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Valery Ivanovich Tokarev

Valeri Ivanovich Tokarev
Valeri Tokarev.jpg
Cosmonaut
Nationality Russian
Status Retired
Born (1952-10-29) October 29, 1952 (age 64)
Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan Oblast, Soviet Union
Other occupation
Pilot
Rank Air Force Colonel
Time in space
199d 15h 06m
Selection 1989 Cosmonaut Group
Missions STS-96, Soyuz TMA-7 (Expedition 12)
Mission insignia
Sts-96-patch.svg Soyuz TMA-7 patch.svg ISS Expedition 12 patch.svg
Awards Hero of the Russian Federation medal.png

Valeri Ivanovich Tokarev (Russian: Валерий Иванович Токарев) is a Russian Air Force Colonel and test cosmonaut at the Yuri A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. Tokarev traveled to space twice, and has performed two career spacewalks, before retiring in June 2008.

Tokarev was born October 29, 1952, in Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan Oblast, Soviet Union. He is married to Irina Tokareva (née Nikolayevna), with whom they have two children: a daughter, Olya, and a son, Ivan, and reside at Star City, Moscow Oblast. His mother, Lidiya, lives in the city of Rostov, Yaroslavl Region and his father, Ivan Pavlovich, died in an auto accident in 1972. Tokarev's interests include nature, automobiles, airplanes, and sports.

In 1973, Tokarev graduated from Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots and Navigators. In 1982, he completed with honours his studies at the Test Pilot Training Center (TPTC) in Akhtubinsk. From 1989 to 1993 he studied by correspondence at the Yu. A. Gagarin Military Air Academy in Monino, and from 1996 to 1997 Tokarev studied at the National Economy Academy under the Russian Federal Government, full-time/correspondence tuition and received a master's degree in State Administration.


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