23 Facts About Valery Bykovsky

Valery Fyodorovich Bykovsky was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on three space flights: Vostok 5, Soyuz 22, and Soyuz 31.

Valery Bykovsky was backup for Vostok 3 and Soyuz 37.

Valery Bykovsky had an older sister named Margarita, born three years earlier.

Valery Bykovsky began flight theory lessons when he was 16 at the Moscow City Aviation Club.

Valery Bykovsky graduated from aviation school aged 18 and enrolled in the Kachinsk Military Aviation Academy.

Valery Bykovsky served as a fighter pilot and later as an instructor pilot, training other pilots on fighter aircraft.

Valery Bykovsky was involved in several research programs aimed at improving the performance and safety of military aircraft.

Valery Bykovsky was involved in the testing of new jet engines and aviation equipment.

Valery Bykovsky graduated from the academy at 21 years old and received the rank of lieutenant.

Valery Bykovsky launched on the Vostok 5 mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 14 June 1963.

Valery Bykovsky floated about in the cabin and adjusted the spacecraft orientation numerous times.

Valery Bykovsky set a space endurance record of five days in orbit where his call-sign was "Hawk".

Valery Bykovsky performed the first human bowel movement in space, at 9 hours and 5 minutes into the mission.

Valery Bykovsky was given his nation's highest honour, "Hero of The Soviet Union" for his contribution to Soviet spaceflight.

Valery Bykovsky was promoted to colonel on 30 April 1966.

Valery Bykovsky was assigned to be the commander of the original Soyuz 2 mission, which was planned to be launched soon after Soyuz 1.

Valery Bykovsky flew the Soyuz 22 mission with Vladimir Aksyonov.

Valery Bykovsky flew the Soyuz 31 mission to the Salyut 6 space station with the East German Sigmund Jahn.

Valery Bykovsky became the director of the Centre of Soviet Science and Culture in East Berlin after the Soyuz 31 mission.

Valery Bykovsky established the Russian Federation of Cosmonautics in 1998 with the objective of advancing the development of space exploration and science in Russia.

Valery Bykovsky was the president of the RFC until his death in 2019.

Valery Bykovsky was a proficient aesthete and photographer who evinced a particular penchant for the art of painting.

Valery Bykovsky was married to Valentina Mikhailovna Sukhova; they had two sons.