On April 17, an exclusive meeting with Hero of the Russian Federation, pilot-cosmonaut Andrey Ivanovich Borisenko took place at the Russian House in Brussels. The event was held as part of “Space Week,” dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the first human spaceflight.

Guests had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the journey from dreaming of space to an actual flight, how life and work are organized in orbit, and the challenges cosmonauts face. Particular interest was sparked by real stories from space missions shared by Andrey Borisenko.

Andrey Borisenko was born in 1964 in Leningrad. From an early age, he showed an interest in exact sciences and space: he studied at Physics and Mathematics School No. 30 and was a member of the S. Titov Youth Cosmonautics Club. In 1987, he graduated from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute. He was selected for the cosmonaut corps in 2003 at the age of 39, successfully passing rigorous selection and training.

Borisenko made his first spaceflight in 2011 as a flight engineer. His second mission took place in 2016–2017. He became the 200th cosmonaut to visit the International Space Station and spent a total of 337 days in space.

During the meeting, compatriots and Belgian guests of the Russian House, including children interested in space exploration, asked a wide range of questions, which the cosmonaut answered in detail. At the end of the event, the most interesting questions were selected, and their authors received commemorative gifts.

The program also included a flower-laying ceremony at the monument to Yuri Gagarin located on the grounds of the Russian House.

The evening concluded with informal общения with the cosmonaut—each participant received a postcard with a photograph and autograph of the Hero of Russia.

The meeting left vivid impressions on the guests and will be remembered for a long time thanks to its warm, friendly atmosphere and lively international dialogue, particularly with the participation of the Belgian audience