Prunariu, Dumitru (1952 - )

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Romanian astronaut

Dumitru Dorin Prunariu (born September 27, 1952, Braşov) is the first Romanian cosmonaut. On 14 May 1981 he became the first and only Romanian who since now flown in cosmic space. He attended the Soyuz 40 mission, the space program "Intercosmos" and spent in space 7 days, 20 hours and 42 minutes. His profession is aeronautical engineer. He was first engineer officer in Military Aviation Command, then Chief of Romanian civil aviation, chairman of the Romanian Space Agency and Ambassador of Romania to the Russian Federation.
He graduated the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of the University "Politehnica" of Bucharest in 1976 with specialization in aeronautical engineering. Then he worked as an engineer trainee at Enterprise Aeronautical Engineering (IAR) of Ghimbav, Braşov, during years 1976-1977. Later in the book "Five minutes after space", written with journalist Alexander Stark, Prunariu wrote that if he wouldn’t been recruited in detachment cosmonauts, probably he would still built in the factory side by side with his wife, the helicopters and planes, as he dreamed in childhood.
Dumitru Prunariu completed, in September 1977, the courses of Reserve Officers School of Aviation in Bacau with the rank of lieutenant in reserve. In autumn 1977, the cosmonaut candidates were seconded from their jobs to military aviation unit in Bacau, where they were included in a multidisciplinary training program. Preparation included a series of theoretical courses conducted at the Military Academy in Bucharest, dozens of hours on MIG 15 planes in Bacau, physical preparation and Russian language courses, conducted in Poiana Braşov.
On 1 January 1978, three candidates were selected as members of the group of cosmonauts in the preparation of the Romanian-Soviet Intercosmos space mission. The three candidates were engineer Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu, engineer Cristian Guran and captain engineer Mitică Dediu.
For three years, from March 1978 to May 1981, Dediu and Prunariu followed specialized training as cosmonaut candidates in Cosmos Training Center "Yuri Gagarin" in Zviozdnîi Gorodok - "Star Town".
On 12 May 1981, Dumitru Prunariu was officially confirmed as the first nominee in the Romanian-Soviet space flight, along with Soviet cosmonaut Colonel Leonid Popov - Crew Commander.
Towards the evening of May 14, 1981 at 20 16 '38 "(GMT), on Baikonur Cosmodrome, was launched the carrying rocket with Soyuz-40 spaceship (total weight 300 tons) with mixed Romanian Soviet crew on board, comprised of Lieutenant Colonel pilot Leonid Ivanovich Popov and cosmonaut engineer Dumitru Prunariu. After 8 minutes and 50 seconds the space ship emerges from the last step of carrier rocket, already attended 220 km altitude and approx. 3000 km from their starting point and moved around Earth at a speed of 28,000 km / h, on an orbit inclined to the equator by 51.6 degrees. Prunariu became the first Romanian ever to fly in space since now. According Intercosmos flight planning, the flight would last about eight days, from May 14 to May 22 1981. They spent seven days on the space station Saliut 6. There, the two cosmonauts met the Soviet cosmonauts Vladimir Kovalionok and Victor Savinîh, who were already on the circumterrestrial orbit since 21 March 1981.
For a week they worked together, realizing 22 scientific experiments, including those called "capillary", "Biodoza", "Astro" or "Nanobalanţa". Biodoza, for example, was related to the study of the Earth's magnetic field and its influence on living organisms. The vast majority of experiments were Romanian design and the equipment, made in Romania for this purpose, was noted by a high degree of miniaturization, reliability and low power consumption, operating without fault. Experiments were aimed for obtaining information, particularly valuable for broadening knowledge in astrophysics, nuclear physics and cosmic technology and biomedical experiments contributed to filling the existing knowledge on the behavior of the human body in space flight specific conditions as well to progress in fundamental research on aviation medicine and biology.
The results obtained were used for preparing the next flights. The return from space was on Friday, May 22, 1981, at 16.58 GMT. Descent capsule of spacecraft "Soyuz 40" landed in almost normal conditions on Earth, according to the program established, on the territory of the Soviet Union, at 225 kilometers southeast of the city Djezkazgan, in the steppe of Kazakhstan.
Since 1981 and until 1998, Prunariu was, a break of almost two years, the chief inspector for aerospace activities within the Air Force Military Command and then of Major Staff of Aviation and Air Defense.
In 1990 he was promoted to the rank of colonel, was deployed for a year and a half to the Ministry of Transport to act as Secretary of State and Head of the Department of Civil Aviation (1990-1991).
In 1991 he graduated the senior manager course at the International Institute for Aviation Training and Management (iAMT-IIFGA), Montreal (Canada). Since 1985 was a PhD student in the Institute of Aviation in Bucharest. In 1999 he awarded PhD degree with the specialty "aerospace systems dynamics." In 1990, he proposed the establishment of the Romanian Space Agency, but its implementation was delayed. The Agency was established by government decision in 1992, and, after three years, it was reorganized on public budget, working under contract with the Ministry of Research and other institutions, including private. With government's decision, Romanian Space Agency represents Romania in cosmic activities to the UN, in dealing with international or national agencies, such as: European Space Agency, NASA, CNES, etc.
From 1992-1995, Dumitru Prunariu worked, as external collaborator, in the position of Secretary of the Romanian Space Agency. Then, during 1995-1998, he was member of the Board of Directors of the Romanian Space Agency. From 1998 until his appointment as Ambassador to Russia, Dumitru Prunariu holds the position of President of the Romanian Space Agency.
Since 1995, he is vice-president of the Foundation's EURISC - European Institute for Risk Management, Security and Communication, foundation with a respected name in the activities of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
In 1999 he graduated the National Defense College, during which he has deepened concerns and geopolitical interest. In parallel, he teaches a course on Outer Space and Geopolitics in International Economic Relations Faculty of the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest.
On October 25, 2000, by Decree no. 422 of the President of Romania, Emil Constantinescu, Commander Dumitru Prunariu was promoted to the rank of general aviation fleet (one-star general) and was decorated with the National Order "Star of Romania" with the rank of Grand Officer. Subsequently, Decree no. 680 of 24 October 2003, he was promoted to aviation major general.
   
variant spelling:
Prunariu, Dumitru
   
Curriculum vitae  
* 27.09.1952 Brasov born
1976 Bucuresti Faculty of Aerospace Engineering
1976 - 1977 Ghimbav Engineer
14.05.1981 First and only Romanian who flew in space
1999 Bucuresti Ph.D.
Collections
Automation, since 1950
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Dumitru Prunariu
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Permanent links
DMG-Lib FaviconDMG-Lib https://www.dmg-lib.org/dmglib/handler?biogr=20360004
Europeana FaviconEuropeana  http://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/2020801/dmglib_handler_biogr_20360004.html