Aleksandr Lazutkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aleksandr Ivanovich Lazutkin
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| Born | 30 October 1957 |
| Status | Retired |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Occupation | Flight engineer |
| Space career | |
| Roscosmos cosmonaut | |
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Time in space
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184d 22h 07m |
| Selection | 1992 |
| Missions | Soyuz TM-25 |
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Mission insignia
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Aleksandr Ivanovich Lazutkin (Russian: Александр Иванович Лазуткин; born October 30, 1957) is a former Russian cosmonaut. He is known for his work as a flight engineer on the Mir Space Station.
Contents
About Aleksandr Lazutkin
Aleksandr Lazutkin was born in Moscow, which was then part of the Soviet Union. He studied at the Moscow Aviation Institute. There, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. This training helped him prepare for a career in space.
Becoming a Cosmonaut
Lazutkin was chosen to become a cosmonaut on March 3, 1992. This was a big step towards his dream of space travel. His first journey into space was on the Soyuz TM-25 mission. During this mission, he worked as the flight engineer. A flight engineer is a very important job. They help manage the spacecraft's systems. They also make sure everything runs smoothly.
A Challenging Mission on Mir
In 1997, Lazutkin was living and working on the Mir Space Station. This was a very important space station at the time. During his time there, a serious event happened. An uncrewed supply ship, called Progress M34, was coming to the station. It was being guided by another cosmonaut, Vasily Tsibliyev.
However, the Progress ship accidentally hit the Mir station. This collision caused damage to the station. It knocked out some of the Spektr module's solar panels. These panels collect sunlight to make power for the station. Because of the damage, Mir lost its power. The collision also caused the cabin to lose air pressure. This was a very dangerous situation for the crew.
Quick Thinking in Space
Aleksandr Lazutkin and his fellow crew members acted very quickly. They worked together to prevent a bigger disaster. Lazutkin and another crew member, Michael Foale, quickly cut the cables connecting the damaged module. They then sealed off the hatches to that part of the station. This quick action saved the rest of the Mir station.
Lazutkin even used a small dinner knife to cut some important wires. This shows how resourceful the cosmonauts had to be. A few days after the collision, Lazutkin and Tsibliyev were told to try and fix the station. Foale was ready in the Soyuz-TM escape pod, just in case. Thanks to their efforts, the station was eventually made safe again. This mission showed the bravery and skill of the cosmonauts.
See also
- List of Heroes of the Russian Federation
