Cosmonaut Valery Vladimirovich Polyakov, who holds the record for the longest stay in space, has died at the age of 80, Russian space agency Roscosmos announced on Monday.
Born on April 27, 1942, the Russian lived and worked in space for 437 days straight – orbiting Earth aboard the Mir space station more than 7,000 times between January 8, 1994 and March 22, 1995.
Polyakov carried out two space expeditions during his career, lasting a total of 678 days and 16 hours, according to Roscosmos.
“His research has helped to prove that the human body is ready for flights not only into near-Earth orbit, but also into deep space,” the agency said in a statement, adding, “We express our deepest condolences to Valery’s family and friends. Vladimirovich”.
Polyakov graduated in medicine, joining the Moscow Institute of Biomedical Problems in 1971. The following year, he passed the exams to become one of the institute’s first cosmonaut medical trainees. He won a “Candidate of Medical Sciences” — the equivalent of a doctorate — in 1976.
The Russian flew its first mission into space in 1988, returning in 1989 after eight months. That year, he was appointed deputy director of the Institute for Biomedical Problems.
He held the post even after formally retiring as a cosmonaut in 1995, and simultaneously served as vice chairman of the commission charged with certifying Russian cosmonauts.
Source: CNN Brasil
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