The name Grigori Nelyubov was airbrushed from the historic image of the Sochi Six to obscure his role as one of the original twenty Soviet cosmonauts. Selected on 7 March 1960, he stood among the top three candidates for the early Vostok flight assignments, serving as a primary backup for the nation's inaugural crewed space missions.
Training and Selection
Born in 1934 in the village of Porfirivka, Nelyubov trained as a pilot in the Soviet Air Force. After graduating from the Yeysk Higher Military Aviation Institute, he was chosen for the first group of Soviet cosmonauts. By January 1961, evaluation panels identified him as one of the elite candidates for Vostok missions. He served as the second backup for Yuri Gagarin during Vostok 1 and was later designated as a backup for both Andrian Nikolayev and Pavel Popovich during the dual Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 launches.
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On 27 March 1963, a confrontation involving a military security patrol at Chkalovskaya station fundamentally altered his trajectory. Nelyubov, accompanied by fellow pilots Ivan Anikeyev and Valentin Filatyev, was detained for drunk and disorderly conduct. When Nelyubov refused to offer an apology to the patrol chief, the incident was formally reported. Despite attempts by party secretary Pavel Popovich to mediate, Nelyubov remained defiant during a subsequent party meeting. Consequently, he was dismissed from the cosmonaut corps on 17 April 1963, effectively ending his participation in the space program.
Later Years and Death
Post-dismissal, Nelyubov returned to active service as an interceptor pilot in the Far East. During this period, he struggled with persistent alcohol abuse and depression. On 18 February 1966, he died at the age of 32 near the Ippolitovka station of the Far Eastern Railway. Investigators ruled his death, which occurred after he stepped in front of a train, a suicide. His death and the circumstances of his dismissal were suppressed by Soviet authorities for decades to maintain the reputation of the state space program.
Recognition and Legacy
Throughout his military service, Nelyubov earned several decorations, including the Order of the Red Star, the Medal for Impeccable Service (3rd class), the Jubilee Medal for Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945, and the Jubilee Medal for 40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR. His involvement in the space program remained largely classified until the advent of glasnost. In 2007, his life and career were the subject of an award-winning television documentary.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Porfirivka
- Died: 18 February 1966, Mikhaylovsky District, Primorsky Krai
- Nationality: Soviet Union
- Occupation: Aircraft pilot, explorer
- Education: Yeysk Higher Military Aviation Institute
- Cosmonaut Selection Date: 7 March 1960
- Dismissal Date: 17 April 1963
- Primary Languages: Ukrainian
Questions readers ask
Why was Nelyubov removed from the cosmonaut program?
He was dismissed for drunk and disorderly conduct after a confrontation with a military patrol at Chkalovskaya station and his subsequent refusal to apologize for his actions.
Was Nelyubov ever officially identified as a cosmonaut during his life?
No, his participation in the program was classified, and authorities actively attempted to conceal his role by airbrushing his image from official group photographs.
Achievements
- Educated at Yeysk Higher Military Aviation Institute
- Worked as explorer and aircraft pilot
