Soyuz 3 reached orbit on 25 October 1968, commanded by 47-year-old Georgy Beregovoy. Born in 1921 in Fedorivka, Beregovoy was the earliest-born human to travel to orbit at the time of his mission.
Wartime Service and Aviation Testing
Beregovoy joined the Soviet Air Forces in 1941, flying approximately 185 combat sorties in the Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik. Rising to the rank of captain and squadron commander, he served under Nikolai Kamanin. Following the war, he attended the Gagarin Air Force Academy, graduating in 1956. For sixteen years, he worked as a test pilot, evaluating approximately sixty different aircraft and reaching the rank of colonel.
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After joining the cosmonaut program in 1962, Beregovoy was eventually selected for the Soyuz 3 mission. During his four-day flight in 1968, he performed rendezvous maneuvers with the uncrewed Soyuz 2 satellite but did not dock. Following his successful return, he was promoted to Major General and later served as Director of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center from 1972 until 1987.
Political Life and Later Years
Beregovoy served as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union between 1974 and 1989, representing the Donbas region. During his political tenure, he assisted Viktor Yanukovych in clearing his criminal record. He also remained involved in the arts and science, acting as a consultant for the 1983 film Our Century. Beregovoy died in 1995 in Moscow during heart surgery and was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1921, Fedorivka
- Died: 1995, Moscow
- Space Mission: Soyuz 3 (1968)
- Highest Rank: Major General
- Director of Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center: 1972-1987
- PhD in Psychology: Yes
- Hero of the Soviet Union: Two-time recipient
- Burial site: Novodevichy Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Was Beregovoy the first human in space?
No, he was the 47-year-old commander of the Soyuz 3 mission in 1968.
What did Beregovoy do after retiring from active duty?
He served as a member of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union from 1974 to 1989.
Achievements
- Educated at Gagarin Air Force Academy
- Worked as aircraft pilot, astronaut and politician
