Ahead of the Cosmonautics Day, the Social Fund stated how many retired cosmonauts live in Russia. The government has provided a special pension coverage for those heroic people.
Today, 88 former cosmonauts get long service pensions in Russia: 77 men and 11 women. The majority of "space retirees" (76 men and 10 women) live in Moscow and Moscow Region. Saint Petersburg and Omsk region each has one former cosmonaut in residence.
Citizens who worked in the following positions are entitled to a "space" pension: test cosmonaut, research cosmonaut, test cosmonaut instructor, and research cosmonaut instructor. Men shall have at least 25 years of service in the space industry, women – at least 20 years. Furthermore, men need to have served at least 10 calendar years in the test flight department, women – at least 7.5 years.
The special pension coverage is a token of gratitude from the government to those who risked their lives and health in the interests of the country and science.