Filipchenko, Anatolii

Born Feb. 26, 1928, in the settlement of Davydovka, Liski Raion, Voronezh Oblast. Soviet cosmonaut. Major general (1978). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (Oct. 22, 1969, and Dec. 11, 1974). Member of the CPSU since 1952.

Filipchenko graduated from the Voronezh Specialized Air Force Secondary School in 1947 and from the Chuguev Military Aviation School in 1950; he subsequently served in aviation units of the Soviet Army. He graduated from the Air Force Academy (now the lu. A. Gagarin Air Force Academy) in 1961 and became a cosmonaut in 1963.

From Oct. 12 to 17, 1969, Filipchenko completed a space flight as commander of the spacecraft Soyuz 7, accompanied by V. N. Volkov and V. V. Gorbatko. The flight program included a series of scientific and technical experiments and studies in space. Soyuz 7 completed a group flight in space with Soyuz 6 and Soyuz 8 for a duration of 118 hours 20 minutes. From Dec. 2 to 8, 1974, Filipchenko made a space flight as commander of Soyuz 16, accompanied by N. N. Rukavishnikov. The craft completed approximately 97 orbits of the earth in 5 days 22 hours 24 minutes. During the flight Filipchenko helped test a new docking assembly and automatic system designed for the joint Soviet-American program for the Soyuz and Apollo spacecraft.

In the course of his two flights, Filipchenko spent 260 hours 44 minutes in space. He has been awarded two Orders of Lenin and various medals.