29 Facts About Vladimir Shatalov

Vladimir Aleksandrovich Shatalov was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew three space missions of the Soyuz programme: Soyuz 4, Soyuz 8, and Soyuz 10.

Vladimir Shatalov was born on 8 December 1927 in Petropavlovsk, Akmolinsk Governorate, Kazak Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Vladimir Shatalov's father, Aleksandr Borisovich Shatalov, was a railway engineer and an early recipient of the Hero of Socialist Labour.

Vladimir Shatalov's mother, Zoya Vladimirovna Shatalova, was a housewife.

In 1941, Shatalov graduated from the 6th Grade Secondary School No 4 in Leningrad.

Vladimir Shatalov helped to build the "Road of Life" across the frozen Lake Ladoga.

Vladimir Shatalov went back to Petropavlovsk, where his family left for evacuation.

In 1943, Vladimir Shatalov graduated from the seven-year school in Petropavlovsk.

In early 1945, Vladimir Shatalov graduated from the 6th Voronezh Air Force Special School, which he was evacuated to Karaganda, followed by Lipetsk.

In July 1945, Vladimir Shatalov entered the 8th Military Aviation School for initial training of pilots.

Vladimir Shatalov continued his studies at the Kachinsk Military Aviation School, which was situated in Michurinsk, Tambov Oblast at the time.

In 1949, Vladimir Shatalov graduated from college with first category and became a pilot.

From 7 September 1949, Vladimir Shatalov served as an instructor pilot and, from 14 June 1951, served as an instructor pilot in piloting techniques of the 706th Training Aviation Regiment of the Kachinsk MAS.

From 12 December 1951, Vladimir Shatalov served as an instructor pilot for the combat use of the 706th TAR.

In 1956, Vladimir Shatalov graduated from the Command Faculty of the Air Force Academy.

From February 1961, Vladimir Shatalov served as a senior inspector-pilot of the combat training department of the 48th Air Army of the Odessa Military District.

Vladimir Shatalov was a master on multiple aircraft, mostly the Yak and MiG aircraft.

However, in 1962 Vladimir Shatalov was asked to nominate the five best pilots under his command for consideration as cosmonauts, and put his own name forward at the top of the list.

Vladimir Shatalov passed the medical exam and then the interview in Moscow, which included Gargarin himself on the panel.

From January 1963 to January 1965, Vladimir Shatalov underwent general space training.

Vladimir Shatalov studied the systems, design and operating rules of the spacecraft Vostok 3A, Voskhod, Voskhod 2, and Soyuz.

On 13 January 1965, after passing the exams, Vladimir Shatalov was qualified as an Air Force cosmonaut.

On 23 January 1965, Vladimir Shatalov was appointed cosmonaut of the 2nd Detachment.

Vladimir Shatalov made his first flight on 14 January 1969, on the Soyuz-4 spacecraft.

From 25 June 1971, Vladimir Shatalov served as Assistant to the Air Force Commander-in-Chief for Space Flight Preparation and Support.

From 1971 to 1991, Vladimir Shatalov was a member of the State Commission on Manned Space Flights.

In 1980, Vladimir Shatalov was a consultant for the science fiction film Per Aspera Ad Astra.

From 3 January 1987, to 19 September 1991, Vladimir Shatalov served as the Commander of the Cosmonaut Training Center.

Vladimir Shatalov's funeral took place on 17 June 2021, at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery in Mytishchi, Moscow Oblast.