Making the 90th anniversary of Georgy Grechko: the Presidential Library’s video lecture to tell about the first Leningrad cosmonaut

May 19, 2021, at 11:00 Moscow time, the Presidential Library, as part of the Knowledge of Russia project, will host a video lecture entitled "Georgy Grechko - Cosmonaut No. 34", timed to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the birth of the twice Hero of the Soviet Union, which will be celebrated on May 25. At the event, classmates, colleagues, friends of Georgy Grechko (1931–2017) will tell about the life and career of the cosmonaut.

The video lecture will be free. The meeting will be held remotely and will be broadcast live on the Presidential Library's portal in Live broadcasts section in accordance with the program of live events, on the institution's YouTube channel and on the VKontakte social network.

Georgy Grechko was born in Leningrad. In 1955 he graduated with honors from the Leningrad Military Mechanical Institute (today the D. F. Ustinov Baltic State Technical University "Voenmekh") and began his professional career as an engineer. Georgy Grechko participated in the launch of the world's first artificial Earth satellite, as well as in the preparation and launch of many Soviet spacecraft.

Since 1966, he was a member of the cosmonaut corps, and in 1975 he went to an orbital station for the first time. Georgy Grechko became the 34th cosmonaut of the USSR and the 1st Leningrad cosmonaut. In total, he made three flights, the total duration of which was more than 130 days and also went into open space for 1 hour 28 minutes. The result of his scientific research carried out at the orbital station was the development of a hypothesis about the thin layered structure of the Earth's atmosphere.

The video lecture participants will tell about Georgy Grechko and about their acquaintance with the outstanding pilot-cosmonaut. The event will discuss his contribution to the development of the space industry, as well as public and educational activities. Among the guests of the video lecture are Vice-President of the Russian Federation of Cosmonautics Oleg Mukhin, Project Manager of the North-Western Interregional Public Organization of the Russian Federation of Cosmonautics Irina Isaeva, Chairperson of the Section on the History of Cosmonautics and Rocket Technology of the North-Western Interregional Public Organization of the Russian Federation of Cosmonautics Valery Kupriyanov, Scientific Secretary of the D. F. Ustinov Baltic State Technical University "Voenmech" Mikhail Okhochinsky, Director General of the House of Entertaining Science and Technology Dmitry Ivanov, founder and director of the Museum of the History of the Karl May School Nikita Blagovo and others.

The special collection of the Presidential Library Outer Space presented on the institution's portal tells more about the contribution of Russian specialists to the study of outer space. It includes materials spotlighting various milestones in the development of astronautics: newsreels, periodicals, books, postcards, commemorative medals and badges.

Interactive lessons and video lectures are regularly held in the Presidential Library. More information about them is available on the institution's portal in the Multimedia lessons section and in Video lectures for school section, which features records of lectures and open lessons held in the Presidential Library.

Accreditation of media representatives is until 11:00 May 18, 2021.

Please forward applications for accreditation following the attached form marked “Media Accreditation” to the following e-mail addresses: media@prlib.ru, titunina@prlib.ru Kristina Titunina, tel.: (812) 305-16-21, ext. 781; mob. +7 999 218-05-98.

The letter should contain the full name, date and place of birth, passport data (series, number, place of registration), a list of carry-on equipment, contact phone numbers, the name of the media.

We draw the attention of the media representatives that it is necessary to forward applications for accreditation and arrive at the event in advance.

Entrance to the Presidential Library is carried out only by prior registration and upon showing a passport: for media representatives - through entrance № 2, participants and guests of the event - through entrance № 1.

In order to reduce the risks of the spread of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the use of personal protective equipment during the event is mandatory for all attendees.