Viktor Afanasyev Astronaut Date of Birth: 31.12.1948 Country: Russia

Biography of Viktor Afanasyev

Viktor Afanasyev was a Russian astronaut, colonel, and Hero of the Soviet Union. He was born on December 31, 1948, in Bryansk, RSFSR (Russia). He spent his childhood and school years in Bryansk, where he received his education at the Polytechnic High School. In 1966, he enrolled in the Kachin Military Aviation Command School and graduated in 1970 with a diploma as an engineer-pilot.

After completing his studies, Afanasyev served as a pilot and senior pilot in the fighter aviation of the Soviet Forces in Germany. In 1976-1977, he attended the 267th Center for Testing Aviation Equipment and Training Test Pilots in Ahtubinsk, Astrakhan Oblast. He mastered the aircraft Su-7, Su-17, and Yak-28U. After completing his training at the center, he obtained the qualification of "Test Pilot of the 3rd Class" and was appointed as a test pilot at the V.P. Chkalov State Scientific and Research Institute of the Air Force in Ahtubinsk.

From 1976 to 1980, Afanasyev simultaneously worked as a test pilot and studied at the Ahtubinsk branch of the Moscow Aviation Institute "Vzlet" in the evening department, specializing in aircraft manufacturing. In 1985, he was selected to join the group of test pilots for the "Buran" program and began his general space training at the Cosmonaut Training Center. He was assigned the position of a test cosmonaut of the 2nd Group in the Cosmonaut Corps of the Air Force CPC in 1988.

Afanasyev underwent training as the backup commander of the main expedition onboard the orbital complex "Mir" in 1988-1989 and as the backup commander of the Soyuz TM-9 spacecraft in 1989-1990. In 1990, he underwent training as the commander of the backup crew of the Soyuz TM-10 spacecraft for the 7th main expedition to the "Mir" orbital complex. He served as the commander of the backup crew during the Soyuz TM-10 flight in August 1990.

On December 2, 1990, Afanasyev made his first space flight as the commander of the Soyuz TM-11 spacecraft and the 8th main expedition to the "Mir" orbital complex. He worked onboard the "Mir" complex and conducted four spacewalks with a total duration of 20 hours and 26 minutes. The space flight lasted 175 days, 1 hour, 50 minutes, and 42 seconds.

In 1993, Afanasyev underwent training as the backup commander of the 14th main expedition to the "Mir" orbital complex. He served as the backup commander during the Soyuz TM-17 flight in July 1993. On January 8, 1994, he embarked on his second space flight as the commander of the Soyuz TM-18 spacecraft and the 15th main expedition to the "Mir" orbital complex. The space flight lasted 182 days, 27 minutes, and 2 seconds.

Afanasyev's third space flight took place from February 20 to August 28, 1999, as the commander of the Soyuz TM-29 spacecraft and the 27th main expedition to the "Mir" orbital complex. During the flight, he performed three spacewalks with a total duration of 17 hours and 48 minutes. The space flight lasted 188 days, 20 hours, 16 minutes, and 19 seconds.

From October 21 to 31, 2001, Afanasyev embarked on his fourth space flight as the commander of the 1st Visiting Crew to the International Space Station. The flight lasted 9 days, 19 hours, 59 minutes, and 51 seconds. In total, he accumulated 555 days, 18 hours, 32 minutes, and 54 seconds of space flight time over four missions.

Viktor Afanasyev is a decorated astronaut, having been awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" of the 3rd Degree, the Orders "For Merit to the Fatherland" of the 2nd and 3rd Degrees, the Order "For Personal Courage," and various medals for his achievements.