- In full:
- Alexander Alexandrovich Volkov
- Born:
- May 27, 1948, Gorlovka, Donetsk oblast, Ukraine, U.S.S.R. (age 78)
- Awards And Honors:
- Order of Lenin
- Notable Family Members:
- son Sergey Volkov
Alexander Volkov
-
Who is Aleksandr Volkov?
Aleksandr Volkov (born April 27, 1948, in Gorlovka, Ukraine, U.S.S.R.) is a Russian pilot and cosmonaut. In 1970, he graduated from the Chuguyev Higher Air Force School and then served as a test pilot, eventually becoming a colonel.
Volkov received cosmonaut training from 1976 to 1979. His first spaceflight was on Soyuz T-14 to the Salyut 7 space station in 1985. In 1988, he flew to the Mir space station aboard Soyuz TM-7, and in 1991, he commanded the Soyuz TM-13 flight to Mir. Notably, the Soviet Union dissolved while he was in space.
Volkov was awarded Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin. From 1990 to 1998, he commanded the cosmonaut detachment at the Yury Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. His son, Sergey Volkov, became the first second-generation cosmonaut.
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What is a cosmonaut?
A cosmonaut is an astronaut in the Soviet or Russian space program. Aleksandr Volkov, born on April 27, 1948, was a Russian pilot and cosmonaut. He graduated from the Chuguyev Higher Air Force School in 1970 and later served as a test pilot in the Soviet air force, eventually reaching the rank of colonel. Volkov received cosmonaut training from 1976 to 1979. He was the first cosmonaut whose son also went into space.
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What did Aleksandr Volkov do as a Russian pilot?
Aleksandr Volkov graduated from the Chuguyev Higher Air Force School in 1970 and then served as a test pilot in the Soviet air force, eventually achieving the rank of colonel. He received cosmonaut training from 1976 to 1979. Volkov flew into space three times and spent nearly 6 months in space on his third mission. He was also the commander of the cosmonaut detachment at the Yury Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre from 1990 to 1998.
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On which space missions did Aleksandr Volkov fly?
Aleksandr Volkov, a Russian pilot and cosmonaut, undertook three space missions.
- Soyuz T-14: His first spaceflight was on September 17, 1985, aboard Soyuz T-14 to the Salyut 7 space station. The mission was cut short due to a crew member's illness, and Volkov returned to Earth on November 21, 1985.
- Soyuz TM-7: Volkov's second mission commenced on November 26, 1988, on the Soyuz TM-7 flight to the Mir space station. He returned to Earth on April 27, 1989.
- Soyuz TM-13: His third flight was on October 2, 1991, as commander of Soyuz TM-13 to Mir. He returned to Earth on March 25, 1992.
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What are some achievements or records of Aleksandr Volkov in space?
Aleksandr Volkov, a Russian pilot and cosmonaut, flew into space three times. His first mission was aboard Soyuz T-14 to the Salyut 7 space station in 1985, where he conducted scientific and technical experiments. In 1988, he flew on Soyuz TM-7 to the Mir space station, focusing on medical and technology experiments, and performed a spacewalk with Jean-Loup Chrétien to assemble an experimental structure. His third mission in 1991, as commander of Soyuz TM-13 to Mir, involved scientific research and a spacewalk to dismantle equipment. Volkov was in space during the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. He was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin.
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How did Aleksandr Volkov’s work as a cosmonaut impact space exploration or inspire others?
Aleksandr Volkov's work as a cosmonaut significantly contributed to space exploration. He completed three spaceflights, including missions to the Salyut 7 and Mir space stations.
During his missions, Volkov conducted scientific and technical experiments, some with military applications, and performed space walks to assemble experimental structures and dismantle equipment. Notably, his third mission garnered public attention due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union while he was in space.
Volkov's legacy extends to inspiring his son, Sergey Volkov, who became the first second-generation cosmonaut. Aleksandr Volkov also served as the commander of the cosmonaut detachment at the Yury Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, further shaping the future of space exploration.
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Alexander Volkov (born May 27, 1948, Gorlovka, Donetsk oblast, Ukraine, U.S.S.R.) is a Russian pilot and cosmonaut, the first cosmonaut whose son also went into space.
Volkov graduated from the Chuguyev Higher Air Force School in Kharkov province in Ukraine, U.S.S.R., in 1970. After graduation from the air force school, Volkov served as a test pilot in the Soviet air force and eventually reached the rank of colonel.
Volkov received cosmonaut training from 1976 to 1979. He first flew into space on September 17, 1985, as a research cosmonaut aboard Soyuz T-14 to the Salyut 7 space station. While stationed on Salyut 7, Volkov and two fellow crew members, commander Vladimir Vasyutin and flight engineer Georgy Grechko, conducted scientific and technical experiments with military applications. Unfortunately, the mission was cut short due to the unexpected psychological illness of Vasyutin, and the crew returned to Earth aboard Soyuz T-14 on November 21, 1985.
Volkov flew into space for a second time on November 26, 1988, aboard the Soyuz TM-7 flight to the Mir space station. The crew of Soyuz TM-7 also included flight engineer Sergei Krikalev of the Soviet Union and research cosmonaut Jean-Loup Chrétien of France. The cosmonauts conducted scientific experiments with the three cosmonauts who were already stationed on Mir, focusing their research efforts mostly on medical and technology experiments in support of the Hermes shuttle project of the European Space Agency. On December 9, 1988, Volkov and Chrétien conducted a space walk to assemble an experimental deployable structure called ERA for French experiments. The mission was shortened due to delays in sending certain modules to Mir, which led to the decision to leave Mir uninhabited until the add-on modules were ready. Volkov returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-7 on April 27, 1989.
Volkov traveled into space for a third time on October 2, 1991, as the commander of the Soyuz TM-13 flight to Mir with research cosmonauts Toktar Aubakirov of the Soviet Union and Franz Viehböck of Austria. The cosmonauts performed scientific and technical research, and Volkov conducted a space walk to dismantle equipment and recover experiment materials. He returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-13 on March 25, 1992, after nearly six months in space. Volkov’s third space mission attracted considerable public attention due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, while Volkov was in space. He was launched into space as a Soviet citizen and returned to Earth 176 days later, landing in Kazakhstan in a Russian spacecraft.
Volkov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and was bestowed with the Order of Lenin. He served as the commander of the cosmonaut detachment at the Yury Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia, from 1990 to 1998. He left the space service on August 21, 1998, and retired from active duty in the Russian air force soon after. He is the father of Sergey Volkov, who became the first second-generation cosmonaut in history when he launched into space aboard Soyuz TMA-12 on April 8, 2008.