Soyuz 1 Soviet Space Mission

Soyuz 1 mission was successfully launched on the 23rd of April, 1967. Although not all the details of the mission are known, it is possible that Soyuz 1 encountered some difficulties in orbit. When it returned to Earth, its parachute lines became tangled and the parachutes failed to open properly, causing the space vehicle to crash and killing Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov.

Vladimir Komarov

Name: Vladimir Komarov

Born: March 16, 1927 in Moscow, USSR.

Education: Graduated from four Air Force colleges.

Marital Status: Married the former Valentina Yakovlevna Kiselyova.

Children: Yevgeni (July 21, 1951) and Irina (December 10, 1958).

Experience: Although not all the details of the mission are known, it is possible that Soyuz 1 encountered some difficulties in orbit. When it returned to Earth, its parachute lines became tangled and the parachutes failed to open properly, causing the space vehicle to crash and killing Vladimir Komarov.

Soyuz 11

Soyuz 11 Soviet Space Mission

Originally, The cosmonauts Viktor Patsayev, Georgi Dobrovolsky, and Vladislav Volkov were the Soyuz 11 backup crew, but when Valery Kubasov from the original crew became ill, the crews were changed. Soyuz 11 was launched on the 6th of June, 1971, and docked with the first Soviet space station, Salyut 1 the next day. It was the first time a space station was manned. At the end of their mission, the Soyuz 11 crew returned to Earth, but were found dead in the space vehicle after landing. A critical valve in the descent module had been jerked open as Soyuz 11 de-orbited and bled the cosmonauts' air out into space. The Soviet Union did not return any crews to Salyut 1 and it was more than two years before they attempted another manned mission.

Georgy Dobrovolsky

Name: Georgy Dobrovolsky

Born: June 1, 1928 in Odessa, USSR.

Education: Air Force School, Air Force Academy.

Marital Status: Married.

Children: Two.

Experience: Georgy Dobrovolsky was a cosmonaut who was born on June 1, 1928, in Odessa. Georgy Dobrovolsky commanded Salyut 1 in 1971. This was the first space station. The crew spent 23 days in space during this mission. Georgy Dobrovolsky and his crewmates were killed upon re-entry when their cabin lost air pressure.

Viktor Patsayev

Name: Viktor Patsayev

Born: June 19, 1933 in Aktyubinsk, USSR.

Education: Masters degree from Industrial Institute, radio researcher, design engineer.

Marital Status: Married.

Children: Two

Experience: Viktor Patsayev was a cosmonaut who was born on June 19, 1933, in Aktyubinsk, Kazakhstan. Patsayev became a cosmonaut in 1966. He was killed aboard Soyuz 11 in 1971. Upon re-entry to Earth, an air valve opened too soon. Viktor Patsayev and his crewmates couldn't breathe and died.

Vladislav Volkov

Name: Vladislav Volkov
Born: November 23, 1935 in Moscow, USSR.
Education: Aircraft designer, Moscow Aviation Institute.
Marital Status: Married.
Children: One.
Experience: Vladislav Volkov was a cosmonaut who was born on November 23, 1935, in Moscow. Volkov became a cosmonaut in 1966. He spent over 29 days in space on two space flights. In 1969, Volkov flew aboard Soyuz 7. This was one of three Soyuz spacecraft in orbit at the same time.
Vladislav Volkov made his second space flight aboard Soyuz 11 in 1971. The crew traveled to the Salyut 1 space station. They activated the station and tested some of the equipment. Tragically, the crew was killed during re-entry to Earth's atmosphere. An air valve opened prematurely and the crew suffocated.