Pavel Popovich
Pavel Romanovich Popovich (Russian Павел Романович Попович, scientific transliteration Pavel Romanovic Popovič; born October 5, 1930 in Usyn, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, † 29 September 2009 in Gurzuf ) was a Soviet cosmonaut who took part in the first group flight in space. He was the first Ukrainian cosmonaut.
Life
Selection and training as a cosmonaut
1954 closed Popovich from the flying school in Grozny, then he served as an air force pilot. Beginning of 1960, the first cosmonaut group of the Soviet Union has been compiled, and Popovich was one of the 20 pilots who have been selected for the first space flights. He also was one of the six candidates for the first Vostok flight.
First flight: Vostok 4
After the first space flight in history with Vostok 1 and the first 24 -hour flight with Vostok 2, the Soviet Union was planning a further Erstleistung: Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 with should be in orbit at the same time the first time two spaceships. The flight duration was controversial. Yet there was little understanding of the behavior of the human body by prolonged weightlessness. Chief Designer Korolev argued for a three-day flight, while the head of cosmonaut training, Kamanin, a maximum of two wanted.
Popovich was launched on 12 August 1962, Vostok 4 already since the day before was Andrian Nikolayev with Vostok 3 in space. The two ships approached each other at 6.5 km. This was based on precise calculations right from the start and not to a control ( maneuver ) of the spaceships. Since the spacecraft had different orbital periods, they moved away from each other over time. Popovich and Nikolayev had radio contact between the spaceships.
Due to a defect in the life support systems, the temperature dropped in Popowitschs capsule at 10 ° C, but this did not affect progress of the mission. Popovich landed after three days, shortly after Nikolayev, who had spent four days in space. As usual with the Wostokflügen, Popovich used the ejection seat and landed on your own parachute.
Between the flights
After his space flight Popovich went on lecture tours that have taken him to Cuba and Australia. As of September 1966 led Popovich a group of cosmonauts who were preparing for a flight with the military version Soyuz VI. The first flight (probably with Popovich and Gennady Kolesnikov as crew) should have taken place in 1969, but the project was canceled in December 1967, despite objections Popowitschs. Then Popovich coached back in the Soviet lunar program. He was assigned as commander of a planned for July 1969 Soviet circumlunar flight together with Vitaly Sevastyanov. This program was stopped after the success of Apollo 8.
In parallel, Popovich studied from 1966 to 1968 at the Military Academy of the Air Force in Monino.
Second Flight: Soyuz 14
In September 1970 Popovich was head of a department of 22 cosmonauts who dealt with the planned military space station Alma. As of September 1972, Popovich was preparing with his Flight Engineer Artjuchin prior to a stay aboard the first Almaz- space station. They were incorporated as the initial occupation. The flight did not take place because the space station in April 1973 in the Earth's orbit could not be stabilized and crashed after a short time.
After a Almas space station was launched on June 24, 1974 under the name Salyut 3 and was ready for use, Popovich and Artjuchin could start on 3 July 1974 Soyuz 14. The two cosmonauts spent two weeks aboard the space station and landed on July 19.
After the space flight
From January 1978 to March 1989 Popovich was responsible for science and research in the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. January 26, 1982 Popovich left the cosmonaut squad and in 1989 became director of the Institute AIUs Agroresurs for the exploration of natural resources. In August 1993, he retired from active military service.
Others
Popovich has published several books and was a member of the Soviet (later Russian ) Writers' Association. He was a member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Awards (selection)
- Two-time Hero of the Soviet Union ( August 19, 1962 and 20 July 1974)
- Two-time winner of Order of Lenin ( August 19, 1962 and 20 July 1974)
- Of the Order of the Red Star (17 June 1961)
- Ukrainian Order of Yaroslav the Wise, 4th Class (1st December 2005)
After Popovich of the minor planet ( 8444 ) Popovich and a mountain in Antarctica are named.
Private
Popovich was married to Marina Popovich, whom he had met in 1955. She was at that time already test pilot and held several world records. 1961/1962 she was shortlisted for the female cosmonaut group, but was ultimately not adopted. Popovich tried in vain to dissuade his wife from flying. From this marriage, which was later divorced, come two children. Popovich later married a second time.