Graduated from Military Pilot School, Novosibirsk, 1957; Colonel General and pilot, Soviet Air Force; was selected as cosmonaut on 07.03.1960 (TsPK-1); OKP (cosmonaut basic training): 3/60 - 18.01.1961; was assigned as double for Yuri Gagarin (Vostok 1); then he graduated from Air Force Engineering Academy, 1968 and from the Kharkov Test Pilot School, 1970; retired from active cosmonaut duty on 17.06.1970; then he graduated in military sciences; Candidate of technical sciences degree, 1980; Director, Startservice, Ministry of Defense; since October 1991 retired; later Narodni Deputat, The State's Duma of the Russian Federation.