NAME: Nikolai Mikhailovich Budarin
          Test cosmonaut of NPO "Energiya." Resides in Kaliningrad.
          Moscow region.
          
   BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: 
          Born April 29, 1953, at Kirya settlement, Chuvashia, Russia.
          
   PARENTS: 
          Mikhail Romanovich Budarin, father, deceased in 1984. Alexandra
          Mikhailovna Budarin, mother, deceased in 1986.
          
   PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 
          Black hair; gray eyes; 5 feet 8 inches; 164 pounds.
          
   EDUCATION: 
          Graduated from the S. Ordzhonikidze Moscow Aviation Institute
          in 1979, with a mechanical engineering diploma.
          
   MARITAL STATUS: 
          Married to Marina Lvovna Budalina, (nee Sidorenko).
          
   CHILDREN: 
          Two sons, Dmitri, 1977, and Vladislav, 1983.
          
   EXPERIENCE: 
          After graduation from the S. Ordzhonikidze Moscow Aviation
          Institute, he occupied various engineering positions at NPO
          "Energiya," where he was involved in experimental
          investigations and testing of space technology. In February
          1989, N.M. Budarin was enrolled in a cosmonaut detachment as a
          candidate test cosmonaut. In the period from September 1989 to
          January 1991, he underwent a complete course of general space
          training and passed a State examination. He is qualified as a
          test cosmonaut. From February 1991 until December 1993, he
          prepared for a flight aboard the Soyuz-TM transport vehicle and
          the Mir Station as a member of a group. He has experience
          working in the primary operations group for space mission
          control. In January 1991, he began training to be the flight
          engineer of the back-up crew for the Soyuz-TM-21 transport
          vehicle.
          
          MIR 18 was his first spaceflight.