Pyotr Klimuk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pyotr Klimuk
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Klimuk in 1970
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| Born | 10 July 1942 Kamaroŭka, BSSR, Soviet Union
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| Status | Retired |
| Nationality | Belarusian |
| Occupation | Pilot-cosmonaut |
| Awards |
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| Space career | |
| Cosmonaut | |
| Rank | Colonel General |
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Time in space
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78d 18h 17m |
| Selection | 1965 Cosmonaut Group |
| Missions | Soyuz 13, Soyuz 18, Soyuz 30 |
Pyotr Ilyich Klimuk (born 10 July 1942) is a famous former cosmonaut from the Soviet Union. He was the very first Belarusian person to travel into space.
Pyotr Klimuk made three exciting journeys into space during his career. Later, from 1991 to 2003, he was in charge of the important Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. This is where cosmonauts learn everything they need to know for space missions.
Contents
Pyotr Klimuk's Early Life and Training
Pyotr Klimuk was born on July 10, 1942. He studied at the Leninski Komsomol Chernigov High Aviation School. After finishing his studies, he joined the Soviet Air Force in 1964.
Just one year later, in 1965, he was chosen to join the special space program. This was a big step towards his dream of flying among the stars.
Space Missions and Adventures
Pyotr Klimuk had three amazing space flights. Each one helped us learn more about space.
First Space Flight: Soyuz 13
His first trip to space was a long test flight on a spacecraft called Soyuz 13. This mission happened in 1973. It was an important flight to test how well the spacecraft worked.
Second Space Flight: Soyuz 18
Next, in 1975, he flew on Soyuz 18. This mission was to visit the Salyut 4 space station. Space stations are like homes in orbit where astronauts can live and work for a long time.
Third Space Flight: Soyuz 30
From 1976, Pyotr Klimuk became involved with the Intercosmos program. This program helped other countries send their own cosmonauts into space. His third and final space journey was on an Intercosmos flight. He flew on Soyuz 30 in 1978 with a Polish cosmonaut named Mirosław Hermaszewski.
Life After Space Flights
After his last space flight in 1978, Pyotr Klimuk stopped being an active cosmonaut. He took on a new role as the Assistant to the Chief of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.
In 1991, he became the Chief of this important facility. He stayed in that leadership position until he retired in 2003.
Pyotr Klimuk also continued his education. He graduated from the Gagarin Air Force Academy and the Lenin Military-Political Academy. He even wrote two books about human spaceflight: Beside the Stars and Attack on Weightlessness.
Awards and Recognitions
Pyotr Klimuk received many important awards for his bravery and contributions to space exploration.
- He was named Hero of the Soviet Union twice, in 1973 and 1975. This is one of the highest honors.
- He also earned the title of Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR.
- He received the Order of Merit for the Fatherland multiple times.
- He was given three Orders of Lenin, which were very prestigious awards in the Soviet Union.
- In 2011, he received the Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration". This was for his great work in exploring and using outer space.
- He also received awards from other countries, like the Order "For Service to Motherland" from Belarus and the Officer of the Legion of Honour from France.
Pyotr Klimuk is also an honorary citizen of several cities, including Kaluga and Gagarin in Russia.
Images for kids
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Pyotr Klimuk in 1970
