Vladislav Nikolayevich
Volkov
1935-1971
Vladislav Nikolayevich Volkov was a Soviet cosmonaut, flight engineer of the Soyuz–7 spacecraft, flight engineer of the Soyuz-11 spacecraft, the twice Hero of the Soviet Union (the second time the title was awarded posthumously). He was born in Moscow. In 1953 he finished the 10th grade of the school, in 1959 he graduated from Moscow Aviation Institute with a degree in electrical engineering. Since April 1959, he worked as an engineer and layout designer at OKB-1 (since 1966 – Central Design Bureau of Experimental Mechanical Engineering, now RSC Energia named after S.P. Korolev). He completed the drawings of the R-9A intercontinental ballistic missile and the Voskhod launch vehicle. He was in the cosmonaut squadron since May 1966. He made 2 space flights with a total duration of 28 days, 17 hours and 2 minutes. He was the 20th cosmonaut of the USSR and the 42nd cosmonaut of the planet. In September 1966 – December 1968, he was trained as a flight engineer of the reserve crew of the passive Soyuz spacecraft under the program of the first docking in space. Since February 1969, he had been preparing for flight as a flight engineer of the main crew of the Soyuz-7 spacecraft. October 12-17, 1969 as a flight engineer of the Soyuz-7 spacecraft, together with A.V. Filipchenko and V.V. Gorbatko, he made a space flight lasting 4 days, 22 hours and 40 minutes. The crew of the spacecraft took part in the first group flight of three spaceships, during which their rapprochement and maneuvering were carried out. Vladislav Nikolayevich Volkov was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated October 22, 1969 for the successful implementation of the group flight of the Soyuz-6, Soyuz-7 and Soyuz-8 spacecraft and the courage and heroism shown at the same time. On June 6-30, 1971, as a flight engineer of the Soyuz-11 spacecraft, together with G.T. Dobrovolsky and V.I. Patsaev, he made the second space flight lasting 23 days and 18 hours. This was the first expedition to the world’s first orbital station “Salyut”. On June 7, 1971 the Soyuz-11 crew successfully docked with the station and began work in orbit. During the first entrance to the station, the astronauts found that the air was heavily smoky. After repairing the ventilation system, the crew spent the next day in the descent vehicle, waiting for air regeneration. On June 28, 1971 there was a fire, and it was decided to stop the flight and leave the station. The next day, Soyuz-11 undocked from Salyut and began its descent from orbit on June 30, 1971. At an altitude of about 7 kilometers, the main parachute of the descent vehicle opened, which was soon discovered by the welcoming helicopters. After 14 minutes, the soft-landing engines fired and the flight ended. However, the search team found the crew without signs of life. The death of the astronauts occurred due to the depressurization of the descent vehicle at high altitude (about 100 kilometers). For heroism, courage and bravery shown during the testing of a new space complex – the Salyut orbital station and the Soyuz-11 transport ship, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated June 30, 1971, Vladislav Volkov was awarded the second Gold Star medal (posthumously). He lived in Moscow. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, medals. He was awarded the K.E. Tsiolkovsky Gold Medal of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
Address: Moscow, Voykovsky district, Cosmonaut Volkov Square
