Aleksandr Nikolayevich Balandin
Aleksandr Nikolayevich Balandin is a retired Soviet and Russian engineer-cosmonaut whose single spaceflight became a demanding Mir maintenance mission. He served as on Soyuz TM-9 and Mir EO-6 with Anatoly Solovyev.
- Born
- July 30, 1953
- Died
- N/A
- Birthplace
- Fryazino, Moscow Oblast,Soviet Union
Flights
1
Spacewalks
2
EVA time
10 hours, 47 minutes
In space
179 days, 1 hour, 17 minutes
Bio
Balandin trained as an engineer before entering the cosmonaut corps in 1978, the same generation that supplied many of the technical specialists for late Salyut and early Mir operations. His background in flight dynamics and control connected directly to the practical demands of station work.
Soyuz TM-9 launched in February 1990 and remained docked during a long Mir . During the mission, damaged thermal blankets on the Soyuz descent module raised concern about safe return, and the crew also had to manage station hardware issues.
Balandin performed two totaling 10 hours, 47 minutes while supporting Mir inspection, repair, and maintenance. He retired from the cosmonaut corps in 1994 after one flight lasting just over 179 days.