Boris Volynov Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Boris Volynov

Born	Boris Valentinovich Volynov (1934-12-18) 18 December 1934 (age 90) Irkutsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Status	Retired
Nationality	Soviet
Occupation	Electrical Engineer
Space career
Cosmonaut
Rank	Colonel, Soviet Air Force
Time in space	52d 07h 17m
Selection	Air Force Group 1
Missions	Soyuz 5, Soyuz 21

Boris Valentinovich Volynov (born 18 December 1934) is a brave Soviet cosmonaut. He flew on two important space missions as part of the Soyuz programme: Soyuz 5 and Soyuz 21. He is the last surviving member of the original group of cosmonauts. Many also consider him to be the first person of Jewish heritage to travel into space.

The Life of Boris Volynov
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The Life of Boris Volynov

Early Life and Education

Boris Volynov was born in Irkutsk, a city in Siberia, on December 18, 1934. His family later moved, and he completed his high school education in Prokopyevsk in 1952. The following year, he finished his basic pilot training in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. In 1955, he graduated from an aviation school in Novosibirsk, becoming a skilled pilot.

From 1961 to 1968, he continued his studies at the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy. He earned a special diploma as a pilot-engineer-cosmonaut. Later, in 1980, he achieved an even higher degree from the same academy. After leaving the space program in 1982, he worked for eight years as an important leader at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. He retired in 1990 as a colonel, after serving for 30 years in Star City.

A Career in Space

Training for Early Missions

In 1964, Volynov was chosen to train as a possible commander for the Voskhod 1 mission. However, he and his teammates, Georgi Katys and Boris Yegorov, were chosen not to fly just three days before the launch. This decision was made by higher authorities.

Volynov then spent a year training for the Voskhod 3 mission. He first trained with Georgi Katys, but Katys was later removed from the program for reasons outside his control. Volynov then trained with Viktor Gorbatko and later Georgi Shonin. Sadly, the Voskhod 3 flight was cancelled in January 1966, just ten days before it was supposed to launch. This happened after the death of Sergey Korolyov, a very important space program leader. His successor decided to focus on the new Soyuz missions instead. Volynov then joined the Soyuz group and was later a backup for Soyuz 3.

The Challenging Soyuz 5 Mission

The Soyuz 5 mission launched on January 15, 1969. Boris Volynov was the commander, along with Aleksei Yeliseyev and Yevgeny Khrunov. The next day, Yeliseyev and Khrunov transferred to another spacecraft, Soyuz 4, after the two ships met and docked in space. Soyuz 4 then undocked from Soyuz 5, and Volynov prepared to return to Earth alone.

During re-entry, Soyuz 5 faced a serious problem. The equipment module did not separate properly from the main capsule. This module blocked the heat shield, which protects the spacecraft from extreme heat. Because of this extra weight, Volynov lost control, and Soyuz 5 began to tumble. Luckily, the spacecraft eventually stabilized itself. As it entered the atmosphere, the intense heat caused the parts connecting the modules to burn through. The equipment module finally broke away and burned up. Volynov's capsule then used its automatic system to correctly orient the heat shield forward.

Despite this, the landing was still very difficult. The parachutes only opened partially, and the special rockets meant to soften the landing failed. This caused a very hard landing, which almost destroyed the capsule and caused Volynov some injuries.

The Soyuz 21 Mission and Salyut 5

On July 6, 1976, Volynov and Flight Engineer Vitaliy Zholobov launched aboard Soyuz 21. Their mission was to spend several weeks on the Salyut 5 space station. During their time there, Zholobov, who was on his first spaceflight, became unwell. The decision was made for the crew to return to Earth earlier than planned.

On August 24, they boarded their Soyuz spacecraft to undock. However, as Volynov tried to undock, a latch failed to release correctly. When he fired the jets to move away, the docking mechanism jammed. This meant the Soyuz was undocked but still connected to Salyut. For an entire orbit, about 90 minutes, the two spacecraft were linked in this dangerous way. Eventually, after receiving emergency instructions, the latches finally disengaged, and they were free.

Because Soyuz 21 returned early, it landed outside the planned area. It faced strong winds during its descent, which caused the landing rockets to fire unevenly. The spacecraft made a hard landing around midnight in Kazakhstan. Zholobov's illness was thought to be caused by nitric acid fumes leaking from the Salyut's fuel tanks. Other reports suggested the crew might not have followed their exercise program perfectly and suffered from lack of sleep.

Awards and Recognition

Boris Volynov received many important awards for his bravery and service:

He was twice named Hero of the Soviet Union (in 1969 and 1976).
He earned the title of Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR.
He received the Order For Merit to the Fatherland 4th class.
He was awarded the Order of Friendship.
He received two Orders of Lenin (in 1969 and 1976).
He was given the Order of the Red Star (in 1961).
He also received the Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR 3rd class.
He earned the Medal "For Distinction in Guarding the State Border of the USSR".
He was honored with the Order of the Banner of the People's Republic of Bulgaria.
He received the Medal "Brotherhood in Arms" from Poland.
He is an Honorary Citizen of Prokopyevsk.

His Family

Boris Volynov's mother, Yevgenia Izrailevna Volynova (1910–1991), was a dedicated pediatrician (children's doctor). She was recognized as an Honored Doctor of Russia. During World War II, she worked as a surgeon. His family background presented some challenges during the selection process for space missions.

His wife, Tamara Fyodorovna Savinova (born 1935), is an expert in metallurgy and a member of a respected science organization, the New York Academy of Sciences. They have two children: a son named Andrei (born 1958) and a daughter named Tatyana (born 1965).

Images for kids

Yuri Gagarin (left) and Boris Volynov (right) on a picnic in Dolgoprudny
Boris Volynov (left) and Vitaly Zholobov (right) on a 1976 U.S.S.R. postage stamp.
Russian president Dmitri Medvedev awards Volynov with the Order of Friendship on 12 April 2011 (Cosmonautics Day)