Births on January 7

Valeri Kubasov, Russian engineer and astronaut (d. 2014)

Valery Nikolaevich Kubasov: A Soviet Cosmonaut's Remarkable Journey and Pivotal Contributions to Space Exploration

Valery Nikolaevich Kubasov (Russian: Вале́рий Никола́евич Куба́сов; 7 January 1935 – 19 February 2014) was a distinguished Soviet and later Russian cosmonaut, renowned for his significant contributions to human spaceflight. An accomplished flight engineer and mission commander, Kubasov's career spanned a transformative era in space exploration, marked by pioneering technical achievements and remarkable instances of survival against the odds. His legacy is deeply intertwined with key milestones in the Soyuz program, including groundbreaking scientific experiments and historic international cooperation.

Pioneering Engineering and Early Missions

As a highly skilled engineer, Kubasov's expertise was instrumental in various phases of Soviet space endeavors. He embarked on his first space mission as a flight engineer aboard Soyuz 6, launched on 11 October 1969. This mission was groundbreaking, as Kubasov, alongside commander Georgy Shonin, performed the very first welding experiments in the vacuum of space. These pioneering tests, conducted using specialized equipment, were crucial for understanding the feasibility of constructing large orbital structures and future space stations, demonstrating the potential for complex assembly operations beyond Earth's atmosphere.

The Historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP)

Valery Kubasov played a central role in one of the most iconic moments in space history: the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). As the flight engineer for the Soyuz 19 mission, launched on 15 July 1975, he participated in the first-ever joint space mission between the United States and the Soviet Union. This historic rendezvous and docking in orbit, featuring the American Apollo command module and the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft, symbolized a significant period of détente and cooperation during the Cold War. The mission involved joint scientific experiments, crew exchanges between the two spacecraft, and live television broadcasts that captivated a global audience. The Soyuz 7K-TM module, specifically designed for ASTP, successfully landed in Kazakhstan on 21 July 1975, at 5:51 p.m. Moscow time. Upon touchdown, Kubasov was notably the first crew member to exit the craft, marking the successful conclusion of this landmark international mission.

Commanding Intercosmos and Contributions to Mir

Beyond his engineering feats, Kubasov also demonstrated his leadership capabilities. He commanded the Soyuz 36 mission in May 1980, as part of the Intercosmos program. This Soviet-led initiative facilitated spaceflights for cosmonauts from allied nations, fostering international collaboration in space exploration. On Soyuz 36, Kubasov flew alongside Bertalan Farkas, the first Hungarian cosmonaut, marking another significant step in global space partnership.

His engineering acumen extended beyond active spaceflight. Kubasov was deeply involved in the crucial developmental stages of the Mir space station, a modular orbital station that served as a long-term research laboratory and a symbol of Soviet and later Russian space prowess. His work contributed to the design and implementation of systems critical for the station's long-duration operational capabilities.

After a distinguished career that included 18 days, 17 hours, and 59 minutes in space across three missions, Kubasov retired from the Russian space program in November 1993. His expertise remained invaluable, and he subsequently served as a deputy director at RKK Energia (now S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia), Russia's leading developer and manufacturer of spacecraft and rocket systems, including the Soyuz spacecraft, Mir, and modules for the International Space Station (ISS).

Remarkable Escapes from Space Tragedies

Valery Kubasov's career was also marked by two extraordinary instances where he narrowly avoided fatal spaceflight incidents, a testament to what some might call extraordinary fortune or divine intervention.

• Soyuz 1 and Soyuz 2 Near-Miss: Kubasov was originally part of the prime crew for the Soyuz 2 mission. However, a critical issue was discovered. The Soyuz 2 spacecraft was found to have the same faulty parachute sensor that had tragically led to the death of cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov during the re-entry of Soyuz 1 in April 1967. This catastrophic malfunction caused the main parachute to fail, resulting in Komarov's capsule crashing. Recognizing the grave danger, Soviet space authorities made the life-saving decision to launch Soyuz 2 without a crew, preventing a potential second fatality from an identical flaw. Kubasov and his crewmates were thus spared.
• Soyuz 11 Tragedy: Several years later, Kubasov was assigned as a flight engineer to the prime crew of Soyuz 11. However, he was grounded for medical reasons shortly before the scheduled launch, specifically due to a suspected lung anomaly that was later diagnosed as an early stage of tuberculosis. This unexpected medical grounding proved to be a fateful turn of events. During the re-entry of Soyuz 11 in June 1971, a faulty cabin pressurization valve accidentally opened, causing the capsule to rapidly depressurize in the vacuum of space. Tragically, all three crew members — Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov, and Viktor Patsayev — perished. Kubasov's medical condition, though initially a disappointment, inadvertently saved his life from one of the most devastating accidents in human spaceflight history.

Valery Nikolaevich Kubasov's life was a testament to courage, engineering brilliance, and an enduring commitment to the advancement of space exploration, leaving an indelible mark on both the technical and human aspects of humanity's journey beyond Earth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Valery Kubasov

What were Valery Kubasov's most significant contributions to space exploration?

Kubasov's most significant contributions include performing the first welding experiments in space on Soyuz 6, participating in the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) as a flight engineer on Soyuz 19, and his involvement in the development of the Mir space station. He also commanded the Soyuz 36 mission within the Intercosmos program.

Which space missions did Valery Kubasov fly on?

Valery Kubasov flew on three space missions: Soyuz 6 (1969), Soyuz 19 (the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975), and Soyuz 36 (1980).

How many times did Valery Kubasov narrowly avoid death in his space career?

Valery Kubasov remarkably evaded death twice during his space career. He was removed from the Soyuz 2 crew due to a faulty parachute mechanism discovered after the Soyuz 1 tragedy, and he was medically grounded from the Soyuz 11 mission, which later suffered a fatal depressurization accident killing its crew.

What was the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, and what was Kubasov's role in it?

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) was the first joint space mission between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1975, symbolizing a period of détente. Valery Kubasov served as the flight engineer for the Soviet Soyuz 19 spacecraft, playing a key role in the historic orbital rendezvous and docking with the American Apollo module.

What was Valery Kubasov's role after retiring from active spaceflight?

After retiring from active spaceflight in November 1993, Valery Kubasov continued to contribute to the Russian space industry as a deputy director at RKK Energia, a leading aerospace manufacturer responsible for many iconic Russian spacecraft and rocket systems.