Salizhan Sharipov
Salizhan Shakirovich Sharipov (Russian: Салижан Шакирович Шарипов) (born 24 August 1964 in Uzgen, Osh oblast, Kirghiz SSR, now in Kyrgyzstan) is a Kyrgyzstani cosmonaut. Sharipov is a co-author and investigator for the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity project. He has been to space twice and has conducted two spacewalks. Sharipov retired on 18 July 2008.
Personal
Sharipov was the first cosmonaut of the Kyrgyz Republic. He is married to Nadezhda Mavlyanovna Sharipova. They have one daughter, Nigara Salizhanovna Sharipova, born in 1988 and one son, Zhakhongir Salizhanovich Sharipov, born in 1992. He is known to enjoy football and reading. His father, Mr. Shakirzhan Sharipov, resides in Uzgen. Sharipov is famous for his unibrow.
Education
Sharipov graduated from the Soviet Air Force Pilot School in 1987. In 1994, he graduated from Moscow State University with a degree in cartography.
Awards and honors
Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation (1988), Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Baatyry) (1998). He was decorated with Gold Star Medal of the Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic (Ak Shumkar Medal, 1998), Russian Federation Air Force Medals and NASA Space Flight Medal (1998).
