Aleksandr Nikolayevich Balandin

Aleksandr Nikolayevich Balandin, born on July 30, 1953, is a distinguished Russian cosmonaut and engineer. His journey into the cosmos began when he was selected as a cosmonaut on December 1, 1978. Over the years, he has made significant contributions to space exploration, notably serving as a flight engineer on the Soyuz TM-9 mission.

Throughout his career, Balandin worked diligently at NPO Energia until his retirement from the cosmonaut program on October 17, 1994. His expertise and leadership were further demonstrated when he took on the role of President of Lendint-Association, a position he held until the year two thousand.

Beyond his professional achievements, Balandin is a family man, married with two children. His legacy in the field of aerospace engineering and his contributions to human spaceflight continue to inspire future generations of engineers and astronauts.