Anton Nikolaevich Shkaplerov

Colonel, RF Air Forces, retired
Test Cosmonaut of Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:

February 20, 1972, Sevastopol, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (the Ukraine).

EDUCATION:

From 1989 to 1992 he studied at Chernigov Higher Military Pilot School (HMPS).

In 1994 he graduated from Kachinsk Higher Military Pilot School with honours diploma.

In 1997 Shkaplerov graduated from Joukowski Military Air Engineering Academy with specialization: Research Engineer-Pilot.

Since 2006 he studied at the Russian Government Service Academy at the President of the Russian Federation specializing in jurisdiction.

HONORS AND AWARDS:

Russian Federation Pilot-Cosmonaut (2013).
Decorated with such medals as Gold Star Medal of Hero of the Russian Federation (2013), Distinguished Service Medal Third, Second and First Classes, For Combat Heroism Second Class, Air Force Service Medal.
Honorary citizen of Hero-City Sevastopol (2012).

FAMILY STATUS:

Married, has two daughters.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

From 1997 to 1998 he seved in combatant forces in Kaluga region.

Since 1998 he was a senior pilot-instructor of pilot group Sky Hussars of Aircraft Engineering Exhibition Center (AEEC), Air Forces, then – the Air Forces aviation regiment squadron commander, Kubinka, Moscow Region. He flew aircraft L-39 and MiG-29.
Shkaplerov made more than 300 parachute jumps, is an instructor of parachute assault service.

By Order of the Russian Federation Defence Minister in September 2012 he retired from Armed Forces (AF).

On May 29, 2003 by decision of the Interdepartmental Committee for the cosmonaut selection he was enlisted in the cosmonaut detachment to pass general space training (GST).

From June 16, 2003 to June 28, 2005 he passed a course of general space training and on July 5, 2005 by decision of the Interdepartmental Qualification Committee he was qualified as a test cosmonaut.

In July 2008 it was reported that he was assigned to the backup crew of Expedition 22 to the ISS. On September 21, 2008 his assignment was confirmed in the ISS flight plan published by Roscosmos press-service.

In July 2009 it was reported that he was assigned to the backup crew of Expedition 27 and on a capability of his possible assignment to the prime crew of Expedition 29 to the ISS.

On October 7, 2009 his assignment was confirmed by NASA (release № 09-233).

In November 2009 he passed a clinical & physiological examination and at the meeting of the Chief Medical Board on November 19 he was recognized as fit for a spaceflight. On December 19, 2009 by the Interdepartmental Commission Shkaplerov was approved as the backup crew commander of the Soyuz TMA-17 vehicle and a member of the ISS prime crews 22/23.

During the launch of Soyuz TMA-17 TV on December 21, 2009 he was a backup of the vehicle commander.

At a period of January 20 to February 2, 2010 Shkaplerov as a member of the preliminary crew together with Anatoliy Ivanishin and Daniel Burbank participated in a two-day training for survival in the deserted area in case of emergency landing of the descent vehicle. These trainings were provided in the forest near Moscow.

At the meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the selection of cosmonauts and their assignment to the manned vehicles and station crews on April 26, 2010 he was qualified as a cosmonaut of Yu.A. Gagarin CTC detachment.

On March 4, 2011 at the Cosmonaut Training Center he together with Anatoliy Ivanishin and Daniel Burbank passed the examination training on the Soyuz TMA simulator. On March 5, 2011 the crew passed the preflight examination training on the ISS Russian Segment. The Commission of the Cosmonaut Training Center appreciated the crew operation during the integrated two-day training with an excellent mark.

On March 11, 2011 he was approved as commander of the Soyuz TMA-21 backup crew by the Interdepartmental Commission at Yu.A. Gagarin CTC and on April 4, 2011 at the meeting of the State Commission at the Baikonur cosmodrome he was approved as commander of the Soyuz TMA-21 backup crew.

During the launch of the Soyuz TMA-21 TV on April 4, 2011 Shkaplerov was a backup of the vehicle commander.

On August 22, 2011 at the meeting of the State Medical Board (SMB) at Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (CTC) Shkaplerov was recognized fit for a space flight as the prime crew commander of the Soyuz TMA-22 vehicle. On September 1, 2011 at the Cosmonaut Training Center he together with Anatoly Ivanishin and Daniel Burbank passed the examination training on the ISS Russian Segment. On September 2, 2011 the crew passed a pre-flight examination training on the Soyuz TMA simulator. On November 12, 2011 at the meeting of the State Commission for flight tests of the manned space complexes Shkaplerov was approved as the prime crew commander of the Soyuz TMA-22 MTV.

He performed his first space flight at a period of November 14, 2011 to April 27, 2012 as the Soyuz TMA-22 vehicle commander and ISS-29/30 flight engineer together with Anatoly Ivanishin and Daniel Burbank. On February 16, 2012 in flight he performed one EVA of the duration of 06 hr 15 min on February 16, 2012. The mission duration was 165 days 7 hr 31 min.

On December 20, 2012 by decision of the Interdepartmental Commission (IDC) he was assigned to the prime crew of ISS-42/43 Expedition and the backup crew of ISS-40/41. The American party identified the remaining crew members: Samantha Cristoforetti (ESA) and Terry Virts (NASA). On January 31 – February 1, 2013 Shkaplerov together with Terry Virts and CTC instructor Sergei Gerasimenko successfully passed training in the forest near Moscow to test actions after landing in the wooded-marshy locality in winter for 48 hours.

On May 6, 2014 Shkaplerov began to pass the integrated training as commander of the ISS-40/41 backup crew together with flight engineers Samantha Cristoforetti and Terry Virts. On May 6, 2014 the examination training was provided on the Soyuz TMA simulator with an excellent mark. On May 7 the crew passed the test training on the ISS Russian Segment with such a mark as 4.5.

On May 8, 2014 at the meeting of the State Interdepartmental Commission he was approved within the backup crew. On May 27, 2014 at Baikonur at the meeting of the State Commission for flight tests of manned space complexes Anton Shkaplerov was approved as commander of the Soyuz TMA-13M MTV backup crew.

On May 28, 2014 during the Soyuz TMA-13M MTV launch he was the vehicle commander.