Vladimir Aksyonov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vladimir Aksyonov
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| Born | 1 February 1935 Giblitsy, USSR
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| Died | 9 April 2024 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | Soviet |
| Occupation | Pilot |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union (twice) |
| Space career | |
| Cosmonaut | |
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Time in space
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11d 20h 11m |
| Selection | Civilian Specialist Group 5 |
| Missions | Soyuz 22 Soyuz T-2 |
Vladimir Viktorovich Aksyonov (born February 1, 1935 – died April 9, 2024) was a brave Soviet cosmonaut. He flew into space twice as a flight engineer. His missions were on the Soyuz 22 and Soyuz T-2 spacecraft.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Vladimir Aksyonov was born on February 1, 1935, in a place called Giblitsy in the Kasimovsky District. He grew up in a Russian family. Sadly, he lost both his parents when he was young. His father died in 1944 during World War II. His mother, who worked as an accountant, passed away in 1949. Vladimir was then raised by his grandparents.
In 1949, he joined the Komsomol, a youth organization. He finished a seven-year school with good grades. After that, he went to the Asimov Industrial College. In 1950, he moved to Kaliningrad, Moscow Oblast, to live with his aunt. He continued his studies at Mytishchi Engineering College, graduating in 1953.
Vladimir then attended the 10th Military Aviation School in Kremenchuk. He graduated with honors in 1955. He also went to the Chuguev Military Aviation School of Pilots. However, he left the school in December 1956. This was because many Soviet troops were being reduced at that time.
The next year, he started working for OKB-1, a major space company. In 1963, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked in the test department, helping to prepare for space missions. In 1966, a new rule allowed civilians to become crew members on Soyuz flights. Aksyonov, as a tester, flew over 250 flights on special aircraft. He also practiced in simulations that felt like zero gravity. In 1973, he was finally chosen to become a cosmonaut candidate.
Becoming a Cosmonaut
Vladimir Aksyonov officially joined the cosmonaut team in 1973. He was a civilian cosmonaut, meaning he wasn't part of the military. He trained for spaceflight with other cosmonauts. He also helped teach other civilian flight engineers.
In January 1976, he began training with Valery Bykovsky. They learned how to use a special camera called the MKF-6. This camera was made in East Germany.
First Space Mission: Soyuz 22
On September 15, 1976, Vladimir Aksyonov launched into space for the very first time. He was the flight engineer on the Soyuz 22 mission. Valery Bykovsky was the commander. They spent about a week orbiting Earth. Their main job was to take many photographs of different places on Earth. This included parts of East Germany and the Soviet Union. They also took pictures of the Moon. In total, they took 2,400 photographs!
The crew had some small trouble changing the film rolls in the camera. Their feedback helped engineers design a better version of the camera later. The flight lasted for 7 days, 21 hours, and 52 minutes. They returned to Earth on September 23. For his excellent work on this mission, Vladimir Aksyonov was given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on September 28.
Second Space Mission: Soyuz T-2
After his first flight, Aksyonov continued to train for future missions. On June 5, 1980, he launched into space again. This time, he was the flight engineer on the Soyuz T-2 mission. Yuri Malyshev was the commander. Their goal was to visit the Salyut 6 space station.
Before they docked with the station on June 6, they tested new solar cells. The Soyuz T-2 was supposed to dock automatically. However, there was a technical problem. Commander Malyshev had to take control and dock the spacecraft manually. He did a great job, and the docking was successful!
The mission was a success. They returned to Earth on June 9. They spent 3 days, 22 hours, and 19 minutes in space. For his success on the Soyuz T-2 flight, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union again on June 16. In total, Vladimir Aksyonov spent 11 days, 20 hours, and 11 minutes in space during his career.
Later Life
After retiring from the cosmonaut program in 1988, Vladimir Aksyonov continued to work in important roles. He became the director of a research center that studied natural resources. He also held leadership positions in various organizations related to space and science. He lived in Moscow for many years. Vladimir Aksyonov passed away on April 9, 2024, at the age of 89.
Awards and Honors
Vladimir Aksyonov received many awards for his contributions:
- Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1976 and 1980)
- Two Orders of Lenin (1976 and 1980)
- Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" (2011)
- Medal "Veteran of Labour"
- Gold medal "For services to science and humanity" (from Czechoslovakia)
- Order of Karl Marx (1976)
- Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR (1976)
- Honoured Master of Sports
- Honorary Citizen of Ryazan (1976)
