Valery Ryumin logged 371 days in space over the course of four missions, transitioning from a ground-based technical role to a veteran cosmonaut within the Soviet space program. His career bridged the development of early orbital stations and the final collaborative efforts between Russian and American space agencies during the late twentieth century.
Technical Foundations and Early Military Service
Born in 1939 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Ryumin pursued a technical education, graduating from the Kaliningrad Mechanical Engineering Technical College in 1958. He specialized in the cold working of metal before serving as a tank commander in the army from 1958 to 1961. Following his military service, he attended the Moscow Forestry Engineering Institute, now known as Moscow State Forest University, where he earned a degree in 1966 focusing on spacecraft control systems.
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Take the IQ test →Contributions to Orbital Infrastructure
Ryumin joined the Rocket Space Corporation Energia in 1966, contributing to the development of orbital stations starting with Salyut 1. He held multiple engineering positions, including ground electrical test engineer and deputy lead designer. By 1973, he moved into the cosmonaut corps. During his career, he served as flight director for the Salyut 7 and Mir space stations from 1981 to 1989, and later became director of the Russian portion of the Shuttle-Mir program in 1992.
Cosmonaut Career and International Missions
His flight experience included a two-day mission on Soyuz 25 in 1977, followed by long-duration stays on Salyut 6 in 1979 and 1980, aboard Soyuz vehicles 32, 34, 35, and 37. In 1998, he was selected for STS-91, which marked the final Shuttle-Mir docking mission. Over nearly ten days, the crew completed 154 orbits and traveled 3.8 million miles, effectively concluding the Phase I Program.
Fast facts
- Born: 1939, Komsomolsk-on-Amur
- Died: 2022, Mytishchi
- Total time in space: 371 days
- Military rank: Podpolkovnik
- Hero of the Soviet Union: 1979, 1980
- Burial site: Federal Military Memorial Cemetery
- STS-91 mission: June 1998
Questions readers ask
What was Ryumin's role in the Shuttle-Mir program?
He served as the director of the Russian portion of the program starting in 1992 and later flew as a crew member on the final docking mission, STS-91, in 1998.
How many space flights did he complete?
He was a veteran of four space flights, beginning with Soyuz 25 in 1977 and ending with the Discovery shuttle mission in 1998.
Achievements
- Educated at Moscow State Forest University
- Worked as astronaut, engineer and flight engineer
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