Russian astronaut Valery Polyakov, who holds the record for the longest journey to space, 437 days between 1994 and 1995 on the Mir space station, has died.
Polyakov, who was 80 years old, worked on experiments to see if people could maintain their mental health if they made the long journey to Mars, and tests showed that their cognitive function was not affected.
Polyakov’s death was announced by the Russian space agency, which referred to his honorary titles, including hero of the Soviet Union and pilot cosmonaut of the USSR.
The astronaut’s first space mission took place in 1988, when he spent eight months in space.
He later lived and worked from January 8, 1994 to March 22, 1995 on the Mir space station, which orbited the Earth more than 7,000 times. Polyakov himself said that the duration of this journey was the equivalent of going to Mars and back.
The Mir space station was launched into orbit in 1986, controlled first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. The 135-ton satellite was used in collaboration between the Soviets and the US, despite political tensions between the two countries.
Source: DN
