Yi So-yeon
South Korean - (KAP)
Retired
Date of Birth: June 2, 1978
Age: 47
Yi So-yeon (born June 2, 1978) is an astronaut and biotechnologist who became the first Korean to fly in space. Yi was one of the two finalists chosen on December 25, 2006 through the Korean Astronaut Program. On September 5, 2007, the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology chose Ko San, over Yi So-yeon, following performance and other tests during their training in Russia. On March 7, 2008, she was selected to train with the primary crew, and on March 10 the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced that Yi would replace Ko. This was after the Russian Federal Space Agency asked for a replacement, because Ko violated regulations several times at a Russian training center by removing sensitive reading materials and mailing one back to Korea. On April 8, 2008, Yi was launched into space on board Soyuz TMA-12 with two Russian cosmonauts. South Korea is reported to have paid Russia $20 million for Yi's space flight. She is the third woman, after Helen Sharman of the United Kingdom and Anousheh Ansari an Iranian American, to be the first national from their country in space.
Soyuz-FG | Soyuz TMA-11
Progress Rocket Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 10, 2007, 1:22 p.m.
Status: Success
Mission:
Soyuz TMA-11 begins Expedition 16 by carrying 3 astronauts and cosmonauts to the International Space Station. Russian Commander, cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko alongside Flight Engineers, Peggy Whitson (NASA) & Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor (National Space Agency of Malaysia) will launch aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and then rendezvous with the station. It landed on April 19, 2008, 08:30 UTC
Low Earth OrbitSoyuz-FG | Soyuz TMA-12
Progress Rocket Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 8, 2008, 11:16 a.m.
Status: Success
Mission:
Soyuz TMA-12 begins Expedition 17 by carrying 3 astronauts and cosmonauts to the International Space Station. Russian Commander, cosmonaut Sergei Volkov alongside Flight Engineers, Oleg Kononenko (RSA) & Yi So-Yeon (KAP - Korean Astronaut Program) will launch aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and then rendezvous with the station. It landed on October 24, 2008, 03:37 UTC
Low Earth OrbitThe Korean Astronaut Program was an initiative by the South Korean government to send the first Korean into space via the Russian space program. In 2008, Yi So-yeon became the first and only Korean to go to space for 10 days.
Long March 2D
Shiyan 30 03-04
Launch Complex 3 (LC-3/LA-1) - Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of ChinaA pair of Chinese satellites reported to be for "Earth observation technological testing and validation" purposes. Actual usage not known.
Long March 8A
SatNet LEO Group 20
Commercial LC-1 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of ChinaA batch of 9 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group.…
Firefly Alpha
Stairway to Seven
Space Launch Complex 2W - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAFirefly Alpha's Flight 7 is a test flight and return-To-Flight for the launch vehicle after its April 2025 launch failure. It will test and validate …
Falcon 9
EchoStar 25
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAEchoStar 25 is a direct broadcast satellite, built on the proven Maxar 1300 series platform, which will deliver content across North America. It will…
Falcon 9
Starlink Group 17-18
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAA batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
