The First Space Wedding: Yuri Malenchenko Marries From 250 Miles Above Earth

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On August 10, 2003, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko became the first person to marry while in space. He was aboard the International Space Station (ISS). His bride, Ekaterina Dmitriev, was on Earth in Houston, Texas.

It was the first wedding ever held in space. The ceremony happened via satellite link between the ISS and NASA’s space control in Houston. Malenchenko wore his space suit with a bow tie. Dmitriev wore an ivory wedding dress and stood beside a life-size cardboard cutout of her groom at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre.

Edward Lu, an astronaut on the ISS, served as best man. He played the wedding march on a portable keyboard. Dmitriev walked down the aisle to a David Bowie song. At one point, she blew a kiss to her husband via video. Malenchenko returned the gesture.

The couple had planned to marry on Earth with 200 guests. But Malenchenko’s mission was extended, so they chose a space ceremony instead. Russia allowed the wedding but later banned other cosmonauts from marrying in space.

Dmitriev told The New York Times, “As Yuri was further away, he was closer to me because of the communication we have.” She called the event “an orbital wedding” that reflected humanity’s desire to “go one step further.”

The couple first met at a party celebrating the first manned spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin. They were used to a long-distance relationship, speaking by phone while Malenchenko trained in Russia and Dmitriev lived in the US.

During the ceremony, the ISS emerged into sunlight while orbiting south of New Zealand. Malenchenko returned to Earth in October 2003 to reunite with his wife.

Malenchenko’s career is as decorated as his love story. He has made multiple spaceflights, performed spacewalks, and received the Hero of the Russian Federation award. [Rh/Eth/VP]

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