Anik said in the NASASpaceflight.com forum that cosmonaut Sergei Treshchyov retired voluntarily on 30 November last year (2006). He will continue to work at RKK Energiya, in the 291st test department. Konstantin Kozeev and Aleksandr Lazutkin are also due to retire in the near future. Konstantin had some problems keeping his weight down (I can relate to that problem! But it seems an odd reason for retiring). Aleksandr had heart problems (faintness, a feeling of heartburn, chest pains) when he was in Houston on 1 August 2005 for training as part of the Expedition 12 backup crew. He was taken to hospital and an ECG revealed an abnormal heartbeat. He had a blockage in an artery, which was removed by the insertion of a catheter. He recovered well from the ordeal, but it effectively grounded him from spaceflight.
Another three experienced cosmonauts gone (well, one gone and two to depart soon); that will only leave thirteen with flight experience!
“Russia kicks off big year for space history”, James Oberg, MSNBC.com, 11/1. Tribute to Sergei Korolyov, who would have been 100 this year.
