Dumitru Prunariu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dumitru Dorin Prunariu | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Intercosmos cosmonaut | |
| Nationality | Romanian |
| Status | Living |
| Born | September 27, 1952 Braşov, Romania |
| Other occupation | Pilot |
| Space time | 7d 20h 42m |
| Selection | 1978 Intercosmos Group |
| Missions | Soyuz 40 |
Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu /du'mi.tru do'rin pru'na.rju/ (born September 27, 1952) is a Romanian cosmonaut.
Born on September 27, 1952 in Braşov, Romania, Dumitru Dorin Prunariu graduated from the Physics and Mathematics high school in Braşov in 1971 and from the University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest in 1976, obtaining a degree in Aerospace Engineering. D. Prunariu worked as a Diplomatic Engineer at "Industria Aeronautică Română IAR- Braşov", an aircraft industry facility, prior to enrolling in the Romanian Air Force Officers Training School in 1977.
He was selected for spaceflight training in 1978 as a part of the Intercosmos Program. Obtaining the maximum marks during three years of preparation he was selected for a joint space flight with the Russian cosmonaut Leonid Popov. In May 1981 they completed an eight- day space mission on board Soyuz 40 and the Salyut 6 space laboratory where they completed scientific experiments in the fields of astrophysics, space radiation, space technology, space medicine and biology. D. Prunariu became the 103rd human being flying into the Outer Space.
Additionally, D. Prunariu is a corresponding member of the International Academy of Astronautics (1992) and a member of the Romanian National COSPAR Committee (1994). In 1984 he was awarded the "Hermann Oberth Gold Medal" by the German Rocket Society "Hermann Oberth - Wernher von Braun". In 1985 joined the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), currently with a membership of more than 370 astronauts from 33 countries. Since 1993 until 2004 he has been the permanent representative of the Association of Space Explorers at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) sessions. Since 1996 D. Prunariu has been a member of the Executive Committee of ASE for two terms of tree years. Since 1992 he is representing the Government of Romania to the UN COPUOS sessions.
Since 1995 D. Prunariu is the Vice-President of the International Institute for Risk, Security and Communication Management (EURISC), Bucharest.
Since 1998 to 2004 Prunariu was the President of the Romanian Space Agency, and from 2000 an Associate Professor on Geopolitics within the Faculty of International Business and Economics, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania. In 2004 he was elected as the Chairman of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN COPUOS for a two years term. For 1,5 years starting with May 2004 he was the itinerary Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Russian Federation.
In the present time Prunariu is the President of the Board of the Romanian Space Agency and accomplishes the duties of the Director of the Romanian Office for Science and Technology to the European Union (ROST) in Brussels. In February 2007 he completely retired from the Ministry of Defense with the rank of two stars general, continuing to work on the same positions as a civilian servant.
D. Prunariu is a co-author of several books regarding space technology and space flight and presented, published numerous scientific papers. His PhD thesis produced new developments in the field of space flight dynamics.
Prunariu is married with two sons and two grandchildren.
[edit] External links
- Website of the Romanian Space Agency
- Website of ARCA, the Romanian Cosmonautics and Aeronautics Association
- Spacefacts biography of Dumitru Prunariu
- (Romanian) Cosmonautul Prunariu, trimis în rezervă ("Cosmonaut Prunariu, discharged from active duty"), in Adevărul, February 7, 2007
