she really loved her job,” Dyson added.

“It is a great honor and a huge responsibility for me to be part of this incredible mission. I am very proud to represent my country in a national project,” Vasilevskaya said before the launch.

The story of Marina Vasilevskaya's journey to conquer space is proof that women can do extraordinary things, when they always hold on to their dreams and believe in their inner strength.

According to RT, the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft left the ISS at 6:54 a.m. on April 6 (Moscow time). During the landing, the Soyuz MS-24 compartments were designed to separate, with one compartment carrying the crew. Rescue forces arrived to help the astronauts escape.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hanh-trinh-viet-nen-lich-su-cua-nguoi-phu-nu-belarus-dau-tien-bay-vao-vu-tru-20240407130309764.htm