Soviet cosmonaut Gorbatko dies at age 82

Russian astronaut Viktor Gorbatko, who flew into space with Vietnamese pilot Pham Tuan, has passed away.Moscow lived to be 82 years old.

The above information was revealed by a source in the Russian rocket and space industry to the country's TASS news agency.

Mr. Gorbatko in his old age. Photo: TASS.

“He had been feeling unwell recently. He had been in the Mandryka hospital for the past two weeks. He died in the intensive care unit on May 17,” the source said.

Viktor Gorbatko was born on December 3, 1934. In 1960 he joined the first cosmonaut training group. He flew into space three times, in 1969, 1977 and 1980.

During his 1980 space flight, Gorbatko flew withpilotVietnamese legend Pham Tuan, who shot down an American B-52 bomber during the Vietnam War.

Astronaut Gorbatko (right) and pilot Pham Tuan when they returned to Earth after their space flight. Photo: VNA.

In 1970, Gorbatko was one of the participants in the first chess game between the Earth and the cosmonaut team. After this chess match, he became an honorary member of the Central Chess Club of the Soviet Union./.

According to VOV