Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Marina Vasilevskaya became the first Belarusian woman to fly into space as she embarked on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Russia's Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft.
Vasilevskaya, a former flight instructor for Belavia Airlines in Belarus, donned a Russian Sokol pressure suit for her journey, transitioning from her role as a flight attendant to a space explorer.
Vasilevskaya was chosen for the mission through a nationwide contest organized by the Belarus Academy of Sciences and Belarus Space Agency, standing out among thousands of female candidates.
Despite her background as a flight attendant, Vasilevskaya demonstrated her readiness for space travel, impressing her fellow crewmates with her work ethic and adaptability during training.
Vasilevskaya has worked with Boeing and also the Embraer Aircraft of Belavia (a private jet service of a Belarusian Airlines).
Vasilevskaya's journey marked a significant milestone for Belarus, becoming the first citizen of the Republic to reach space and continuing the nation's legacy of space exploration.
The Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft, carrying Vasilevskaya, cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, and NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan after a previous delay due to a low voltage warning.
Upon arrival at the ISS, Vasilevskaya and her crewmates were welcomed by the Expedition 70 crew, joining them for a mission that included scientific research and maintenance activities.
The Soyuz MS-25 launch was Russia's 71st mission to the ISS since 2000, contributing to ongoing scientific research and international collaboration in space exploration.