Georgy Shonin

Georgy Stepanovich Shonin (Ukrainian: Гео́ргій Степа́нович Шо́нін; 3 August 1935 – 7 April 1997; born in Rovenky, Luhansk Oblast, (now Ukraine) but grew up in Balta of Ukrainian SSR) was a Soviet cosmonaut, who flew on the Soyuz 6 space mission.[1]

Georgy Stepanovich Shonin
Born(1935-08-03)3 August 1935
Rovenky, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
Died7 April 1997(1997-04-07) (aged 61)
Zvyozdny, Russia
NationalityUkrainian
OccupationPilot
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union
Space career
Cosmonaut
RankLieutenant General, Soviet Air Force
Time in space
4d 22h 42m
SelectionAir Force Group 1
MissionsSoyuz 6

Shonin's family hid a Jewish family from the Nazis during WWII.[2]: 66 

In February 1957, Shonin graduated Naval Aviation School as was awarded his lieutenant's wings. He was then posted to the 935th Fighter Regiment of the Baltic Fleet which was the naval element of the Soviet Air Force.[2]: 66  In 1958, he was transferred to the 768th Fighter Regiment of the Northern Fleet based in the Murmansk region. During this time, he would befriend another young flying officer named Yuri Gagarin.[2]: 67 

Shonin was part of the original group of cosmonauts selected in 1960.[3] Shonin would fly on Soyuz 6 in October 1969. He left the space program in 1979 for medical reasons. HE was then promoted to major general. Shonin later worked as the director of the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute, Ministry of Defence (Russia) where he had management responsibilities for the development of the Buran space shuttle.[2]: 300 

He died of a heart attack in 1997.[2]: 300 

Awards and honors

References
  1. "Soyuz 6 - 1969-085A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Colin Burgess; Rex Hall (2009). The First Soviet Cosmonaut Team: Their Lives and Legacies. Springer Praxis Books. Bibcode:2009fsct.book.....B. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-84824-2. ISBN 978-0-387-84824-2. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  3. "NASA History - 60 Years Ago: Soviets Select Their First Cosmonauts". NASA. February 25, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2023.


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