Vasily Lazarev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vasily Lazarev
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Lazarev in 1974
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| Born | 23 February 1928 |
| Died | 31 December 1990 (aged 62) Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
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| Nationality | Soviet |
| Occupation | Medical Doctor |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union |
| Space career | |
| Cosmonaut | |
| Rank | Colonel, Soviet Air Force |
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Time in space
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1d 23h 36m |
| Selection | Voskhod Group (Medical Group 1) |
| Missions | Soyuz 12, Soyuz 18a |
Vasily Grigoryevich Lazarev (Васи́лий Григо́рьевич Ла́зарев; 23 February 1928 – 31 December 1990) was a Soviet cosmonaut. A cosmonaut is a space traveler from the Soviet Union or Russia. He flew on the Soyuz 12 space mission. He was also part of the Soyuz 18a launch on 5 April 1975, which had to be stopped early.
During the emergency stop and landing of Soyuz 18a, Lazarev was hurt by the very strong forces. At first, he was not given his special pay for flying in space. He had to ask Leonid Brezhnev directly to get it. Brezhnev was the top leader of the Soviet Union at that time.
Lazarev had a degree in medicine and was a colonel in the Soviet Air Force. He stayed in the space program until 1981, when he could not pass a health check. He never fully got over the injuries from Soyuz 18a. He passed away on the last day of 1990, when he was 62 years old.
He received important awards, including the title Hero of the Soviet Union. This is one of the highest honors in the Soviet Union. He was also named Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR and given the Order of Lenin.
Contents
Who Was Vasily Lazarev?
Vasily Lazarev was a brave Soviet cosmonaut. He is known for his space flights and for surviving a difficult mission. He was not just a pilot; he was also a medical doctor. This background was very helpful in his work as a cosmonaut.
Early Life and Training
Vasily Lazarev was born on February 23, 1928. His birthplace was Poroshino, in the Altai Krai region of the Soviet Union. From a young age, he was interested in science and flying.
A Doctor in the Air Force
Before becoming a cosmonaut, Lazarev studied medicine. He became a medical doctor. He also joined the Soviet Air Force. In the Air Force, he reached the rank of colonel. His skills as a doctor and a pilot made him a great choice for the space program.
His First Space Mission: Soyuz 12
Vasily Lazarev's first trip to space was on the Soyuz 12 mission. This flight happened in September 1973. He was the commander of the mission. The main goal of Soyuz 12 was to test new systems on the Soyuz spacecraft. This was important for future space travel. The mission lasted for almost two days. It was a successful flight.
The Challenging Soyuz 18a Flight
On April 5, 1975, Vasily Lazarev was the commander of the Soyuz 18a mission. This flight was supposed to go to the Salyut 4 space station. However, something went wrong during the launch. The rocket's second stage did not separate correctly. This meant the mission had to be stopped immediately.
Facing High G-Forces
When the launch was stopped, the spacecraft had to return to Earth very quickly. This emergency return created very strong forces, called G-forces. These forces pushed down on Lazarev and his crewmate. It was like being pressed into their seats with many times their own weight. This caused serious injuries to Lazarev.
A Special Appeal to Brezhnev
After the emergency landing, Lazarev was injured. Because the mission did not reach space, he was told he would not get his special spaceflight bonus pay. This was unfair, as he had faced great danger. Lazarev decided to appeal this decision. He went directly to Leonid Brezhnev, who was the leader of the Soviet Union. Brezhnev listened to Lazarev's case. He then made sure Lazarev received his well-deserved bonus pay.
Life After Space Travel
Vasily Lazarev continued to work in the space program for some years. However, the injuries from the Soyuz 18a mission affected his health. In 1981, he failed a physical examination. This meant he could no longer be an active cosmonaut. He retired from the space program. He never fully recovered from his injuries. Vasily Lazarev passed away on December 31, 1990, at the age of 62.
Awards and Recognition
Vasily Lazarev received many important awards for his service. He was given the title Hero of the Soviet Union. This is the highest honor a person can receive in the Soviet Union for bravery. He was also named Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR. This title recognized his skills as a space pilot. Additionally, he received the Order of Lenin, another very high award. These honors show how much he contributed to space exploration.
