August 03

Georgy Shonin was a Soviet Air Force pilot and colonel who was selected as a cosmonaut in 1963. He piloted the Soyuz 6 mission in October 1969, performing in-orbit welding experiments and contributing to space engineering research. Before his spaceflight, Shonin served with distinction in the Soviet military, flying fighter jets and training new pilots. After leaving the cosmonaut corps, he continued to advance the Soviet space program through engineering and mentor roles. His contributions to early space exploration helped pave the way for international collaboration and technological innovation.