User:Brandonhpham/Phạm Tuân

Article Draft
Edit Summary: Phạm Tuân

Early Life and Military Career
In 1965, Tuân graduated from the Military Pilot School in the Soviet Union. In 1973, Tuân was granted the title of "Hero of the People's Armed Forces" in Vietnam. In 1980, Tuân was awarded the "Vietnam Labor Hero" distinction. In 1989, Tuân was given the position of "Deputy Commander" within the Vietnam People's Air Force. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 1999. During the year 2000, Tuan was the position of "Director of the General Department of Defense Industry". He eventually retired from government positions at the end of 2007.

Interkosmos Program
Tuân was initially sent to the USSR to train as a radar engineer. There was a shortage of eligible Vietnamese pilots. This was due to most of the applicants not passing the fitness tests. Tuan was pressured into flight training. Due to this, Tuân was one of three Vietnamese pilots and engineers to be selected by the Soviet Union. Tuân was informed only three days prior that he would be the main pilot of the Soyuz 37. Before his official voyage, the Soviet Union was already amid another flight. This was the Bulgarian – Soviet flight. That flight had some complications that led to the mission being cancelled. Tuân was worried that his voyage would share the same fate. During his flight aboard the Soyuz 37, there were technical issues regarding the Soyuz 3’s engine system. Tuân was commanded to shut down all systems and inform Command of the situation. After this, Command restored the engine to normal and the mission continued.

Personal Life
Tuân brought several things with him on the Soyuz 37 flight. These included pictures of then President Ho Chi Minh, General Secretary Le Duan, Ho Chi Minh’s will, Vietnamese flags. He wanted to stamp all of these at the space station and bring it back to Earth. Tuân has stated that his personal relationship with his Russian friends has continued to this day. Every year, he travels long distances to meet up with his fellow Russian cosmonauts.