Aleksandr Viktorenko
Aleksandr Viktorenko | |
|---|---|
Александр Викторенко | |
| Born | 29 March 1947 |
| Died | 9 August 2023 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | Soviet, Russian |
| Occupation | Test pilot |
| Space career | |
| Roscosmos cosmonaut | |
| Rank | Colonel, Russian Air Force |
Time in space | 489d 01h 33m |
| Selection | 1978 Intercosmos Group |
| Missions | Soyuz TM-3/2 (Mir EP-1), Soyuz TM-8 (Mir EO-5), Soyuz TM-14 (Mir EO-11), Soyuz TM-20 (Mir EO-17) |
Mission insignia | |
Aleksandr Stepanovich Viktorenko (Russian: Александр Степанович Викторенко; 29 March 1947 – 9 August 2023) was a Soviet and Russian cosmonaut.
Viktorenko was selected as a cosmonaut on 23 March 1978 and retired on 30 May 1997. He was commander of Soyuz TM-3, Soyuz TM-8, Soyuz TM-14, and Soyuz TM-20. He spent a total of 489 days in space.
The Russian tradition of Russian Orthodox priests blessing cosmonauts on launch day was initiated by Viktorenko when he requested one for the launch of Soyuz TM-20 in 1994.
Aleksandr Viktorenko died on 9 August 2023, at the age of 76. He was buried at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery on 12 August.