Vasily Vasiliyevich Tsibliyev (russian: Василий Василиевич Циблиев); born on February 20, 1954) is retired Russian

cosmonaut An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'star', and (), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member aboard a spacecraft. Although generally r ...

and former head of the

Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center The Yuri A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC; Russian: Центр подготовки космонавтов имени Ю. А. Гагарина) is a Russian training facility responsible for trai ...

Life

He was selected as a cosmonaut on March 26, 1987. Tsibliyev flew as Commander on Soyuz TM-17 from July 1, 1993 to January 14, 1994 and on Soyuz TM-25 from February 2, 1997 to August 14 of the same year. He retired as a cosmonaut on June 19, 1998. From 2003 to 2009, he headed the

. Tsibliyev is married with two children. Tsibliyev was the commander in charge of '' Mir'' when it was hit by a ''

Progress Progress is the movement towards a refined, improved, or otherwise desired state. In the context of progressivism, it refers to the proposition that advancements in technology, science, and social organization have resulted, and by extension w ...

'' spacecraft in 1997.

Honours and awards

Hero of the Russian Federation Hero of the Russian Federation (russian: Герой Российской Федерации, Geroy Rossiyskoy Federatsii), also unofficially Hero of Russia (russian: link=no, Герой России, Geroy Rossii), is the highest honorary title ...

(14 January 1994) - for courage and heroism displayed during spaceflight on the orbital scientific research complex ''Mir'' * Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 3rd class (10 April 1998) - for courage and heroism displayed during prolonged space flight on the orbital scientific research complex ''Mir'' * Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" (12 April 2011) - for the great achievements in the field of research, development and use of outer space, many years of diligent work, public activities * Medal for Battle Merit * Medal "For Distinction in Military Service", 2nd class * Medal "For Strengthening brotherhood in arms" (Bulgaria) * NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal * Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation (14 January 1994) - for the successful implementation of spaceflight on the orbital scientific research complex ''Mir'' and expressed at high level of professionalism * Prize Laureate Vladimir Vysotsky's "Own Track"

External links

Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center

* Current developments at GCTC

Onboard video from NASA

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tsibliyev, Vasily 1954 births Living people People from Kirovske Raion Russian cosmonauts Heroes of the Russian Federation Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class Recipients of the Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" Spacewalkers Mir crew members