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| I was a Russian cosmonaut in space as the Soviet Union collapsed – any questions? | I was a Russian cosmonaut in space as the Soviet Union collapsed – any questions? |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| 5.27pm BST17:27 | 5.27pm BST17:27 |
| Maeve Shearlaw | Maeve Shearlaw |
| Until recently Sergei Krikalev held the record for the total number of days in space – 804 days, nine hours and 39 minutes to be exact, a number only surpassed a few months ago by Gennady Padalka, who clocked up 879. | |
| The Russian cosmonaut was integral to the Soviet Union’s contribution to space travel and its love of all things cosmic which, according to the Calvert Journal, was the closest thing you could find to religion in the atheist state. In 1957 Russia became the first country to send an artificial satellite in to space, Sputnik. Four years later it sent up the first human in the form of Yuri Gagarin. | The Russian cosmonaut was integral to the Soviet Union’s contribution to space travel and its love of all things cosmic which, according to the Calvert Journal, was the closest thing you could find to religion in the atheist state. In 1957 Russia became the first country to send an artificial satellite in to space, Sputnik. Four years later it sent up the first human in the form of Yuri Gagarin. |
| Sergei Krikalev returned to space in March 1991 as history was being rewritten back down on Earth. By December the USSR had collapsed and a new Russia was born. Sergei Krikalev became “the last Soviet citizen” until his return home in May 1992. | Sergei Krikalev returned to space in March 1991 as history was being rewritten back down on Earth. By December the USSR had collapsed and a new Russia was born. Sergei Krikalev became “the last Soviet citizen” until his return home in May 1992. |
| Any questions? | Any questions? |
| Sergei Krikalev, who was also part of the first joint US-Russian mission in 1994, is currently in London for an exhibition being held at the Science Museum to celebrate Russia’s role in kickstarting the global space race. | Sergei Krikalev, who was also part of the first joint US-Russian mission in 1994, is currently in London for an exhibition being held at the Science Museum to celebrate Russia’s role in kickstarting the global space race. |
| He’ll join us for a live Q&A today 16 September, between 4-5pm BST to answer your questions about the twists and turns of the Soviet space race, that lasted for more than two decades. | He’ll join us for a live Q&A today 16 September, between 4-5pm BST to answer your questions about the twists and turns of the Soviet space race, that lasted for more than two decades. |
| Use the comments section below to post your questions, tweet them at @GuardianNewEast or email maeve.shearlaw@theguardian.com. | Use the comments section below to post your questions, tweet them at @GuardianNewEast or email maeve.shearlaw@theguardian.com. |
| Updated at 9.48am BST |