Viktor Ivanovich Patsayev (; 19 June 193330 June 1971) was a Soviet
cosmonaut
An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'star', and (), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a List of human spaceflight programs, human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member of a spa ...
who flew on the
Soyuz 11 mission and was part of the third space crew to
die during a space flight. On board the space station
Salyut 1
Salyut 1 (), also known as DOS-1 (Durable Orbital Station 1), was the world's first space station. It was launched into low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on April 19, 1971. The Salyut programme, ''Salyut'' program subsequently achieved five m ...
he operated the Orion 1 Space Observatory (see
Orion 1 and Orion 2 Space Observatories); he became the first man to operate a telescope outside the Earth's atmosphere.
After a normal
re-entry
Atmospheric entry (sometimes listed as Vimpact or Ventry) is the movement of an object from outer space into and through the gases of an atmosphere of a planet, dwarf planet, or natural satellite. Atmospheric entry may be ''uncontrolled entry ...
, the capsule was opened and the crew was found dead. 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. One of Patsayev's hands was found to be bruised, and he may have been trying to shut the valve manually at the time he lost consciousness.
Patsayev's ashes were interred in the
Kremlin Wall on
Red Square
Red Square ( rus, Красная площадь, Krasnaya ploshchad', p=ˈkrasnəjə ˈploɕːɪtʲ) is one of the oldest and largest town square, squares in Moscow, Russia. It is located in Moscow's historic centre, along the eastern walls of ...
in Moscow. He was posthumously awarded the title of
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union () was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded together with the Order of Lenin personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society. The title was awarded both ...
, the
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin (, ) was an award named after Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the October Revolution. It was established by the Central Executive Committee on 6 April 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration bestowed by the Soviet ...
and the title of
Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR
The honorary title Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR () was a state award of the Soviet Union presented to all cosmonauts who flew for the Soviet Space Agency. Usually accompanying the distinction was the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the hi ...
. The lunar crater ''
Patsaev'' and the minor planet
1791 Patsayev are named for him.
Further reading
An account of Patsayev's life and space career appears in the 2003 book ''Fallen Astronauts: Heroes Who Died Reaching for the Moon'' by
Colin Burgess.
References
1933 births
1971 deaths
People from Aktobe
1971 in spaceflight
Deaths in space
Heroes of the Soviet Union
Recipients of the Order of Lenin
Burials at the Kremlin Wall Necropolis
Soviet cosmonauts
Deaths from hypoxia
Employees of RSC Energia
Salyut program cosmonauts
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