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Georgiy GrechkoAstronaut
Date of Birth: 25.05.1931
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military and Engineering Career
- Cosmonaut Career
- Scientific Research and Publications
- Post-Cosmonaut Career and Honors
- - Twice Hero of the Soviet Union
- Hobbies and Interests
Early Life and Education
Georgiy Mikhaylovich Grechko was born on May 25, 1931, in Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg. His parents were Mikhail Fyodorovich Grechko, born in 1902, and Aleksandra Yakovlevna Grechko, born in 1907.
Military and Engineering Career
From 1949 to 1955, Grechko studied at the Leningrad Military Mechanics Institute. After graduating, he worked in a design bureau from 1955 to 1966. In 1966, he joined the NPO Energia, where he remained until 1986.
Cosmonaut Career
In 1986, Grechko was selected to join the cosmonaut corps. He flew three missions into space as a flight engineer. His first mission was on the orbital complex "Soyuz-17" - "Salyut-4" from January 11 to February 9, 1975. His second mission was on the orbital complex "Soyuz-26" - "Salyut-6" - "Soyuz-27" from December 10, 1977, to March 16, 1978. His third mission was on the orbital complex "Soyuz T-14" - "Salyut-7" - "Soyuz T-13" from September 17 to September 26, 1985. Notably, Grechko holds both the USSR and world records for the duration of space flights.
Scientific Research and Publications
Georgiy Grechko specialized in studying Earth's atmosphere using space-based methods. His research and experiments on orbital stations led to the development of the hypothesis on the thin, layered structure of the Earth's atmosphere. In 1984, he obtained his doctorate in physical and mathematical sciences. From 1986 to 1997, he served as a leading research fellow at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He published numerous scientific articles and presented at national and international conferences.
Post-Cosmonaut Career and Honors
After retiring from the cosmonaut corps in 1997, Grechko became deputy chairman of the supervisory board of the Bank of Investments and Savings. He has received numerous awards and honors, including:
- Twice Hero of the Soviet Union
- Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR- Three Orders of Lenin
- Hero of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
- Indian Order of Kirti Chakra
- Laureate of State Prizes of the Ukrainian and Estonian SSR
- Gold Medal named after K.E. Tsiolkovsky from the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1975)
- Order of the "Rose of the Winds" with a diamond from the International Committee on Aeronautics and Space Flights
- Honorary Citizen of several cities, including Kaluga, Leningrad, and Prague
Hobbies and Interests
Grechko was an avid reader of science fiction and classic literature. He enjoyed classical music, jazz, and the work of famous singers and actors. In addition, he was enthusiastic about various technical sports, such as flying, driving, shooting, skiing, and scuba diving.
