Master of science in mechanical engineering from the Moscow Aviation Institute, Department of Aircraft Construction, 1989; testpilot Air Force; was selected as cosmonaut on 23.08.1976 (TsPK-6); OKP (cosmonaut basic training): 23.08.1976 - 30.01.1979; transferred on 25.10.1988 to GKNII-2 (until 14.02.1996); since 1996 he worked at the National Academy of Science of Ukraine; while working there he was again selected as cosmonaut of Ukraine for a Shuttle mission; hobbies: Family time, running, athletics; since 1998 General of the Ukrainian Air Force, since 1999 advisor for the Ukrainian President in Airforce and Spaceflight affairs; May 14, 2002 until 2006 he was member of the Ukranian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, for the People's Democratic Party in the Chernivtsi Region; he serves there as Vice Chairperson in the National Security and Defence Committee.