Thanks a million! Top cosmonaut wins lawsuit against Russia's space training centre

Sergei Volkov complained he hadn't been given back pay

Sergei Volkov complained he hadn't been given back pay (Getty Images)

A top cosmonaut has won a million-rouble legal wrangle with Russia's space training centre.

Sergei Volkov, head of cosmonauts at the Gagarin training centre with over 199 days logged in space, complained he hadn't been given back pay. This followed a decision to strip retired military men of extra pay for their space experience.

Volkov, 40, started out as a military pilot and went on long-term missions at the International Space Station in 2008 and 2011.

And on Friday a court upheld his suit, ruling that the centre should pay cosmonauts with military backgrounds for the spaceflights they have completed. The centre now has to pay Volkov 1.4 million roubles (£27,000) in back wages.

Cosmonaut Sergei Zaletin told the RIA Novosti news agency that Volkov was "representing all military cosmonauts."