Toktar Aubakirov

Toktar Ongarbayuly Aubakirov(Kazakh:Тоқтар Оңғарбайұлы Әубәкіров(Toqtar Oñğarbaiūly Äubäkırov),Russian:Токтар Онгарбаевич Аубакиров,born on 27 July 1946) is a retiredKazakhAir Force officer and a formercosmonaut.He is the first person fromKazakhstanto go to space.

Toktar Aubakirov
Тоқтар Әубәкіров
Toktar Aubakirov on a 1999 stamp of Kazakhstan
Born	(1946-07-27)27 July 1946 Karaganda,Kazakh SSR,Soviet Union
Status	Retired
Nationality	Kazakh
Occupation	Test pilot
Awards	Hero of Kazakhstan Hero of the Soviet Union
Space career
Cosmonaut
Rank	Major General
Time in space	7d 22h 12m
Selection	1991 Cosmonaut Group
Missions	Soyuz TM-13,Soyuz TM-12
Mission insignia

Early life

Toktar Aubakirov was born in Karkaraly District, Karaganda Region,Kazakh SSR,which is now Kazakhstan. After graduating from the 8th grade of a secondary school he started working as a metal turner at the Temirtau foundry, whilst attending an evening school. In 1965 he joined the Armavir Military Aviation Institute of the Anti-Air Defence Pilots. He served as afighter pilotin theSoviet Air Forceon the Far East borders of the USSR until his acceptance into theFedotov Test Pilot Schoolin 1975.

Test pilot career

Between 1976 and 1991 Aubakirov served as a test pilot at the Mikoyan Experimental Design Bureau (MiG aircraft). During this time he tested over 50 types of aircraft. He was the first in the Soviet Union to make a nonstop flight crossing the North Pole, with twoin-flight refuelings,and the first in the Soviet Union to take off from the aircraft-carrierTbilisi(later namedKuznetsov) on a MiG 29K.

Spaceflight experience

In 1991, in accordance with an agreement between the governments of the USSR and the Kazakh SSR, started training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. On 2 October 1991 he launched with Russian cosmonautAlexander Volkovas flight commander, and the Austrian research cosmonautFranz ViehböckinSoyuz TM-13from theBaikonur Cosmodromespaceport,and spent over eight days in space. Their mission was the last launched by the Soviet Union, which dissolved shortly thereafter, with Aubakirov becoming a citizen of the independentRepublic of Kazakhstan.

Career

Since 1993, he has been the general director of the National Aerospace Agency of Republic of Kazakhstan. He was a member of the Kazakhstan parliament. Now he is apensionerandconsultant.

Family

Toktar Aubakirov is married to Tatyana Aubakirova. They have two children: Timur (born in 1977) and Mikhail (born in 1982).

Awards and honors

Featured on a stamp

• Hero of Soviet Union(October 31, 1988)– Test flights of MiG aircraft
• People's Hero of Kazakhstan(Halyk Kaharmany) (1995)
• Order of Otan(Kazakhstan) (1995)
• Order of Lenin(1988)
• Honoured Test Pilot of the USSR(November 6, 1990)
• Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR(1991, last recipient)
• Pilot-Cosmonaut of Kazakhstan (1994, first recipient)
• Order of the Badge of Honour(1987)
• Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria(Goldenes Ehrenzeichen), twice (1988 and 1993)
• Order of the October Revolution(1991)
• Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration"(12 April 2011) – for outstanding contribution to the development of international cooperation in manned space flight

See also

• List of astronauts by name

External links

• Aubakirov at Spacefacts
• Flying-Research Institute