Georgy Shonin

Georgy Stepanovich Shonin (, Heorhiy Stepanovych Shonin; 3 August 1935 – 7 April 1997) was a Soviet cosmonaut, who flew on the Soyuz 6 space mission.

Shonin was born in Rovenky, Luhansk Oblast, (now Ukraine) but grew up in Balta in the Ukrainian SSR. His family hid a Jewish family from the Nazis during WWII.

In February 1957, Shonin graduated Naval Aviation School as was awarded his lieutenant's wings. He was then posted to the 935th Fighter Regiment of the Baltic Fleet which was the naval element of the Soviet Air Force. Shonin would fly on Soyuz 6 in October 1969. He left the space program in 1979 for medical reasons. He was then promoted to major general. Shonin later worked as the director of the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute, Ministry of Defence (Russia) where he had management responsibilities for the development of the Buran space shuttle.

He died of a heart attack in 1997.

Awards and honors

Hero of the Soviet Union Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR Order of Lenin Order of the October Revolution Order of the Red Banner of Labour Order of the Red Star Ten commemorative medals Medal "25 Years of People's Power" (Bulgaria) Three medals from the Mongolian People's Republic Five medals from the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic