Soyuz TM-13 launched on 2 October 1991, carrying Toktar Aubakirov into space as the first representative from Kazakhstan. This mission marked the final flight conducted under the Soviet Union, occurring just before the state collapsed. Aubakirov transitioned from a distinguished career as a test pilot into this historic role, ultimately becoming a citizen of the newly independent Republic of Kazakhstan.
Aviation Foundation and Test Pilot Career
Born in 1946 in the Karkaraly District, Aubakirov began his technical career as a metal turner at the Temirtau foundry. He pursued professional aviation through the Armavir Military Aviation Institute and later attended the Fedotov Test Pilot School. Between 1976 and 1991, he served at the Mikoyan Experimental Design Bureau. Over this fifteen-year period, he evaluated more than 50 different aircraft models. Notable achievements during his tenure included the first Soviet nonstop flight over the North Pole requiring two in-flight refuelings, and being the first pilot to execute a takeoff from the aircraft carrier Tbilisi, which was later renamed the Kuznetsov.
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In 1991, following a formal intergovernmental agreement between the Soviet Union and the Kazakh SSR, Aubakirov entered the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. Alongside flight commander Alexander Volkov and Austrian research cosmonaut Franz Viehböck, he embarked on the Soyuz TM-13 mission from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The crew spent over eight days in orbit, completing the final human spaceflight mission authorized by the Soviet government.
Political and Post-Space Career
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Aubakirov engaged in public service within Kazakhstan. He held the position of general director at the National Aerospace Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan starting in 1993. His professional life also included a term as a member of the Kazakhstan parliament. He currently serves as a consultant and maintains his status as a major general.
Fast facts
- Born: 1946, Karkaraly District
- Military Rank: Major General
- Spaceflight: Soyuz TM-13 (1991)
- Education: Moscow Aviation Institute
- Hero of the Soviet Union: 1988
- Hero of the Kazakhstan: 1995
- Marital Status: Married to Tatyana Aubakirova
- Children: Timur (b. 1977), Mikhail (b. 1982)
Questions readers ask
Was Toktar Aubakirov the first person from Kazakhstan to reach space?
Yes, he was the first person from Kazakhstan to fly in space, launching on 2 October 1991.
What military rank does Toktar Aubakirov hold?
He holds the rank of major general.
Achievements
- Educated at Moscow Aviation Institute and Fedotov Test Pilot School
- Worked as aircraft pilot, astronaut and politician
