who logged over 431 days in space as part of different missions in the 1970s and 1980s and who once set an endurance record of 326 days aboard the Mir space station. Born in Koltubanovsky, Russia, Romanenko was one of only 16 Russian Air Force pilots cleared by the KGB to fly into space. His first flight was in 1977; during the 96-day mission aboard Salyut 6, Romanenko set out to make a space walk but forgot to attach his safety cord; he was stopped by fellow cosmonaut Georgi Grechko, who grabbed the loose cord, preventing Romanenko from leaving the station. His second flight, on 18 September 1980, was a seven-day Interkosmos mission which also visited Salyut 6. His third and last trip departed Earth on 6 February 1987, when he spent a record 11 months aboard Mir. During this time, Romanenko activated the station and made three space walks. Recipient of several awards, including twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Romanenko retired from space flight in 1988. He is the father of cosmonaut Roman Romanenko.