Graduated from Engineering Institute of Civil Aviation, Riga, 1974; graduated from Higher Military Aviation School in Akhtubinsk, 1983 with a engineering diploma; Candidate of technical sciences degree, 2000; doctorate in technical sciences, 2007; aviation engineer; received several awards as aerobatic flyer; was selected as cosmonaut on 11.05.1990 from GMVK; 1991 appointed to Major and transferred to the cosmonaut group of Air Force (TsPK-11); OKP (cosmonaut basic training): 01.10.1990 - 13.09.1991; was assigned as double for Soyuz TM-13; following his retirement he became deputy head of the Zhukovsky academy and was appointed to Major General (September 2003); chief of the on 27.03.2007 founded National Spaceagency of Kazakhstan.