Top 11 Sergei Krikalev Quotes (USSR COSMONAUT)

In the fascinating realm of space exploration and human endurance, few names reverberate as powerfully as Sergei Krikalev. Known for his remarkable tenure as a cosmonaut and his record-breaking time spent in space, Krikalev’s legacy continues to inspire generations of space enthusiasts and aspiring astronauts.

These quotes are not just accounts of a man’s prolonged sojourn in space; they are nuggets of wisdom from an individual who dared to live among the stars, forever shifting our understanding of time, space, and human potential. They offer glimpses into courage, perseverance, and the principles that guided Krikalev’s extraordinary career.

Whether you’re a space aficionado, an aspiring cosmonaut, or simply someone mesmerized by the vastness of the universe, these quotes will challenge your thinking, deepen your understanding, and inspire you to reach for the stars.

11 Most Famous Sergei Krikalev Quotes – The Man Who Got Stuck in Space

“I don’t think it was really isolation because we were talking to the ground almost every orbit. We were pretty busy, so I actually didn’t feel isolated. And of course, we had a pretty nice view of Earth.”
Sergei Krikalev

Space can be fun, depending on who you are with.

So nothing fancy, maybe simple stuff… we're missing regular, normal Earth food. — So nothing fancy, maybe simple stuff… we’re missing regular, normal Earth food.

The further you travel, the more you feel part of a big group of people.

Traveling outside of Earth, I get this feeling of being part of mankind. So we do not represent only our countries in space; it’s an international adventure. — Traveling outside of Earth, I get this feeling of being part of mankind. So we do not represent only our countries in space; it’s an international **adventure**.

It’s similar to what sailors feel when they are out at sea – if they meet another ship, they probably feel some kind of brotherhood; it doesn’t matter which flag is on the ship. — It’s similar to what sailors feel when they are out at sea – if they meet another ship, they probably feel some kind of **brotherhood**; it doesn’t matter which flag is on the ship.

The sea [and space] is a hostile environment, so people help each other to fight with nature. — The sea [and space] is a hostile environment, so people help each other to fight with **nature**.

We are learning how to work together. We are learning what is different and we are trying to take the best part of each program to bring everything together. — We are **learning** how to work together. We are learning what is different and we are trying to take the best part of each program to bring everything together.

We worked six months trying to get the space station in better shape. We had a very interesting mission and I hope your mission is interesting as well. — We worked six months trying to get the space station in better shape. We had a very interesting mission and I **hope** your mission is interesting as well.

The job itself is very interesting for me, being there and being able to look back on Earth, to do something challenging... that is what's important. — The job itself is very interesting for me, being there and being able to look back on Earth, to do something challenging… that is what’s important.

We have a pretty high speed and pretty high altitude, but that is what we train for. That is our profession and that is what I like to do.

Sergei Krivalev Short Biography

Born on 27 August 1958 in Leningrad, in the Soviet Union (now St. Petersburg, Russia), Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev (Russian: Серге́й Константинович Крикалёв, also transliterated as Sergei Krikalyov) is known as the Last Soviet Citizen.

He remained in space for two times longer than originally planned, spending a total of 311 days in space. He returned to Earth on March 25, 1992 after being replaced by German astronaut Klaus-Dietrich Flade, and is sometimes referred to as the “last Soviet citizen”.

In the spring of 1991, Krivalev, together with Anatoly Artsebarsky, followed the footsteps of Yuri Gagarin and his historic flight three decades prior, even keeping Gagarin’s tradition by urinating at the right rear tire of the bus before proceeding to the launch pad.

Krikalev, along with Artsebarski and Britain’s first astronaut, Helen Sharman, blasted off into space towards the Soviet space station, Mir, not knowing that he wouldn’t be back to his planet for 312 days. In his stay at the space station, approximately 200 miles above Earth, he could only observe from there as his country crumbled due to an incredible political turmoil. He watched as the communist superpower, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, became the Russian Federation.

Krivalev’s country collapsed in December 1991 and yet he still remained in space, continuously orbiting around the Earth 16 times a day for a country that no longer existed.

Three months later, on March 25, 1992, Krivalev landed near the city of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, weak, pale, and sweaty, but elated to have finally come home to Earth.

Here are the best Sergei Krivalev’s quotes so you can gain strength and inspiration through his unimaginable experience from being stuck in space.

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