Velizar Petrov Hadjiivanov
Velizar Petrov Hadjiivanov | |
|---|---|
Велизар Петров Хаџииванов | |
 Image of Hadjiivanov | |
| Born | 11 July, 1927 |
| Died | 2 October, 2006 |
| Resting place | Myzova |
| Space career | |
| Rank | Colonel |
Time in space | 1 day, 6 hours, 21 minutes |
| Missions | Hárma 5 |
Velizar Petrov Hadjiivanov was a Syaran cosmonaut, aviator, and test pilot who became the first Syaran to travel into space when he took part in the mission Hárma 5 from 22-23 August, 1965.
Hadjiivanov was born in Myzova in 1927 to a family of farmers. His father was killed in the Siduri War and afterwards took up odd jobs to support his family, eventually taking an interest in crop dusting. This served as a springboard into flying in general, and after acquiring a civilian pilot license he joined the Syaran Army Air Corps as a test pilot in 1951. Although not originally interested in spaceflight, Hadjiivanov was steered towards the Syaran Space Agency by friends and colleagues after he completed several test flights for the Cycnus supersonic fighter jet. Hadjiivanov also flew the Erinys and Tereus jets, and in 1962 was selected to begin training as a Cosmonaut for the BAC. After several months of training, Hadjiivanov and several others were assigned to Test Group 4.
Initially slated to take part in Hárma 4, technical failures and a fire during testing resulted in the destruction of the Hárma 4 rocket in 1963, which nearly led to the cancelling of the entire program. Hadjiivanov was one of less than a dozen pilots retained by the program, and after another year of delay the program was allowed to continue by Zovahr. Hadjiivanov beat out all other cosmonauts to earn a place on Hárma 5, the first manned Syaran mission into space. Initially slated to be launched in April, unexpected delays and concerns about safety led to the mission being postponed until August, at which point Hadjiivanov pleaded with mission control in Vyerzhany to launch at the earliest opportunity. Hárma 5 finally launched on 22 August, 1965, making Hadjiivanov the first Syaran in space. Hadjiivanov orbited around the world dozens of times over the course of one day, six hours, and 21 minutes before landing off the coast of Syara. He became an instant celebrity in the Republic and was honored as Syara's first "spaceman".
Hadjiivanov retired from BAC and the SAVK in 1974. He died in 2006, after which the launch pad at Vyerzhany Space Port was renamed Hadjiivanov Launch Site. Several coins, stamps, and awards have been minted in his honor, and many public places in Syara bear his name.