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Dumitru Prunariu

by Mihai Ilies from Al. Papiu Ilarian Highschool Dej

The First Romanian in Outer Space
Dumitru Prunariu (http://ro.wikipedia.org)
Dumitru Prunariu (http://ro.wikipedia.org)

My hero is Dumitru Prunariu, the first Romanian who flew in outer space. He was born on 27th September 1952, in a beautiful town in the heart of Romania, called Brasov.

He graduated from the Polytechnic University in Bucharest in 1976, with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. In 1977 Prunariu enrolled in the Romanian Air Force Officers Training School. Later he was selected for spaceflight training in 1978 as a part of the Intercoms Program. He had excellent results, so he was selected for a joint space flight with the Russian cosmonaut Leonid Popov. In May 1981 they completed an eight-day space mission on board of Soyuz 40. They also completed scientific experiments in the fields of astrophysics, space astrophysics, space radiations, space technology, space medicine and biology.

Prunariu is a member of the International Academy of Aeronautics and a member of the Romanian National COSPAR Committee. In 1984 he was awarded the "Hermann Oberth Gold Medal" by the German Rocket Society and in 1985 he joined the Association of Space Explorer. Between 1993 - 2004 he was the permanent representative of it at the United Nations. Since 1992 Prunariu has represented the Government of Romania to the UN COPUOS sessions, and in 1995 Prunariu has been appointed Vice-President of the International Institute for Risk, Security and Communication Management in Bucharest.

He continued to be a member of different agencies and forums related to space research and on 1st December 2000 he was awarded the Star of Romania in rank of a Grand Officer, the highest state order of Romania. I can't be but proud to be contemporary with such a valuable and honourable man.

Page created on 6/14/2013 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 6/14/2013 12:00:00 AM

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Related Links

Dumitru Prunariu - Wikipedia