Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gorbunov, born on May 24, 1990, in Zheleznogorsk, Russia, is a cosmonaut set to embark on his first space mission in September 2024 as part of SpaceX’s Crew-9.
Gorbunov graduated with honors from the Moscow Aviation Institute in 2014, specializing in spacecraft and upper stages. His education focused on aircraft operations and repairs.
Before joining the Roscosmos Cosmonaut Corps, Gorbunov served as a Lieutenant in the Air Force of the Russian Armed Forces and worked as an engineer at Energia, where he supported cargo spacecraft launches.
In August 2018, Gorbunov was selected for the Roscosmos Cosmonaut Corps, following a series of medical examinations and training programs.
Gorbunov completed extensive training, including survival training, diving exercises, and flight simulations. He became a test cosmonaut after passing a state exam in November 2020.
Gorbunov will serve as a flight engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) during Expedition 72, set to launch aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule named Freedom on September 26, 2024.
Gorbunov will work alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague during this mission, which is notable for being the first astronaut launch from Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral.
Gorbunov's mission will also involve the return of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams to Earth, as she is currently stuck on ISS as part of Expedition 72. NASA deemed Boeing Starliner unsafe for their return and decided to bring them back aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon.