Valentin Varlamov
| Valentin Varlamov Валентин Степанович Варламов |
|
|---|---|
| Soviet Union test cosmonaut | |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Born |
August 15, 1934 Sukhaya Tereshka, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | October 2, 1980 (aged 46) |
|
Other occupation
|
Pilot |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel (Podpolkovnik), Soviet Air Force |
| Selection | Air Force Group 1 |
Valentin Varlamov (August 15, 1934 – October 2, 1980) was a Russian jet pilot who was selected for Tsentr Podgotovka Kosmonavtov or TsPK-1, (Also known as Air Force Group 1) the first intake of 20 cosmonaut candidates in 1960. After his disqualification from the space program on medical grounds, he was an instructor at the cosmonaut training centre outside Moscow.
Valentin Stepanovich Varlamov (Russian: Валентин Степанович Варламов) was born on August 15, 1934 in Sukhaya Tereshka in the Talchinska district, Penza region, Russia.
After World War II, Varlamov's family moved to Kyrgyzstan where Varlamov continued his schooling. Among his classmates was fellow future cosmonaut candidate, Mars Rafikov, who was almost a year older. His family then moved to the Orenburg region where Varlamov completed his schooling.
He attended the Air Force introductory school in western Siberia, followed by the Kacha Higher Air Force school and finally the Stalingrad (Volgograd) Military Aviation school where he graduated with a commission as a pilot. He gained his lieutenant's wings in 1955.
By 1956, Varlamov was a fighter pilot with the 3rd Guard Fighter Regiment which was responsible for the defence of Orel. He was made chief pilot in the regiment and promoted to senior lieutenant.
Varlamov was one of 20 young pilots selected for Air Force Group 1 in April 1960, aged 25.
He began training with Rafikov, Anatoli Kartashov on 28 April 1960 as a military pilot, third class. Varlamov showed great potential as a cosmonaut candidate, being physically fit and highly intelligent. With the completion of the Vostok simulator, he was selected for a special group of six candidates for accelerated training, along with Yuri Gagarin, Anatoli Kartashov, Andrian Nikolayev, Pavel Popovich and Gherman Titov. Known as the "Sochi SIx", this group's purpose was to train the best of the existing candidates of TsPK and enable selectors to choose the candidate who would be first in space.
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