Katerina Zakharova

Katerina Fyodorovna Zakharova was a Soviet physician and cosmonaut. She was the only woman to serve aboard the Tsiolovsky in its mission to Minerva. As such, she was highly sought after as a lover by her five make crewmates and is believe to have carried on sexual affairs with all of them at some point during the mission.

On Minerva, Zakharova developed bruising. Though she herself denied it, some members of the crew believed she had been beaten by Oleg Lopatin.

Despite his shyness, Yuri Voroshilov was madly devoted to Zakharova, and made her the subject of sensuous love poetry.