- Born:
- June 2, 1978, Kwangju, South Korea (age 48)
Yi Soyeon
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Who is Yi Soyeon?
Yi Soyeon, born on June 2, 1978, is a South Korean scientist and astronaut who became the first South Korean citizen in space.
Yi received bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 2001 and 2002, respectively. While working toward her doctorate in biological science at KAIST, she was chosen as a finalist from 36,000 applicants to train in Russia for a trip to the International Space Station (ISS).
On April 8, 2008, Yi launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with Russian cosmonauts Sergey Volkov and Oleg Kononenko. She spent nine days on the ISS conducting experiments and medical tests. Yi returned to Earth on April 19 with Peggy Whitson and Yury Malenchenko. She resigned from South Korea’s space program in 2014.
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What is Yi Soyeon known for in South Korea?
Yi Soyeon is known in South Korea as the first South Korean citizen in space.
In 2008, Yi flew to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft as a payload specialist, accompanied by two Russian cosmonauts. During her nine days on the ISS, she conducted experiments and medical tests. Yi returned to Earth with two space station crew members aboard Soyuz TMA-11. She later resigned from South Korea’s space program in 2014.
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How did Yi Soyeon become an astronaut?
Yi Soyeon became South Korea's first astronaut through a competitive selection process. Out of 36,000 applicants, she was chosen as one of two finalists to train in Russia for a flight to the International Space Station (ISS). South Korea paid Russia $20 million to include a South Korean cosmonaut on the Russian spaceflight. Initially a backup to Ko San, Yi took the main spot after he violated training protocol. She launched on April 8, 2008, aboard Soyuz TMA-12 with two Russian cosmonauts, spending nine days on the ISS conducting experiments and medical tests. Yi resigned from South Korea’s space program in 2014.
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What did Yi Soyeon do during her mission in space?
Yi Soyeon, the first South Korean citizen in space, launched on April 8, 2008, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft. As a payload specialist, she spent nine days on the International Space Station (ISS) conducting experiments and medical tests. Yi returned to Earth on April 19 with two returning space station crew members aboard Soyuz TMA-11. The landing was rough, and Yi sustained back injuries that required hospitalization.
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What challenges did Yi Soyeon face as a space traveler?
Yi Soyeon, the first South Korean in space, faced challenges during her space travel. While aboard the International Space Station (ISS), she spent nine days conducting experiments and medical tests. However, the return journey aboard Soyuz TMA-11 was rough. The equipment module failed to separate correctly, leading to a steep trajectory and a hard landing in the Kazakhstan steppes. Yi sustained back injuries that required hospitalization. Despite the mission's success, the landing's difficulties posed significant challenges to Yi's health and well-being.
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How has Yi Soyeon's journey inspired science and space exploration in South Korea?
Yi Soyeon, born on June 2, 1978, is a South Korean scientist and astronaut and the first South Korean citizen in space.
In April 2008, Yi Soyeon journeyed to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Soyuz TMA-12, accompanied by Russian cosmonauts. During her nine days on the ISS, she conducted experiments and medical tests. Yi returned to Earth on April 19 with American and Russian crew members aboard Soyuz TMA-11. Although the mission was successful, the Soyuz experienced a steep trajectory during landing, resulting in back injuries for Yi, which required hospitalization. She later resigned from South Korea’s space program in 2014.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Yi Soyeon (born June 2, 1978, Kwangju, South Korea) is a South Korean scientist and astronaut, the first South Korean citizen in space.
Yi earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Taejŏn in 2001 and 2002, respectively. In 2006 she was working toward a doctorate in biological science at KAIST when she was one of two finalists selected from 36,000 applicants to train in Russia for a flight to the International Space Station (ISS). South Korea paid Russia $20 million to allow a South Korean cosmonaut to accompany the Russian spaceflight. Yi was trained as a backup to computer engineer Ko San. The Russian Federal Space Agency, however, barred Ko from the mission for violations of training protocol after he removed reading materials from a training centre and mailed classified documents to South Korea.
On April 8, 2008, Yi blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan as a payload specialist alongside two Russian cosmonauts, commander Sergey Volkov and flight engineer Oleg Kononenko. Their Soyuz TMA-12 craft docked with the ISS, where Yi spent nine days carrying out experiments and medical tests. She returned on April 19 with two returning space station crew members, American commander Peggy Whitson and Russian flight engineer Yury Malenchenko, aboard Soyuz TMA-11. Although the mission was a success, the Soyuz’s equipment module failed to separate properly from the reentry module, and so the craft followed an unusually steep trajectory to Earth and made a rough landing in the Kazakhstan steppes, during which Yi sustained back injuries that later required her hospitalization. She resigned from South Korea’s space program in 2014.
