Georgy Dobrovolsky
Georgiy Timofeyevich Dobrovolsky | |
|---|---|
| File:USSR stamp Georgi Dobrovolski cropped.jpg | |
| Born | June 1, 1928 |
| Died | June 30, 1971 (aged 43) |
| Nationality | Soviet |
| Occupation | Pilot |
| Awards |   |
| Space career | |
| Rank | Podpolkovnik, Soviet Air Force |
Time in space | 23d 18h 21m |
| Selection | Air Force Group 2 |
| Missions | Soyuz 11 |
Georgiy Timofeyevich Dobrovolsky (Russian: Гео́ргий Тимофе́евич Доброво́льский; June 1, 1928 – June 30, 1971)[1] was a Soviet cosmonaut who died in outer space.
Biography
Dobrovolsky, Viktor Patsayev and Vladislav Volkov flew on the Soyuz 11 mission and had the unfortunate distinction to be the second Soviet crew to die during a space flight (after Vladimir Komarov in Soyuz 1).
After a normal re-entry, the capsule was opened and the crew was found dead.[2] It was discovered that a valve had opened just prior to leaving orbit that had allowed the capsule's atmosphere to vent away into space, suffocating the crew.[3]
Dobrovolsky's ashes were placed in an urn in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis on the Red Square in Moscow.[4] He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin and the title of Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR.
References
- ^ "Georgy Timofeyevich Dobrovolsky". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ Kluger, Jeffrey (31 January 2013). "Soyuz 11: Georgi Dobrovolski, Victor Patsayev, Vladislav Volkov". Time magazine. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "The Crew That Never Came Home: The Misfortunes of Soyuz 11". Space Safety Magazine. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ^ Ivanovich, Grujica S. (2008). Salyut – The First Space Station: Triumph and Tragedy. Springer. p. 351.