There is a sector where Kyrgyzstan is catching the level of big countries: space! And this is proven by the space flight of our compatriot Salijan Saripov.
Even in their daring dreams, Salijan and Nesibe, which grew up together in the same street and graduated from the same school in Uzgen, could not have dreamt about standing on the other side of the world. Little that they knew that his dream was coming true.
Ten years ago, Salijan had told his spouse that he wanted to become a Cosmonaut, while he was giving flight lessons to foreigners in Tokmak. Nesibe had waived her head for the dream of her husband and said; "who would choose a Kyrgyz like you when there are so many good pilots in Russia?" But it was only Saripov that was selected in the Cosmonaut team, among many others. In result, they have moved to the "Star City, " together with their little daughter. All of these years were not easy. The profession that her spouse had chosen was dangerous even at the earth. There were continuous practices of flight, practices of survival in the mountains and sea. Lately, there is also the English lessons that ended late at night. He had to work even more in United States to improve his spoken language. "But now, he can even go into interviews in English" says, Nesibe, in a cheerful manner.
She is more lucky than the wives of the other Cosmonauts in Baykonur. Contrary to them, they were allowed to stay together in the Star City. Americans permit their Astronauts to stay with their spouses until one week before the flight. She was allowed to see the inside of the ship, for which she had to go up on the 198th floor. The flight commanders permit this to omit the worries of the wives. The ceremony that was prepared for the Cosmonaut was very exciting. Every space trip is historical and Americans do appreciate this as well as our countrymen. The state has provided necessary grounds for the Cosmonaut's family to go to the United States of America. The Secretary of State, Isenbay Abdurazakov gave a whip to the father of Salijan and asked him to pass it to his son as a symbol of courage and an ornament of men. The Mayor of Bishkek gave him a house with three bedrooms and announced him as the honorary citizen of Bishkek.
The Russian Cosmonauts had come to give him their best wishes. It was difficult to say whether it is the Russians or Kyrgyz who were feeling more proud. Probably, we need a place similar to cosmos for the whole humanity, where there is no hatred.
The cold war between United States of America and Russia had ended with a cooperation in the space. This time, it was our Cosmonaut Saripov who went to work cooperatively with the American team in the space station "Mir. " In future an extraordinary project is already ahead of these two super countries: "The organization of the international space station that will take over the work of Mir. " There will be a new fuel that will be used and Japan is working on a highly complicated laboratory. The finance is coming from America, and there is a very strong producer: Boeing. Russia will contribute with their technology.

Russians are foreseeing S. Saripov as one of their Cosmonauts that will work on the Cosmic station. General Yuri Glazkov that is the head of Space Personnel, answered our question how he had chosen Salijan Saripov amongst the others.
We need experienced people for the International space station flights, but to tell the truth, the Russian experienced Cosmonauts were somehow old.
Was it not possible to choose from young Cosmonauts?
Not every pilot becomes a Cosmonaut. We wanted to choose somebody who had never flown in space. After taking the confirmation of Americans, we had chosen Saripov for the Shuttle team. Unfortunately, the time was limited; we only had six months to the flight. NASA was eager to learn who was our candidate. Then we had questioned ourselves on the selection of Saripov. His English was good, his mind worked fine, his manners were good, so we had decided that he would succeed.
Is it easier to fly in the Shuttle compared to Russian space ships?
It is difficult to fly in any technology. Maybe the operations are easier but the gravity and the rest is the same.
What is waiting in the career of Saripov when he returns to earth?
Together with the authorities of Flight Coordination Center, we are thinking of using him in the long run flights.
We will prepare the Cosmic team. Apart this, the integration of cultures is very important. The American astronauts, Russian cosmonauts, Kyrgyz cosmonauts are coming from different cultures and working together. If we achieve to understand each other in the space, we may understand each other on the earth.
Anyhow, the first flight is a very important flight. Saripov had achieved, with a very good note, to fly from Canaveral. He also built strong friendship with Americans. The most important feeling that he had shared with the others was: "You feel very strong emotions when you look to our blue planet from space."
Right after he returned, he handed the Kyrgyz National flag, that he had taken with him, to Mr. B. Abdrisaev who is the Kyrgyz representative in America. With the order of the President Askar Akayev, Salijan Saripov received the High Honor of State Prize: "Kyrgyz Respublikasinin Batiirie" and the state monogram "Ak-Sumkar."
He was greeted honorably in the Star City near Moscow. First, a traditional ceremony was performed, in the statute of Yuri Gagarin. Then the Russian Cosmic Agency together with the staff of Mir station welcomed him.
The Cosmonauts and Astronauts were honored by the memorable monogram of the Russian Military Air forces, the monogram of the "40th year in space" and many other prizes. The President Yeltsin gave a gun to the Captain of the crew. In the meeting, the spacemen explained how they have re-activated the station Mir, with their manpower. Naturally, in this success the role of S. Saripov is significant. He participated to two space expeditions. It is not a coincidence that he received not only the Russian awards, but also the NASA's prestigious medal: "Space Research Medal".
To overcome the problem of language is not the issue, if we manage to communicate at space, things would get lot easier at the earth.
Russians and Americans are both promising a great career to him.
Currently, Saripov is having a holiday and his only will, at the moment , is to come back at home in Kyrgyzstan with his wife and 2 daughters. Home feels better from the earth.