Vladimir Solovyov (Space Race Didn't End)



Vladimir Alekseyevich Solovyov (born November 11, 1946 in Moscow, USSR) is a Soviet cosmonaut.

He was selected as a cosmonaut on December 1, 1978 and flew as Flight Engineer on Soviet flights from LEO the various Soviet Luna bases. In 1981 he was choosen for traing for deep space missions and traved to Mars ones and lead the first Soviet mission to Saturn in 1996, a mission that shocked the world.

Solovyov then became the Mir flight director (Soviet Mission Control) for several years. He retired on February 18, 2006.

Solovyov is married and has two children.

He was awarded:
 * Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (October 2, 1984 and July 16, 1986);
 * Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR
 * Order of Honour (Soviet Union);
 * Three Orders of Lenin (USSR);
 * Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" (Soviet Union);
 * Knight of the Legion of Honour(France);
 * Kirti Chakra (India).