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Valeri Kubasov facts for kids

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Valeri Kubasov
Valeriy N. Kubasov ASTP portrait - cropped.jpg
Born (1935-01-07)7 January 1935
Vyazniki, Vladimir Oblast, USSR
Died 19 February 2014(2014-02-19) (aged 79)
Nationality Soviet
Occupation Engineer
Awards
  • Order of Lenin (3)
  • Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration"
  • Medal "Veteran of Labour"
Space career
Cosmonaut
Time in space
18d 17h 57m
Selection Civilian Specialist Group 2
Missions Soyuz 6, Soyuz 19, Soyuz 36
Mission insignia
ASTP patch.png Soyuz36 patch.png

Valeri Nikolayevich Kubasov (Russian: Вале́рий Никола́евич Куба́сов; born January 7, 1935 – died February 19, 2014) was a famous Soviet cosmonaut. A cosmonaut is like an astronaut, but from the Soviet Union (now Russia). He was also an engineer, which means he designed and built things.

Valeri Kubasov flew on three important space missions. He was part of the Soyuz programme, which was the Soviet Union's human spaceflight program. He helped explore space and connect with other countries in orbit.

Early Life and Training

Valeri Kubasov was born in a town called Vyazniki. This town is in the Vladimir Oblast region of what was then the Soviet Union.

He became an engineer, which helped him get ready for space travel. Cosmonauts need to understand how spacecraft work. Valeri was chosen to be a cosmonaut in 1966. He trained hard for many years to prepare for his missions.

Space Missions

Valeri Kubasov flew on three different space missions. Each mission was a big step in space exploration.

Soyuz 6 Mission

His first mission was Soyuz 6 in 1969. He flew as a flight engineer. This mission was special because it involved three Soviet spacecraft flying together. They tested new ways to dock (connect) spacecraft in orbit. They also tried out new welding methods in space.

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project

Valeri Kubasov's second mission was Soyuz 19 in 1975. This was a very important mission called the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project. For the first time, a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft connected with an American Apollo spacecraft in space. Valeri was the flight engineer for the Soyuz crew.

This mission showed that different countries could work together in space. It was a big step for international cooperation. The crews met in space, shook hands, and exchanged gifts. It was a symbol of peace and friendship during the Cold War.

Soyuz 36 Mission

His third and final mission was Soyuz 36 in 1980. This time, Valeri Kubasov was the commander of the mission. He flew as part of the Intercosmos program. This program allowed cosmonauts from other countries to fly with the Soviet Union.

On this mission, Valeri flew with Bertalan Farkas, who was the first Hungarian cosmonaut. They visited the Salyut 6 space station. They spent several days doing experiments and working on the station.

Later Life and Legacy

Valeri Kubasov spent a total of 18 days, 17 hours, and 57 minutes in space across his three missions. He received many awards for his achievements. These included the Order of Lenin, which is a very high honor in the Soviet Union.

He passed away on February 19, 2014, in Moscow, Russia. He was 79 years old. Valeri Kubasov is remembered as a brave cosmonaut and a pioneer in space exploration. He helped show that humans could live and work in space. He also helped bring countries together through space cooperation.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Valeri Kubásov para niños

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