Valeri Vladimirovich Polyakov (born April 27, 1942) is the Russian cosmonaut holding the record for the longest spaceflight in human history, staying aboard the Mir space station for more than 14 months during one trip. His combined space experience is more than 22 months.

He was born in Tula, Tula Oblast, Russian SFSR. He is married with one child. He was selected as a cosmonaut in Medical Group 3 on March 22, 1972. He retired as a cosmonaut on June 1, 1995.

His original name was Valeri Ivanovich Korshunov; after being adopted by his stepfather in 1957, he changed his name. He entered Tula secondary school No. 4 and graduated in 1959. He then entered the I M Sechenov 1st Moscow Medical Institute and graduated with a doctorate degree. He then specialised in astronautics medicine at the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems, Ministry of Public Health, Moscow. He is currently the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Public Health in Moscow.

He was a Doctor Cosmonaut on Soyuz TM-6 / Soyuz TM-7 and Soyuz TM-18 / Soyuz TM-20 mission to the Mir space station.

Record Holder for Longest Single Spaceflight

437-days, 17-hours, 58-minutes 04 seconds

Spaceflights

• Soyuz TM-6 / Soyuz TM-7 - August 28, 1988 to April 27, 1989 - 240-days, 22-hours, 34-minutes
• Soyuz TM-18 / Soyuz TM-20 - January 8, 1994 to March 22, 1995 - 437-days, 17-hours, 58-minutes

See also

• Spaceflight records