Viktor Petrovich Savinykh
Viktor Petrovich Savinykh is a Soviet and Russian engineer-cosmonaut, scientist, educator, and space-station veteran whose three missions crossed Salyut 6, Salyut 7, and Mir. He is best known for helping rescue the dead Salyut 7 station during one of the most demanding repair missions in spaceflight history.
- Born
- March 7, 1940
- Died
- N/A
- Birthplace
- Beryozkiny, Kirov Oblast,Soviet Union
Flights
3
Spacewalks
1
EVA time
5 hours
In space
252 days, 17 hours, 38 minutes
Bio
Savinykh trained in geodesy and optical engineering before joining Soviet spacecraft design work. His technical background made him a natural fit for station operations, where navigation, observation, instrument repair, and spacecraft systems all mattered as much as piloting.
His first flight, Soyuz T-4, sent him to Salyut 6 with Vladimir Kovalyonok for a long-duration mission in 1981. The crew operated the station, supported visiting crews, and helped close out the final major phase of Salyut 6 operations.
In 1985, Savinykh launched with Vladimir Dzhanibekov on Soyuz T-13 to revive Salyut 7 after the station lost power and control. Their work restored the station, included a five-hour , and became one of the clearest examples of human troubleshooting in orbit. He later visited Mir on Soyuz TM-5 and returned on Soyuz TM-4.