Two successful orbital missions define the career of Vladimir Aksyonov, who served as a flight engineer during the mid-Soviet space era. Emerging from a rural childhood in Giblitsy to become a trained pilot and mechanical engineer, he spent decades contributing to the Soviet aerospace program before transitioning into various public leadership and administrative roles following his retirement from active spaceflight.
Technical Foundations and Early Career
Aksyonov began his professional journey in the aerospace sector in 1957 when he joined OKB-1. His educational background included studies at the Mytishchi Engineering College and the All-Union Correspondence Polytechnic Institute, where he attained a degree in mechanical engineering. Between 1957 and 1973, he served within the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia. During this period, he functioned as a test engineer, completing over 250 laboratory aircraft flights and refining procedures for zero-gravity environments. His transition to the cosmonaut corps occurred in 1973, marking the beginning of his active flight career.
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His first space mission commenced on 15 September 1976 aboard Soyuz 22. Alongside commander Valery Bykovsky, Aksyonov spent nearly eight days in orbit conducting photographic surveys of the Soviet Union, the Moon, and other regions. The mission resulted in the capture of 2,400 images. In 1980, he participated in the Soyuz T-2 mission to the Salyut 6 space station. During this flight, he assisted commander Yuri Malyshev in executing a manual docking after a technical failure prevented the automatic system from engaging. He returned to Earth on 9 June 1980, accumulating a total of 11 days, 20 hours, and 11 minutes of spaceflight across his career.
Post-Flight Leadership and Final Years
Following his retirement from the cosmonaut program in 1988, Aksyonov moved into senior management and public advisory roles. He directed the State Research Center for the Study of Natural Resources and later served as general director of NPO Planeta. His administrative work spanned the Soviet Peace Fund, where he was deputy chairman, and the Cosmos Association. In his later years, he presided over the Institute for Security and Sustainable Development Science Foundation. Aksyonov died in Moscow in 2024 at the age of 89 and was interred at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1935, Giblitsy
- Died: 2024, Moscow
- Education: Moscow State Open University
- Military Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Space Missions: Soyuz 22, Soyuz T-2
- Total Time in Space: 11 days, 20 hours, 11 minutes
Questions readers ask
What was Aksyonov's role on the Soyuz T-2 mission?
He served as the flight engineer, assisting commander Yuri Malyshev in performing a successful manual docking with the Salyut 6 space station.
What did Aksyonov do after retiring from spaceflight?
He pursued a career in scientific and administrative leadership, directing the State Research Center for the Study of Natural Resources and serving as president of the Institute for Security and Sustainable Development Science Foundation.
Achievements
- Affiliated with S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
- Educated at Moscow State Open University
- Worked as engineer, astronaut and aircraft pilot
