The first long-duration resident of the ISS, a cosmonaut, has died - Ars Technica Skip to content Ars Technica home Sections Forum Subscribe Search AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Feature Reviews AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Forum Subscribe Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Pin to story Theme HyperLight Day & Night Dark System Search Sign In Sign in dialog... Sign in Aleksandr Samokutyaev, 1970-2026 The first long-duration resident of the ISS, a cosmonaut, has died Two expeditions, two spacewalks, 322 days in space. Robert Pearlman – Jun 18, 2026 10:34 am | 47 Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev, Expedition 27 flight engineer, wearing in a work apron, as seen in the Unity node of the International Space Station in April 2011. Credit: NASA Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev, Expedition 27 flight engineer, wearing in a work apron, as seen in the Unity node of the International Space Station in April 2011. Credit: NASA Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev, who served twice as a crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS), including during the final US space shuttle mission in 2011, has died at the age of 56. With Samokutyaev’s death on Wednesday , he becomes the first former ISS long-duration resident to die in the 26 years that the space station has been a home to 155 other cosmonauts and astronauts as expedition crew members.
The cause of his death is unknown. Portrait of cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev. Credit: Roscosmos Portrait of cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev. Credit: Roscosmos “The leadership and staff of the Roscosmos State Corporation extend their sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Aleksandr Mikhailovich,” officials with Russia’s space agency said in a statement .
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/06/cosmonaut-aleksandr-samokutyaev-56-is-first-former-iss-crew-member-to-die/
The cause of his death is unknown. Portrait of cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev. Credit: Roscosmos Portrait of cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev. Credit: Roscosmos “The leadership and staff of the Roscosmos State Corporation extend their sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Aleksandr Mikhailovich,” officials with Russia’s space agency said in a statement .
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/06/cosmonaut-aleksandr-samokutyaev-56-is-first-former-iss-crew-member-to-die/