Vasily Lazarev

Soviet cosmonaut. Born February 23, 1928 in the village Poroshina Kytmanovskogo district of the Altai Territory in a peasant family. School years spent in Sverdlovsk (now - Ekaterinburg). From his childhood dream of heaven. In 1943, after finishing an eight-year, together with his friend tried to go to school the initial training of pilots. But others are not enrolled, Basil does not have a friend and both returned to school. In 1945 he graduated from school and enrolled in the Sverdlovsk Medical Institute. In his last year received a proposal to specialize in aviation medicine. The proposal seemed attractive. And Vassily went to the military-medical department of the Saratov Medical Institute. In 1952 he graduated and received her medical degree. Served military doctor. However childhood dream to fly prevailed and he enrolled in Chuguyivske Military Aviation School, graduating in 1954. He served as an instructor pilot in the aviation wing of the Air Forces of the USSR. From 1955 to 1959 - the test pilot, senior test pilot, a doctor. He experienced aircraft of various types and modifications, was involved in testing of various high-altitude aviators equipment (suit, G-suit, oxygen equipment).

. Participated in testing high-altitude stratospheric laboratory "Volga", stayed on board to a total of more than 28 hours
. Simultaneously with the test work began scientific work, investigated the psychophysical impact of flight conditions on the human body and its capacity. The first time passed a medical examination for enrollment in a cosmonaut in 1959, along with Yuri Gagarin, Herman Titov and other astronauts, Gagarin set ". Failed ... Second time passed a medical examination in 1963 in the recruitment of the second group of astronauts, but also failed for medical reasons. And only the third attempt was successful. In 1963 enlisted in the detachment of Soviet cosmonauts (1963 Group of the Air Force? 2, an additional set). It has been a full course of general space training and preparing to fly to the ship type "Sunrise" and "Soyuz". Preparing a group for the Soviet lunar program. Was a double for Boris Borisovich Egorov during the launch of the spacecraft "Voskhod" October 12, 1964. In June 1970, together with Oleg G. Makarova was a support crew of a spacecraft "Soyuz-9". His first space flight made from 27 to 29 September 1973, together with Oleg G. Makarova as the commander of the spacecraft "Soyuz-12".

Flight duration was 1 day 23 hours 15 minutes 23 seconds. Was understudy Alexei Alexandrovich Gubareva during the launch of the spacecraft "Soyuz-17" January 11, 1975. April 5, 1975 began his second flight, along with Oleg G. Makarova as the commander of the spacecraft "Soyuz-18 / 1. The flight program included work on board the orbital station Salyut-4 ". On the ascent failed in the third stage carrier rocket and the flight was interrupted. Mission duration was 21 minutes 27 seconds. For 2 space mission has flown 1 day 23 hours 36 minutes 50 seconds. Then he worked the commander of a group of astronauts in the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yury Gagarin. Died Dec. 31, 1990. Buried in Moscow.

Hero of the Soviet Union, Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on October 2, 1973). Awarded 2 orders of Lenin and medals. Honorary citizen of Kaluga, Barnaul, Ekaterinburg, Pechora (Russia), Dzhezkazgan, Karaganda (Kazakhstan).

Author of "The tester spaceships" (Moscow: 1979).