Alexander Ivanovich Lazutkin made his cosmic flight from February 10 to August 15, 1997 as a flight engineer “Union TM-25” and the Orbital Complex “Mir” under the program of the main expedition-23, together with Vasilya Vasilyevich Cabliyev, Jerry Lynenger ( USA), Michael Fowle (USA) and Reinehard Evald (Germany), crew of the main expedition-22 Valery Grigorievich Korzun and Alexander Yuryevich Kalery.
The flight demanded from the entire crew of the station of courage and coherence: during the expedition, astronauts were faced with a series of abnormal situations. On February 23, a fire occurred at the station due to the defective oxygen checkers, and on June 25, when reloading the Transport Cargo Ship “Progress M-34” there was a clash of a ship with an orbital complex, which led to the depressurization of the “Spectrum” module. Cosmonauts perfectly coped with all the difficulties and on August 15, 1997 returned safely to Earth.
For the successful implementation of the space flight A.I. Lazutkin was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
Roskosmos State Corporation Guide, Center for Training of Cosmonauts named after Yu.A. Gagarin, Cosmonauts detachment, CPC staff cordially congratulate the hero of Russia, the cosmonaut of the Russian Federation Alexander Lazutkin happy birthday and wish him good health, family well-being, happiness and success!