Igor Volk was born in Zmiiv,Kharkiv Oblast. Igor Volk was selected as a cosmonaut in 1980, and flew as Research Cosmonauton Soyuz T-12. One goal of the mission was to test the effects of long-duration spaceflight on Volk's return flight piloting as a precursor to piloting the Buran Space Shuttle. He served as the head of the cosmonauts training for the Buran program and since the project's cancellation, as a Flight Tests Deputy at the Gromov Flight Research Institute before retiring in 1996. He has previously served as President of the National Aero Club of Russia and Vice President of the FAI. As recognition for his contributions as a test pilot and cosmonaut he was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union.
