Cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky born 1934

Valery Bykovsky, born August 2, 1934 in the former Soviet Union, holds the endurance record for a solo spaceflight. 

His first flight was aboard Vostok 5 in June 1963.  He was originally supposed to stay in space for 8 days but had to return early due to increased solar flare activity.

His second mission was aboard Soyuz 22 as commander in September 1976, when he spent a week in space with fellow cosmonaut Vladimir Aksyonov photographing Earth.

His third and final flight was aboard Soyuz 31 as commander launched in August 1978 to the Salyut 6 space station.  He was part of the expedition EP-4 with Sigmund Jahn, Germany's first cosmonaut.  They returned to Earth in September aboard Soyuz 29.

He passed away in March 2019.

Soyuz 22 launched 1976

Soyuz 22 crew: Valery Bykovsky, Vladimir Adsyonov

The mission objectives of Soyuz 22, launched September 15, 1976, were stated to "check and improve scientific methods and means of studying geological features of the Earth's surface in the interests of the national economies of the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic". 

However, many believe that its crew, Commander Valery Bykovsky and Flight Engineer Vladimir Aksyonov, was instructed to observe NATO exercises near Norway.  Their high inclination had not been used since the Voskhod program n the 1960s. 

They returned to Earth September 23. 

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Vladimir Aksyonov!

Vladimir Aksyonov, born February 1, 1935 in the former Soviet Union, is a veteran of two Soyuz missions.  Selected as a cosmonaut in March 1973, his first mission was Soyuz 22 in September 1976.  The mission's main purpose was to observe NATO exercises near Norway.

His second flight was Soyuz T-2 in June 1980 to Salyut 6.

Aksyonov retired in October 1988.