Guy Severin

Guy Ilyich Severin (Russian: Гай Ильи́ч Севери́н, Gay Ilyich Severin; July 24, 1926 – February 7, 2008) was an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, full member of the International Academy of Astronautics, who contributed a significant number of publications about life rescue systems and space-suits. Severin was also General Director of JSC NPP Zvezda and the company's General Designer.

Biography

In 1949, he graduated from Moscow Aviation Institute (МАI). From 1947, Severin worked in Flight Research Institute named after Michail Gromov (LII) in Zhukovsky, where he was occupied with researches and flight tests of the aircraft crew rescue systems and in-flight refueling systems.

A collective of engineers led by Severin worked out some major principles and working prototypes of landing systems and rocket emergency escape slides for Vostok spacecraft.

From 1964, Severin served as Chief Designer, General Designer and, eventually, General Director of the joint-stock company NPP Zvezda, located in Tomilino.

Under his direction, the company developed space-suits, life support systems and rocket emergency escape slides for all USSR/Russia spacecrafts and orbiting space stations, starting from Vostok 1, including the special inflatable EVA airlock of the Voskhod 2, an open space manoeuvring unit, etc.

He participated in preparations for Yuri Gagarin's and other Soviet cosmonauts space flights on Vostok, Voskhod and Soyuz spacecrafts.

He was married and had two children. He was also twice champion of the USSR in mountain skiing.

Guy Severin died at a hospital after breaking both legs while skiing on a mountain ski lodge imitation near Moscow owned by Zvezda factory on February 7, 2008. The civil funeral was held at the House of Culture Zvezdniy in Tomilino on February 11, 2008. Present among the attendees was Boris Chertok, last remaining colleague of Sergei Korolev.

On July 24, 2008 a memorial to Severin was opened on the territory of the NPP Zvezda in Tomilino - a bronze bust. A number of local officials appeared for the opening ceremony.

Awards

• Lenin Prize (1965)
• two Orders of Lenin (1966 and 1971)
• Order of October Revolution (1971)
• USSR State Prize (1978)
• Hero of Socialist Labor title (1982)