Vladislav Volkov Astronaut Date of Birth: 23.11.1935 Country: Russia

1. Biography of Vladislav Volkov
2. Early Life and Education
3. Career in Space Exploration
4. Space Missions
5. Second Space Flight and Tragic End

Biography of Vladislav Volkov

Vladislav Volkov was a Soviet cosmonaut who is known for his contributions to the field of space exploration. He was born on December 23rd in Moscow, Russia, into a family that had a deep connection to aviation. His father was an aviation engineer and his mother also worked in the aircraft industry.

Early Life and Education

From a young age, Volkov developed a keen interest in aviation. After completing his secondary education at the 212th Moscow High School in 1953, he enrolled in the Sergo Ordzhonikidze Moscow Aviation Institute. During his time at the institute, Volkov also joined an aeroclub and obtained a certification as a sports aviator.

Career in Space Exploration

After graduating from the Moscow Aviation Institute in 1959, Volkov started working at the OKB-1 (KB Korolev), where he contributed to the development of various spacecraft, including the Vostok and Voskhod. In 1966, he was selected to join the Soviet cosmonaut corps as part of Civilian Specialist Group No. 2. He completed extensive training to prepare for missions aboard Soyuz spacecraft.

Space Missions

Volkov's first space flight took place from October 12th to 17th, 1969, as a flight engineer aboard Soyuz 7. The mission lasted for 4 days, 22 hours, 40 minutes, and 23 seconds. He later continued his training as part of the cosmonaut corps for missions aboard Soyuz spacecraft and the orbital space station Salyut. Volkov was part of the support crew for the Soyuz 10 mission in April 1971.

Second Space Flight and Tragic End

From June 6th to 29th, 1971, Volkov embarked on his second space flight as a flight engineer aboard Soyuz 11 and the Salyut-1 space station. During his time on board, he conducted experiments and worked on the station's systems. The mission lasted for 23 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes, and 43 seconds.

Tragically, the crew of Soyuz 11, including Volkov, perished upon their return to Earth due to a failure in the re-entry capsule's sealing. Despite this tragic end, Volkov's contributions to space exploration were recognized and honored. He received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union twice and was awarded the Order of Lenin. Additionally, the lunar crater and minor planet 1790 Volkov were named after him.

Today, Volkov's ashes are interred in the Kremlin Wall on Red Square in Moscow. He is also remembered as an honorary citizen of the Russian cities of Kaluga and Kirov.