Viktor Savinykh

Viktor Savinykh is a Russian astronaut and engineer born on March 7, 1940, in Kirov Oblast, Russia. He also held Soviet Union citizenship. Savinykh was educated at Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography. In addition to being an astronaut and engineer, he is a writer.

Savinykh has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Order of Merit for the Fatherland in the 4th and 3rd classes, as well as the Order of Honour and the Order of Lenin. He has been named a Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic, and Hero of the People's Republic of Bulgaria.

Savinykh has also been awarded the Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR, Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration", Jubilee Medal "300 Years of the Russian Navy", State Prize of the Russian Federation, and USSR State Prize. He was additionally honored with the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class, Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow", Honored Master of Sports of Russia, and Medal "Veteran of Labor".

Viktor Petrovich Savinykh is the son of Pyotr Kuzmich Savinykh and Olga Pavlovna Savinykh