Aleksei Gubarev

Aleksei Gubarev studied at Gagarin Air Force Academy. The recorded working language is Russian. The field of work recorded is astronautics. Distinctions recorded are Order of Lenin, Hero of the Soviet Union, Order of Klement Gottwald and Hero of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.

• Name — Aleksei Gubarev • Native Name — Алексей Губарев • Born — 29 March 1931 • Birthplace — Gvardeitsi, Samara Oblast, USSR • Died — 21 February 2015 • Place of death — Moscow, Russia • Occupation — Cosmonaut, Pilot • Rank — Major General, Soviet Naval Air Force • Selection — Air Force Group 2 • Time — 37d 11h 36m • Mission — Soyuz 17, Soyuz 28 • Awards — Hero of the Soviet Union (2) Order of Lenin (2)

Gubarev graduated from the Soviet Naval Aviation School in 1952 and went on to serve with the Soviet Air Force. He undertook further studies at the Gagarin Air Force Academy before being accepted into the space programme. Gubarev was originally trained for the Soviet lunar programme and for military Soyuz flights before training for Salyut missions. His next mission, in 1978, was Soyuz 28, the first Interkosmos flight, where he was accompanied by Vladimír Remek from Czechoslovakia. In 1971, Gubarev became backup commander for the ill-fated Soyuz 11 mission, which killed the three-man crew when the craft depressurized in space. Gubarev resigned as a cosmonaut in 1981 and took up an administrative position at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. In 1980s, he worked at the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute, Ministry of Defence (Russia). Gubarev's awards includes the Gagarin Gold Medal, which was bestowed upon him twice. He was an honorary citizen of Kaluga, Arkalyk, Tselinograd, and Prague. Gubarev published a book, The Attraction of Weightlessness, in 1982. Gubarev died at the age of 83 on 21 February 2015.