Aleksandr Panayotov Aleksandrov (Bulgarian: Александър Панайотов Александров) (born December 1, 1951) is a retired Bulgarian cosmonaut. He is the second Bulgarian to have flown to space, behind Georgi Ivanov.[1][2]
Aleksandrov was born in Omurtag, Bulgaria on December 1, 1951. He graduated from the Bulgarian Air Force Academy in 1974 and obtained a degree in technical sciences in 1983. In the Bulgarian Air Force, Aleksandrov rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.[2]
Aleksandrov was selected as a research cosmonaut on March 1, 1978, as part of the Soviet Union's Intercosmos program. The selection featured six semifinalists, including the parachute jump record holder, Chavdar Djurov, who was killed during the selection process.[3] Aleksandrov was selected as backup to Georgi Ivanov on the Soyuz 33 mission to the Salyut 6 space station. Subsequently, Aleksandrov was assigned to the prime crew of the Soyuz TM-5 mission to the Mir space station.[1][2]
On June 7, 1988, Aleksandrov launched aboard TM-5 as a research cosmonaut along with mission commander Anatoly Solovyev and Viktor Savinykh. Upon arriving at Mir, Aleksandrov became the first Bulgarian to reach a Soviet space station, as the Soyuz 33 mission carrying Georgi Ivanov failed to reach the Salyut 6 space station. On June 17, Aleksandrov returned aboard Soyuz TM-4 along with his fellow crew members. He, along with his crew-mates, spent just under 10 days in space.[4]
Order of Stara Planina (2003), first class, on the 15th anniversary of the second Soviet-Bulgarian flight
Military Pilot First Class
Pilot-Cosmonaut of Bulgaria
Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" (12 April 2011) – for outstanding contribution to the development of international cooperation in crewed space flight
^Чавдар Джуров (in Russian). Космическая Энциклопедия. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
^. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
External linksedit
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Spacefacts biography of Aleksandar Panayotov Aleksandrov
January 01, 1970
aleksandr, panayotov, aleksandrov, confused, with, soviet, cosmonaut, aleksandr, pavlovich, aleksandrov, bulgarian, Александър, Панайотов, Александров, born, december, 1951, retired, bulgarian, cosmonaut, second, bulgarian, have, flown, space, behind, georgi, . Not to be confused with Soviet cosmonaut Aleksandr Pavlovich Aleksandrov Aleksandr Panayotov Aleksandrov Bulgarian Aleksandr Panajotov Aleksandrov born December 1 1951 is a retired Bulgarian cosmonaut He is the second Bulgarian to have flown to space behind Georgi Ivanov 1 2 Aleksandr AleksandrovAleksandr AleksandrovAleksandrov in 2013Born 1951 12 01 December 1 1951 age 72 Omurtag Targovishte Oblast BulgariaStatusRetiredNationalityBulgarianOccupationPilotAwardsHero of the People s Republic of BulgariaHero of the Soviet UnionSpace careerIntercosmos CosmonautRankLieutenant colonel Bulgarian Air ForceTime in space9d 20h 10mSelection1978 Intercosmos GroupMissionsMir EP 2 Soyuz TM 5 Soyuz TM 4 Mission insignia Contents 1 Biography 2 Honours and awards 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography editAleksandrov was born in Omurtag Bulgaria on December 1 1951 He graduated from the Bulgarian Air Force Academy in 1974 and obtained a degree in technical sciences in 1983 In the Bulgarian Air Force Aleksandrov rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel 2 Aleksandrov was selected as a research cosmonaut on March 1 1978 as part of the Soviet Union s Intercosmos program The selection featured six semifinalists including the parachute jump record holder Chavdar Djurov who was killed during the selection process 3 Aleksandrov was selected as backup to Georgi Ivanov on the Soyuz 33 mission to the Salyut 6 space station Subsequently Aleksandrov was assigned to the prime crew of the Soyuz TM 5 mission to the Mir space station 1 2 nbsp Aleksandrov s space suit On June 7 1988 Aleksandrov launched aboard TM 5 as a research cosmonaut along with mission commander Anatoly Solovyev and Viktor Savinykh Upon arriving at Mir Aleksandrov became the first Bulgarian to reach a Soviet space station as the Soyuz 33 mission carrying Georgi Ivanov failed to reach the Salyut 6 space station On June 17 Aleksandrov returned aboard Soyuz TM 4 along with his fellow crew members He along with his crew mates spent just under 10 days in space 4 Aleksandrov later became Deputy Director of the Institute of Space Research Bulgarian Academy of Sciences 2 Currently Aleksandrov works as a research scientist He is married and has one child 2 Honours and awards editHero of the People s Republic of Bulgaria 1988 Hero of the Soviet Union 1988 Order of Georgi Dimitrov Order of Lenin 1988 Order of Stara Planina 2003 first class on the 15th anniversary of the second Soviet Bulgarian flight Military Pilot First Class Pilot Cosmonaut of Bulgaria Medal For Merit in Space Exploration 12 April 2011 for outstanding contribution to the development of international cooperation in crewed space flightSee also editBulgarian cosmonaut programReferences edit a b Aleksandr Panayatov Sasha Aleksandrov Spacefacts Retrieved 23 November 2010 a b c d e Aleksandrov Aleksandr Encyclopedia Astronautica Archived from the original on January 5 2009 Retrieved 23 November 2010 Chavdar Dzhurov in Russian Kosmicheskaya Enciklopediya Retrieved 23 October 2012 Mir EP 2 Encyclopedia Astronautica Archived from the original on July 4 2008 Retrieved 23 November 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexander Alexandrov nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Aleksandr Panayotov Aleksandrov Spacefacts biography of Aleksandar Panayotov Aleksandrov Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aleksandr Panayotov Aleksandrov amp oldid 1216342549, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
