A Russian colonel, engineer, and cosmonaut who flew on two Soviet space missions, including the first manned spaceflight to test a new spacecraft design. He's also known for being the first Jewish person in space.
Boris Volynov is renowned for being one of the most accomplished Soviet cosmonauts, flying two historic space missions as part of the Soyuz program: Soyuz 5 and Soyuz 21. As the last surviving member of the original group of cosmonauts, Volynov's contributions to space exploration are nothing short of extraordinary.
Born on December 18, 1934, in Irkutsk, Siberia, Volynov's family relocated to Prokopyevsk, Kemerovo Oblast, where he finished secondary school in 1952. His passion for aviation led him to complete basic pilot training in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, in 1953. He went on to graduate from an aviation school in Novosibirsk in 1955. Volynov's thirst for knowledge continued as he studied at the faculty of engineering of the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy from 1961 to 1968, earning a diploma of a pilot-engineer-cosmonaut. In 1980, he defended his PhD at the same academy.
Volynov's contributions to space exploration have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of space travel. As the last surviving member of the original group of cosmonauts, his legacy serves as a testament to the pioneering spirit of the Soviet space program. His achievements have inspired generations of cosmonauts, astronauts, and space enthusiasts around the world.
After resigning from the space program in 1982, Volynov spent eight years as a senior administrator at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. He retired in 1990 with the rank of colonel due to age limit, concluding his 30-year service in Star City.
Today, Boris Volynov's name is etched in the annals of space exploration history, a testament to his unwavering dedication and contribution to the pursuit of human knowledge.
92 Years Old
The first human to journey into outer space, paving the way for space exploration and inspiring generations to reach for the stars. A hero and a pioneer in the field of cosmonautics.
Born in 1907
A pioneering rocket engineer and designer who played a crucial role in the Soviet space program, developing the R-7 rocket that launched Sputnik and sent humans into space.
92 Years Old
A Soviet spaceman who became the first human to walk in space during the 1965 Voskhod 2 mission, paving the way for future space exploration.
95 Years Old
A pioneering cosmonaut who flew on two space missions, including the first simultaneous spaceflight with another spacecraft, and later became a prominent military leader. He played a crucial role in the development of the Soviet space program.
97 Years Old
A Soviet space pioneer who flew on the Vostok 3 mission in 1962, becoming the third person in space and setting a record for the longest solo spaceflight at the time.
89 Years Old
First woman in space, completing 48 orbits of the Earth in 1963, paving the way for future female astronauts.
91 Years Old
A highly decorated Russian military pilot and cosmonaut who flew on several space missions, including a record-breaking 365-day stay on the Mir space station. He's a hero in Russia, celebrated for his bravery and endurance.
99 Years Old
A Soviet cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space twice, and tragically, the first to die during a spaceflight mission. He's known for his bravery and sacrifice in the pursuit of space exploration.
