National Heroes of Kazakhstan, pilot-cosmonauts T.A. Musabaev and A.A. Aimbetov were awarded the Order of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District “Beibitshilik pen Kelisim”

February 27, 2024. Astana. In the fireplace hall of the administrative and spiritual-cultural center of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan named after Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, a meeting was held between Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan with the National Heroes of Kazakhstan, pilot-cosmonauts of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Talgat Amangeldievich Musabayev and Aidyn Akanovich Aimbetov.

The meeting was attended by: the dean of the parishes of the capital, Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), the custodian of the Constantine-Elenin Cathedral, Archpriest Sergius Kaliev, the custodian of the Assumption Cathedral, Archpriest Dimitry Baidek, Priest Nikolai Koval and employees of the Astana diocesan administration.

Before the start of the conversation, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander, Archimandrite Sergius gave a tour of the main temple of Kazakhstan and the largest Christian church in Central Asia - the Assumption Cathedral.

In the fireplace hall of the spiritual and cultural center, the Head of the Metropolitan District welcomed the National Heroes of Kazakhstan.

T.A. Musabaev and A.A. Aimbetov told Metropolitan Alexander about their life path, professional development and many years of work in the field of Kazakhstan’s astronautics. The interlocutors noted that for a pilot, who wants to implement a space flight program, not only good physical fitness and serious intellectual preparation are necessary, but also moral fortitude, high self-control, a sense of duty and camaraderie. According to the National Heroes, in Space, on board the international space station, relations between people are based on the principles of peace and harmony, everyone is equal, everyone helps and trusts each other.

The archpastor told Talgat Amangeldievich and Aidyn Akanovich about the life of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, which unites 10 dioceses on the territory of the Republic. The Metropolitan especially noted the care of the clergy for the employees of the Baikonur cosmodrome and the crews of astronauts, for whom prayers are performed for God’s help in a manned flight into space. The hierarch emphasized that there has been an Orthodox parish in the city of Baikonur since 1992, in 2005 on the 50th anniversary of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a newly built church was opened in the name of the Great Martyr George the Victorious. “Kazakhstan is rightly called the Earth’s space haven. I myself was lucky enough to be present several times at the launch of spacecraft from Baikonur, to meet with the management of the cosmodrome and the cosmonauts. The history of the independence of our Republic is connected with the history of Kazakhstan’s astronautics. In 1991, the first Kazakh cosmonaut Toktar Aubakirov flew into space. Over the years of independence, the republic has acquired the status of a full-fledged space power,” said the Head of the Metropolitan District.

Metropolitan Alexander shared with the guests good memories from his communication with the Hero of the Soviet Union, the first female cosmonaut V.V. Tereshkova and Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, pilot-cosmonaut V.P. Savinykh.

Taking into account the works on the patriotic education of the younger generation and strengthening church-public interaction on pressing issues of our time, T.A. Musabaev and A.A. Aimbetov were awarded the highest award of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District - the Order of “Beibitshilik pen Kelisim” (Peace and Harmony).

“Your names are inscribed in the history of domestic and world cosmonautics. You have shown many people an example of fortitude and courage, fearlessness and love for your native country. Your position on the issues of patriotic education of the younger generation and your personal contribution to strengthening the interaction in the Republic of healthy forces of society and followers of traditional religions on pressing issues of our time deserves sincere respect. I hope that, developing and acquiring new forms, this cooperation will bring good results for the benefit of multinational and multi-religious Kazakhstan. It is a joy and honor for me to communicate with you, and to express to you words of gratitude and appreciation for your feat,” said Metropolitan Alexander, presenting the awards.

The meeting participants talked about the role of traditional religions in the life of modern Kazakh society, about the historical contribution of Islam of the Hanafi madhhab and Orthodoxy to the formation of a unique model of interethnic peace and interfaith harmony in the vastness of the Great Steppe.

The meeting took place in a warm, friendly atmosphere and ended with the exchange of good wishes and memorable souvenirs.

Musabaev Talgat Amangeldievich - National Hero of Kazakhstan, Hero of the Russian Federation, pilot-cosmonaut of the Republic of Kazakhstan, pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, general lieutenant of aviation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He made his first space flight from July 1 to November 4, 1994 as a flight engineer of the Soyuz TM-19 spacecraft and the Mir spacecraft under the EO-16 program. During the flight he performed two spacewalks. The flight duration was 125 days 22 hours 53 minutes 36 seconds.
He made his second space flight as commander of the Soyuz TM-27 spacecraft and the Mir spacecraft under the EO-25 program from January 29 to August 25, 1998. During the flight he made five spacewalks. The flight duration was 207 days 12 hours 51 minutes 2 seconds.
He made his third space flight from April 28 to May 6, 2001 as commander of the Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft and the first Russian expedition to visit the ISS. The flight duration was 7 days 22 hours 4 minutes 8 seconds.
By decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Talgat Musabayev was appointed chairman of the Aerospace Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan.
Further, he headed the National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, created by decree of the President of Kazakhstan on March 27, 2007.
In 2017, by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Musabayev was appointed as a deputy of the Senate. He was a member of the Committee on International Relations, Defense and Security.

Aidyn Akanovich Ayimbetov – National Hero of Kazakhstan, Hero of the Russian Federation, pilot-cosmonaut of the Republic of Kazakhstan, General Major of Aviation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From September 2 to September 12, 2015, he made a space flight as a flight engineer of the manned transport spacecraft (TPS) Soyuz TMA-18M to the International Space Station (ISS). He was a member of the visiting expedition EP-18 to the ISS. Returned to Earth on the Soyuz TMA-16M TPK. The flight duration was 9 days 20 hours 13 minutes 51 seconds. The 545th cosmonaut in the world.

On December 15, 2009, Aidyn Aimbetov took the oath of civil servant as an adviser to the chairman of Kazkosmos. Later he worked as an adviser to the chairman of the National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, director of the agency’s department, and since March 2011, deputy head of the department of information and educational support for space technologies at the Sultangazin Institute of Space Research. In April 2014, he was appointed deputy director of the Institute of Space Engineering and Technology of the joint-stock company National Center for Space Research and Technology of Kazkosmos. Since the spring of 2012, he taught at the School of Young Cosmonauts at the Schoolchildren's Palace in Astana and led the 3D modeling group.