Three separate missions aboard the Soyuz 7, Soyuz 24, and Soyuz 37 spacecraft define the space flight career of Viktor Gorbatko. A central figure in the early Soviet space program, he transitioned from a military aviation background into the rarified role of a cosmonaut before eventually serving as an educator and official.
Early Military Career
Born in 1934 in Ventsy, Viktor Gorbatko entered the Soviet Army in 1952. He attended the Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots named after Hero of the Soviet Union A.K. Serov, graduating in 1956 as a lieutenant. His early service involved tactical fighter operations, including roles within the 86th Guards Fighter Regiment of the 119th Fighter Division based in the Odessa Military District.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Cosmonaut Training and Spaceflight
Gorbatko was selected as a member of the inaugural group of Soviet cosmonauts in 1960. His first orbital flight, Soyuz 7 in 1969, focused on testing lunar equipment. In 1977, he commanded Soyuz 24, the final all-military spaceflight of the Soviet era, which docked with the Salyut 5 station. His final mission, Soyuz 37 in 1980, carried him to the Salyut 6 station alongside Vietnamese cosmonaut Phạm Tuân, lasting nearly eight days.
Post-Flight Life and Recognition
After retiring from the cosmonaut program in 1982, Gorbatko joined the faculty of the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy in Moscow, eventually serving as its president from 1988 until 1992. Beyond his academic career, he was an active philatelist, holding memberships in the All-Union Society of Philatelists and the Union of Philatelists of Russia. He attained the rank of Air Force major general and was interred at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery following his death in 2017.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Ventsy
- Died: 2017, Moscow
- Rank: Air Force major general
- Space missions: Soyuz 7, Soyuz 24, Soyuz 37
- Education: Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy
- Citizenship: Soviet Union; Russia
Questions readers ask
What was the last all-military space mission of the Soviet Union?
The Soyuz 24 mission, commanded by Viktor Gorbatko in 1977, was the final mission of this nature.
Did Gorbatko work as an educator after leaving the space program?
Yes, he taught at the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy in Moscow and served as its president from 1988 to 1992.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy
- Educated at Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots named after Hero of the Soviet Union A.K. Serov and Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy
- Worked as aircraft pilot, astronaut and politician
.jpg)