Valery Bykovsky was a Soviet cosmonaut born on August 2, 1934. He flew into space three times during the 1960s and 1970s, participating in missions that contributed to the understanding of human spaceflight. Bykovsky was part of the Vostok and Soyuz programs, which were crucial for the development of space exploration. Bykovsky's first flight was in 1963, making him the third Soviet cosmonaut to orbit the Earth. He spent a total of over 10 days in space, conducting scientific experiments and contributing to the advancement of space technology. His achievements helped pave the way for future missions in the space race.