Valeri Tokarev: Difference between revisions

| image =Valeri Tokarev (cropped) 2.jpg

| typecaption = Tokarev in a =CosmonautNASA uniform

| birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1952|10|29|df=y}}

| rank =[[Colonel|Air Forceforce Colonelcolonel]]

| insignia =[[Image:Sts-96-patch.svg|50px]] [[File:Soyuz TMA-7 patch.svg|30px]] [[Image:ISS Expedition 12 patchPatch.svg|60px]]

| awards = [[File:Hero of the Russian Federation medal.png|20px|link=Hero of the Russian Federation]]

'''Valeri Ivanovich Tokarev''' ({{lang-ru|Валерий Иванович Токарев}}; born 29 October 29, 1952) is a Russian [[Russian Air Force|Air Force]] Colonelcolonel and test [[astronaut|cosmonaut]] at the [[Yuri A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center]]. Tokarev traveled to [[space]] twice, and has performed two career [[spacewalks]], before retiring in June 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/cosmonauts/english/tokarev_valeri.htm|title=Biographies of USSR/Russian Cosmonauts: Valeri Ivanovich Tokarev|author=SPACEFACTS.de|date=17 February 17, 2010|accessdateaccess-date=14 June 14, 2010}}</ref>

Tokarev was born Octoberon 29, October 1952, in [[Kapustin Yar]], [[Astrakhan Oblast]], [[Soviet Union]]. He is married to Irina Tokareva ([[née]] Nikolayevna), with whom they have two children: a daughter, Olya, and a son, Ivan, and reside at [[Star City, Russia|Star City]], [[Moscow Oblast]]. His mother, Lidiya, lives in the city of [[Rostov, Yaroslavl Oblast|Rostov]], [[Yaroslavl Region]] and his father, Ivan Pavlovich, died in an auto accident in 1972. Tokarev's interests include [[nature]], [[automobiles]], [[airplanes]], and [[sports]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/tokarev.html|title=Cosmonaut Bio: Valeri Ivanovich Tokarev|author=NASA|date=April 2006|accessdateaccess-date=June 14, June 2010}}</ref>

In 1973, Tokarev graduated from [[Stavropol]] Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots and Navigators. In 1982, he completed with honours his studies at the Test Pilot Training Center (TPTC) in [[Akhtubinsk]]. From 1989 to 1993 he studied by correspondence at the Yu. A. Gagarin Military Air Academy in [[Monino]], and from 1996 to 1997 Tokarev studied at the National Economy Academy under the Russian Federal Government, full-time/correspondence tuition and received a [[master's degree]] in Statestate Administrationadministration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss12/tokarev.html|title=Valery Ivanovich TOKAREV|author=ENERGIA|date=August 2005|accessdateaccess-date=June 15, June 2010}}</ref>

Tokarev flew on [[STS-96]], on 27 May 27, 1999. STS-96 was a mission flown by {{OV|103}} to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS). It was first shuttle flight to dock with the ISS. Tokarev served as a Missionmission Specialistspecialist. During the 10-day mission, the crew of [[Space Shuttle Discovery|''Discovery'']] delivered four tons of logistics and supplies to the ISS in preparation for the arrival of the first crew to live on the station. On flight day 2, Tokarev temporarily stowed some logistics transfer items stored on the shuttle's middeck, in the Spacehab module to provide more room for the spacesuit checkout activities. On May 29, May Tokarev and NASA astronaut [[Ellen Ochoa]] temporarily stowed docking targets and lights and checked hatch seals in the narrow passageway inside the Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA 2). The next day, he and Canadian astronaut [[Julie Payette]] traveled to the ''Zarya'' module and began maintenance activities on the storage batteries located under the floorboard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/reports/sts96/STS-96-09.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000529153657/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/reports/sts96/STS-96-09.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 May 2000|title=STS-96, Mission Control Center Status Report #09|author=NASA|date=May 30, May 1999|accessdateaccess-date=15 June 15, 2010}}</ref> He and Payette replaced battery recharge controllers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/reports/sts96/STS-96-10.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000709230733/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/reports/sts96/STS-96-10.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2000|title=STS-96, Mission Control Center Status Report #10|author=NASA|date=May 31, May 1999|accessdateaccess-date=15 June 15, 2010}}</ref> To reduce noise levels in the ''Zarya'' module, Tokarev also installed acoustic insulation around some fans. He was also involved with the transfer of logistics items by documenting and stowing items aboard the ISS. On 1 June 1, Tokarev took time out to answer questions regarding the progress of the mission from Russian reporters.

At the end of the mission on June 6 June, ''Discovery'' landed at the Kennedy Space Center runway 15 at 2:02:43&nbsp;a.m. EDT. The mission was accomplished in 153 Earth orbits, traveling 4 million miles in 235 hours and 13 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-96.html|title=STS-96|author=NASA|accessdateaccess-date=June 15, June 2010}}</ref>

Tokarev was the flight engineer for the [[Expedition 12]] crew on the ISS,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/135404main_exp12_presskit.pdf|title=Expedition 12|author=NASA|date=September 16, 2005|accessdateaccess-date=June 15, June 2010}}</ref> arriving at the station aboard the [[Soyuz TMA-7]] spacecraft on 3 October 3, 2005. The Soyuz TMA-7 carrying Tokarev, NASA astronaut [[William S. McArthur|William McArthur]] and U.S spaceflight participant [[Gregory Olsen]] lifted off from the Baikonour cosmodrome at 03:55 [[UTC]] on October 1 October. After two days of autonomous flight Soyuz TMA-7 docked with the ''Pirs'' Docking Compartment Module on the ISS at 05:27 UTC.

Torakev performed the Russian part of science experiments that included more than 30 experiments on board. He was involved with biological, microbiological, genetic and physics experiments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition12/exp12_interview_tokarev.html|title=Preflight Interview: Valery Torakev|author=NASA|date=September 12, 2005|accessdateaccess-date=June 15, June 2010}}</ref> One of the experiments named ''Plants'' allowed to obtain peas grown on the station and also grow greens. Medical experiments he performed aimed at finding the effects of extreme space conditions on humans and blood cells. His physics research included investigating the upper layers of the atmosphere. The objective of the research was to improve the understanding of how the space vehicles affect the upper levels of the atmosphere. During Expedition 12, one cargo flight, [[Progress M-55]] docked with the ISS on 23 December 23, 2005. The resupply ship transported scientific equipment and supplies to the station.

Torakev departed the ISS on 6 April 6, 2006. Tokarev, McArthur and Brazilian spaceflight participant [[Marcos Pontes]] returned to Earth inside the Soyuz TMA-7 capsule on 8 April 8, 2006 at 23:48 UTC. The spacecraft landed at the assigned site near the town of [[Arkalyk]] in [[Kazakhstan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/iss_soyuztma7.html|title=Mission of Soyuz TMA-17|publisher=RussianSpaceWeb.com|accessdateaccess-date=June 15, June 2010}}</ref> Torakev spent 189 days, 19 hours and 53 minutes in space on board the Soyuz spacecraft and the ISS.

On 7 November 7, 2005 Torakev performed his first career spacewalk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition12/exp12_eva.html|title=Spacewalkers Install New Camera Assembly, Jettison FPP|author=NASA|date=November 7, 2005|accessdateaccess-date=June 15, June 2010}}</ref> The beginning of the spacewalk was delayed about an hour to repressurize the Quest airlock's crew compartment. During the 5 hours, 22 minutes spacewalk, He and NASA astronaut William McArthur installed a new camera assembly and jettisoned the Floating Potential Probe. They also completed two get-ahead tasks. Tokarev wore an all-white suit for the spacewalk. Their first primary task was the camera assembly installation on the Port 1 Truss. The two spacewalkers spent about 2 hours, 10 minutes on the installation. In order to have daylight for the Floating Potential Probe (FPP) jettison, they moved on to the retrieval of a failed remote joint motor controller. Once it was completed, the pair with MacArthur in the lead then moved up the P6 truss to the FPP. The dysfunctional FPP had been designed to measure the space station's electrical potential and compare it to the surrounding plasma. Tokarev and McArthur released and stowed a grounding wire, then released the FPP housing from its stanchion. They checked its condition and McArthur carefully jettisoned the FPP. The FFP removal and jettisoning took an hour to complete. The two spacealkersspacewalkers next removed and replaced a remote power controller module on the mobile transporter. After completing all the tasks the pair returned to the ''Quest'' airlock at 3:54 EST.

On 3 February 3, 2006, Torakev performed his second career spacewalk. He and McArthur donned in red-striped Orlan suits, ventured outside the ISS at 5:44&nbsp;p.m. EST from the Pirs docking comapartmentcompartment airlock to begin the spacewalk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition12/exp12_eva2.html|title=Crew Back in Station After Spacewalk|author=NASA|date=3 February 3, 2006|accessdateaccess-date=15 June 15, 2010}}</ref> During the spacewalk, Tokarev and McArthur relocated a boom adapter for the Strela, a Russian hand-operated crane, from the Zarya module to Pressurized Mating Adapter 3. They also retrieved experiments and inspected and photographed parts of the station's exterior. The two spacewalkers also jettisoned an old Russian Orlan spacesuit equipped with a radio for broadcasts to students around the world. The suit, dubbed SuitSat-1<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition12/26jan_suitsat.html|title=An Empty Spacesuit Becomes an Orbital Experiment|author=NASA|date=February 1, February 2006|accessdateaccess-date=June 15, June 2010}}</ref> had reached the end of its operational life for spacewalks in August 2004. It was outfitted by the crew with three batteries, internal sensors and a radio transmitter for this experiment. The SuitSat-1 had recorded greetings in six languages to ham radio operators for about two orbits of the Earth before it stopped transmitting The suit was expected to enter the atmosphere and burn up in a few weeks after the spacewalk. The spacewalk ended when the two re-entered the ''Pirs'' airlock and closed its hatch at 11:27&nbsp;p.m. EST. The spacewalk lasted 5 hours and 43 minutes.