Kerim Kerimov
Lieutenant General Kerim Abbasali oghlu Kerimov (Azerbaijani: Kərim Abbasəli oğlu Kərimov, Russian: Керим Аббас-Алиевич Керимов; November 14, 1917 – March 29, 2003) was a Soviet and Russian engineer of Azerbaijani ethnicity and a general in Soviet Army, who is regarded as one of the key scientists and founders in the Soviet Union's space program, and for many years a central figure in the Soviet space program.
Kerim Kerimov | |
|---|---|
Stamp of Azerbaijan | |
| Born | November 14, 1917 |
| Died | March 29, 2003 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | Azerbaijani |
| Alma mater | Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University |
| Known for | One of the founders of the Soviet space industry and a lead architect behind many Soviet space missions. He is highly known for his work in rocket science, astronautics, space exploration. |
| Awards | Hero of Socialist Labour |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Engineering (Aeronautics) |
Despite his prominent role, his identity was kept a secret from the public for most of his career. He was part of the Sputnik 1 team in 1957. As a representative of the Strategic Rocket Forces, he was a member of the State Commission on the Vostok programme, which led to the Vostok 1 flight. In the mid-1960s he was promoted to a leadership role within the space program and oversaw the successful space docking of Kosmos 186 and Kosmos 188 in 1967. Kerimov served as a project manager for the Salyut series space stations in the 1970s and served as a consultant to the Mir project later in his career.