Valeri Polyakov

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Cosmonaut Polyakov Watches Discovery's Rendezvous With Mir - GPN-2002-000078

Valeri Vladimirovich Polyakov (Russian: Валерий Владимирович Поляков) (born April 27, 1942) is a former Soviet and Russian cosmonaut and a medical doctor who holds the record for the longest single stay in space by an individual, spanning more than 14 months (437 days 18 hours) aboard the Mir space station from January 8, 1994, to March 22, 1995. This record is particularly significant in the study of human endurance in microgravity environments, contributing valuable data towards long-duration spaceflight, including missions to Mars.

Early Life and Education

Valeri Polyakov was born in Tula, Soviet Union, and was fascinated by space from a young age. He pursued a career in medicine, specializing in astronautics medicine. Polyakov graduated from the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, where he focused on the effects of prolonged spaceflight on the human body. His medical background played a crucial role in his selection and success as a cosmonaut, as it aligned with the Soviet space program's interest in studying the physiological and psychological effects of long-term space habitation.

Cosmonaut Career

Polyakov's career as a cosmonaut began in 1972 when he was selected as a candidate by the Institute of Biomedical Problems, Moscow, which is responsible for spaceflight-related biomedical research. He underwent rigorous training, which included scientific research, physical training, and simulations of spaceflight conditions.

His first spaceflight was aboard Soyuz TM-6 in 1988, which docked with the Mir space station. During this mission, he conducted various medical and scientific experiments to study the effects of microgravity on the human body. However, it was his second mission that made history.

On January 8, 1994, Polyakov launched aboard Soyuz TM-18 to the Mir space station for what would become the longest single human spaceflight mission ever undertaken. During his time in space, he continued his medical research, focusing on the effects of extended space travel on physical and psychological health. His mission provided invaluable data that has been used to prepare for future long-duration missions, including potential human exploration of Mars.

Legacy and Impact

Polyakov's record-breaking mission has had a significant impact on space medicine and the understanding of how the human body adapts to long periods in space. His work has contributed to the development of countermeasures against the negative effects of microgravity, such as bone density loss and muscle atrophy, which are critical considerations for the future of human space exploration.

Post-Cosmonaut Career

After returning to Earth, Polyakov continued to work with the Institute of Biomedical Problems, contributing to space medicine research. He has been a vocal advocate for manned missions to Mars, emphasizing the importance of long-duration spaceflight research in achieving this goal.

Awards and Honors

Valeri Polyakov has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to space exploration and science, including the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin, and the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.

See Also

• Mir space station
• Human spaceflight
• Space medicine
• List of spaceflight records