Portal:Space exploration/Biography/Week 10 2007

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Afanasiev Sergey Aleksandrovich (Russian: Афана́сьев Серге́й Алекса́ндрович) (August 30, 1918 - May 13, 2001) was a prominent Soviet engineer, space and defence industry executive, the first Minister of the Soviet-era Ministry of General Machine Building.

Sergey Afanasiev’s Ministry not only took part in developing his country’s pioneering space programme but was a key player in the arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States. Sergey Afanasiev was also involved in creating spacecrafts for Soviet cosmonauts, orbital space stations, including the Mir station, the first Soviet space Shuttle Buran, the Energia rocket, and was a frequent visitor of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, attending the many launches. He worked together with the chief Soviet rocket engineer Sergey Korolyov.