Astana, Aug 4 (EFE) – Russian and Kazakh cosmonaut Talgat Musabayev, who spent nearly a year in space over the course of his career, died on Monday at the age of 74.
“Talgat Musabayev is a hero who flew into space three times, performed several spacewalks, and brought glory to our country through his feats,” Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in tribute.
A pioneering space career spanning three missions
Born on January 7, 1951, in the village of Kargaly, less than 40 kilometers from Almaty, Musabayev embarked on his first space mission in 1994, followed by subsequent flights in 1998 and 2001.
All three missions were conducted aboard Soyuz TM spacecraft. Over the course of his space career, he logged a total of 341 days in orbit, including nearly 44 hours across eight spacewalks.
Honored as a national and international hero
In recognition of his achievements, Musabayev was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation in 1994, and Hero of the People of Kazakhstan in 1995.
His name became synonymous with the rise of Kazakhstan’s space legacy after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Musabayev: A public servant beyond the stars
Following his space career, Musabayev continued his service to Kazakhstan, becoming a member of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2017 to 2023. EFE