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Vladimir Komarov

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Vladimir Komarov was a skilled pilot and an aerospace engineer.

Vladimir Mikhaylovich Komarov (1927-1967), his wife Valentina Komarov, and their daughter Irina
Vladimir Mikhaylovich Komarov (1927-1967), his wife Valentina Komarov, and their daughter Irina

He was born in Moscow on March 16, 1927. As a child, he loved planes and made his own model aircraft. He also built his own propeller to use with them. He was very good at math in school. This intelligence helped him later in his career. His fellow space travelers even called him "The Professor."

Komarov played a major role in early space travel. In October 1964, he led the Voskhod 1 mission. This was a very special flight. It was the first time more than one person traveled into space together.

The Soviet Union 1964 CPA 3110 stamp (3-men Space Flight of Komarov, Yegorov and Feoktistov. Vladimir Komarov (1927-1967), a Soviet test pilot, aerospace engineer, and cosmonaut)
The Soviet Union 1964 CPA 3110 stamp (3-men Space Flight of Komarov, Yegorov and Feoktistov. Vladimir Komarov (1927-1967), a Soviet test pilot, aerospace engineer, and cosmonaut)

During the twenty-four hour trip, the crew did many tests. They looked at the Aurora Borealis, which are glowing lights in the sky. Komarov also tested ion thrusters, which are small engines. He even sent a radio greeting to the Tokyo Olympics.

His journey to space took many years of hard work. He joined the selection process for cosmonauts in September 1959. He was one of twenty people chosen for the first group.

He had to face some hard jobs during his training. Once, he had to stay in the hospital for a small operation. Later, doctors found a heart irregularity. This meant he was briefly pulled from the program. However, he kept working hard to return to training.

Komarov reached many high levels in his career. He was a graduate of the Soviet Air Force Academy. He also became a senior engineer-lieutenant in 1959. In 1964, he was promoted to the rank of colonel.

The Soviet Union 1964 CPA 3110 stamp (3-men Space Flight of Komarov, Yegorov and Feoktistov. Vladimir Komarov (1927-1967), a Soviet test pilot, aerospace engineer, and cosmonaut)
The Soviet Union 1964 CPA 3110 stamp (3-men Space Flight of Komarov, Yegorov and Feoktistov. Vladimir Komarov (1927-1967), a Soviet test pilot, aerospace engineer, and cosmonaut)

He received the Order of Lenin and the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. These were very important honors for his success in space.

His final mission was a test flight for a new ship. This ship was called Soyuz 1. On April 24, 1967, the ship returned to Earth. A parachute failed to work properly during the landing. This caused the capsule to crash into the ground. Sadly, Vladimir Komarov died during this flight. He was the first human to die during a space flight.

Fallen Astronaut
Fallen Astronaut

He remains a famous name in the history of space exploration.

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File:Vladimir Mikhaylovich Komarov (1927-1967), his wife Valentina Komarov, and their daughter Irina.jpg
Vladimir Mikhaylovich Komarov...
File:The Soviet Union 1964 CPA 3110 stamp (3-men Space Flight of Komarov, Yegorov and Feoktistov. Vladimir Komarov (1927-1967), a Soviet test pilot, aerospace engineer, and cosmonaut).jpg
The Soviet Union 1964 CPA 3110 stamp...
File:Card-russia2017-vladimir-mihailovich-komarov-exploring-cosmos.png
Card-russia2017-vladimir-mihailovich-komar...
File:Fallen Astronaut.jpg
Fallen Astronaut.jpg
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