Aleksandr Viktorenko

{{Short description|Soviet cosmonaut (1947–2023)}}

{{sources|date=August 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox astronaut

| image =

| name = Aleksandr Viktorenko

| native_name = Александр Викторенко

| native_name_lang = ru

| type = Roscosmos cosmonaut

| status =

| nationality = Soviet, Russian

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|3|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Olginka, Oktyabriskiy District, North Kazakhstan Region, Kazakh SSR, USSR

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|8|9|1947|3|29|df=y}}

| death_place =

| occupation = Test pilot

| rank = Colonel, Russian Air Force

| selection = 1978 Intercosmos Group

| time = 489d 01h 33m

| mission = Soyuz TM-3/2 (Mir EP-1), Soyuz TM-8 (Mir EO-5), Soyuz TM-14 (Mir EO-11), Soyuz TM-20 (Mir EO-17)

| insignia = 50px 50px 45px 50px

|}}

Aleksandr Stepanovich Viktorenko ({{Langx|ru|Александр Степанович Викторенко}}; 29 March 1947 – 9 August 2023) was a Soviet and Russian cosmonaut.

Viktorenko was selected as a cosmonaut on 23 March 1978 and retired on 30 May 1997. He was commander of Soyuz TM-3, Soyuz TM-8, Soyuz TM-14, and Soyuz TM-20. He spent a total of 489 days in space.{{cite web | title=Cosmonaut Biography: Aleksandr Viktorenko | website=SPACEFACTS | date=19 April 2018 | url=http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/cosmonauts/english/viktorenko_aleksandr.htm | access-date=10 August 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://ria.ru/spravka/20170329/1490898286.html|title=Биография Александра Викторенко|date=29 March 2017|work=РИА Новости|access-date=2018-07-08|language=ru}}

The Russian tradition of Russian Orthodox priests blessing cosmonauts on launch day was initiated by Viktorenko when he requested one for the launch of Soyuz TM-20 in 1994.{{cite web

| title = A Tradition Continues: Blessing the Soyuz

| first = Merryl

| last = Azriel

| date = 2012-05-28

| website = Space Safety Magazine

| url = https://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/spaceflight/launch/tradition-continues-blessing-soyuz/

}}

Aleksandr Viktorenko died on 9 August 2023, at the age of 76.{{cite news |title=Умер космонавт Александр Викторенко |url=https://www.pnp.ru/social/umer-kosmonavt-aleksandr-viktorenko.html?ysclid=ll4y5fc23l512442524 |access-date=10 August 2023 |publisher=PNP |date=10 August 2023|language=Russian}}{{cite news |title=Ушел из жизни летчик-космонавт СССР, который провел в космосе около 490 суток|url=https://1sn.ru/usel-iz-zizni-letcik-kosmonavt-sssr-kotoryi-provel-v-kosmose-okolo-490-sutok|access-date=25 February 2025 |publisher=SakhaNews|date=10 August 2023|language=Russian}} He was buried at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery on 12 August.{{cite news |title=Похороны космонавта Викторенко пройдут 12 августа на мемориальном кладбище в Мытищах|url=https://tass.ru/obschestvo/18485227|access-date=25 February 2025 |publisher=TASS|date=10 August 2023|language=Russian}}