Dmitry Alekseevich Zaikin (russian: Дмитрий Алексеевич Заикин; 29 April 1932 – 20 October 2013) was a Soviet
cosmonaut trainer.
Zaikin was born in Yekaterinovka,
Rostov Oblast
Rostov Oblast ( rus, Росто́вская о́бласть, r=Rostovskaya oblast, p=rɐˈstofskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast), located in the Southern Federal District. The oblast has an area of and a populati ...
. He graduated from Military Fighter Pilot School,
Armavir (
Krasnodar Krai) and Frunze (now
Bishkek
Bishkek ( ky, Бишкек), ), formerly Pishpek and Frunze, is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek is also the administrative centre of the Chüy Region. The region surrounds the city, although the city itself is not part of ...
), in 1955. He was selected for the cosmonaut training in 1960, as one of a group of the twenty Air Force pilots who would train as the first cosmonauts.
Zayikin was assigned as backup commander for
Voskhod 2. He then went on to graduate from the Zhukovsky Military Engineering Academy of
Monino in 1968. He left the space service on 25 October 1969 for medical reasons while training for
Soyuz missions. He then became an instructor and lead engineer at the
Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center.
He left the space program in 1982, and retired from active military duty in 1987.
He was married with two children.
Zaikin died of natural causes on 20 October 2013, as reported by Star City, the Yuri Gagarin Training Centre.
References
Bibliography
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1932 births
2013 deaths
Soviet cosmonauts
Soviet Air Force officers
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