Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Volkov is a Soviet cosmonaut of Ukrainian origins. At the age of 13, Volkov witnessed Yuri Gagarin become the first man in space and this inspired him to become a cosmonaut. He joined the Soviet space programme and became a test pilot before realising his dream. Flew into space three times. First was a trip to Salyut 7 in 1985 and then twice to the Mir space station in 1988/1989 and again in 1991-1992. On board the Mir space station, he controlled the docking procedures among other things. The Soviet Union broke up in 1991 during his second stay on board Mir. At the time Volkov was orbiting Earth on Mir with Sergei K. Krikalev, "the last citizens of the USSR". Having gone into orbit as Soviet citizens, they returned to Earth as Russian citizens. Aleksandr Volkov was awarded: Hero of the Soviet Union Order of Lenin Order of the October Revolution Order of Friendship of Peoples Medal 2nd class of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" 

May 27th, 1948 in Horlivka (Age 76)