Soyuz 5 marked the debut of Aleksei Yeliseyev in orbit in 1969, a mission during which he conducted the eighth spacewalk in human history. Born in Zhizdra in 1934, he transitioned from a technical engineering career into the Soviet space programme, eventually completing three distinct missions as a flight engineer while accumulating numerous state honors.
Education and Early Engineering
Aleksei Yeliseyev attended the Bauman Moscow State Technical University between 1951 and 1957. He later continued his academic development at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, eventually earning a Doctor in Engineering degree. Before his selection for cosmonaut training, he served as an engineer at the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, contributing to the technical foundations of the Soviet space effort.
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Yeliseyev participated in the Soyuz programme, serving as flight engineer across three separate missions: Soyuz 5, Soyuz 8, and Soyuz 10. His work in space included the 1969 spacewalk during his initial mission. These roles required precise engineering knowledge and operational capabilities, placing him at the center of Soviet aerospace research during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Political and Administrative Life
Following his retirement from active spaceflight in 1985, Yeliseyev held administrative roles at the Bauman school. His professional life also expanded into the political sphere. Between 1989 and 1992, he served as a Special Guest of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, reflecting a shift from aerospace engineering to broader international public service.
Formal Recognitions
The Soviet state awarded Yeliseyev multiple honors throughout his career. He received the Gold Star medal twice in 1969, the title of Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR, and four separate Orders of Lenin granted between 1969 and 1976. In 1980, he was awarded the USSR State Prize. More recently, in 2011, he received the Medal For Merit in Space Exploration.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Zhizdra
- Education: Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
- Missions: Soyuz 5, Soyuz 8, Soyuz 10
- Employer: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
- Key Title: Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR
- Political Role: Special Guest of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
- Academic Qualification: Doctor in Engineering
- Citizenship: Russia, Soviet Union
Questions readers ask
Which missions did Aleksei Yeliseyev fly?
He served as a flight engineer on the Soyuz 5, Soyuz 8, and Soyuz 10 missions.
Did Yeliseyev have a background in engineering?
Yes, he earned a Doctor in Engineering degree and worked for the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia before and during his career as a cosmonaut.
Achievements
- Affiliated with S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
- Educated at Bauman Moscow State Technical University and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
- Worked as engineer, astronaut and politician
