Gennadi Sarafanov

Who was Gennadi Sarafanov?

Gennadi Vasiliyevich Sarafanov was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on the Soyuz 15 spaceflight in 1974. This mission was intended to dock with the space station Salyut 3, but failed to do so after the docking system malfunctioned.

Sarafanov graduated from the Soviet Air Force academy and held the rank of Colonel.

He only made a single spaceflight before resigning from the space program in 1986 and lecturing in technology.

He was awarded:

⁕Hero of the Soviet Union

⁕Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR

⁕Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin"

⁕Medal "For Distinction in Guarding the State Border of the USSR"

⁕Medal "For the Development of Virgin Lands"