Dumitru Prunariu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dumitru Dorin Prunariu
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| Born | 27 September 1952 Orașul Stalin, Stalin Region, Romanian People's Republic
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| Occupation | Aviator, engineer, and diplomat |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union Hero of the Socialist Republic of Romania |
| Space career | |
| Intercosmos Cosmonaut | |
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Time in space
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7d 20h 42m |
| Selection | 1978 Intercosmos Group |
| Missions | Soyuz 40 |
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Mission insignia
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Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu (born 27 September 1952) is a famous Romanian cosmonaut. He was the first Romanian to travel into space. He flew aboard the Soyuz 40 spacecraft and visited the Salyut 6 space station. He worked with Soviet cosmonaut Leonid Popov during his mission.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Training
Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu was born on September 27, 1952, in Brașov, Romania. He finished high school in Brașov in 1971. Later, in 1976, he earned a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Politehnica University of Bucharest.
After college, Prunariu began working as an engineer. He helped build airplanes at a factory called Industria Aeronautică Română. In 1977, he joined the Romanian Air Force Officers Training School.
Space Mission with Intercosmos
In 1978, Prunariu was chosen for astronaut training. This was part of the Intercosmos Program, which allowed cosmonauts from different countries to fly with the Soviet Union. He trained for three years and did very well.
In May 1981, he went on an eight-day space mission. He flew with Ukrainian cosmonaut Leonid Popov on the Soyuz 40 spacecraft. They docked with the Salyut 6 space laboratory. During their time in space, they did many science experiments. These experiments covered topics like astrophysics, space radiation, and space medicine.
Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu was the 103rd person in history to fly into space.
Career After Spaceflight
After his space mission, Prunariu continued to serve in the Romanian Air Force. He also held many important civil jobs. He worked for the Ministry of Transportation and led the Romanian Civil Aviation Department.
From 1998 to 2004, Prunariu was the President of the Romanian Space Agency. He also taught about geopolitics at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. For two years, he was Romania's Ambassador to Russia.
Prunariu also played a big role at the United Nations. He was the Chairman of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS). This committee helps countries work together on space activities. He also worked for the Romanian Office for Science and Technology in Brussels.
Today, Prunariu works as an expert for the Romanian Space Agency. He is also a member of the International Academy of Astronautics. He helps Romania with its space activities and international space cooperation.
Association of Space Explorers
In 1985, Prunariu became a founding member of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE). This group includes over 400 astronauts and cosmonauts from 36 countries.
He represented the ASE at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) for many years. He also worked on the ASE NEO Committee. This committee focuses on Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), like asteroids that could hit Earth.
Prunariu helped promote the idea of an International Asteroid Day. He suggested that the UN General Assembly create this day. The goal is to raise awareness about the danger of asteroid impacts. The UN adopted his proposal, and International Asteroid Day is now observed every year on June 30. This date marks the anniversary of the Tunguska impact in 1908.
Because of his efforts, Prunariu was named the first Official Asteroid Day Ambassador. He also served as the President of ASE Europe and later as the President of ASE International.
Personal Life
Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu is married to Crina Prunariu, who was a diplomat. They have two sons and three grandchildren.
He also lent his voice to the robot BURN-E in the Romanian version of the Disney Pixar movie WALL-E.
Awards and Honors
- In 1981, after his space mission, he received the awards of Hero of the Socialist Republic of Romania and Hero of the Soviet Union.
- In 1982, he was given the Yuri Gagarin medal.
- In 2000, he was made a Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Romania.
- In 2011, the President of Russia awarded him the Medal for Merits in Space Exploration.
- In 2011, he became an Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy.
- He has received honorary degrees from several universities.
- He is an honorary citizen of many cities in Romania.
- An asteroid, 10707 Prunariu, was named in his honor in 2017. It was discovered in 1981.
See also
In Spanish: Dumitru Prunariu para niños
- Dumitru Dediu
Images for kids
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Dumitru Prunariu (right) and Leonid Popov (left) after their Soyuz 40 mission in 1981.
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Prunariu receiving the Medal for Merits in Space Exploration from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in 2011.
