space science missions to the Mir space station. He died on 7 September 2022 at the age of 80. Legacy Polyakov won several awards for his spaceflight and academic achievements, including the Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Russian Federation, Order of Lenin, Order of the Legion of Honour, and the Order of Parasat. He was a member of organizations related to astronautics, including the Russian Chief Medical Commission on cosmonauts' certification. Polyakov held the title of "Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR" and published several works pertaining to life sciences, medical aspects of space missions, and the results of research conducted on long-duration spaceflights. Polyakov's record for longest cumulative time in space of 678 days over two missions stood until surpassed in 1999 by cosmonaut Sergei Avdeyev with a total of 747 days in space during three different missions. Honours and awards Hero of the Russian Federation Hero of the Soviet Union Officer of the Legion of Honour (France) Order of Lenin Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR Prince of Asturias Award (now renamed Princess of Asturias Awards, Spain) Order of Parasat (Kazakhstan) See also Human spaceflight List of spaceflight records References External links Spacefacts biography 1942 births 2022 deaths Heroes of the Russian Federation Heroes of the Soviet Union I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University alumni Mir crew members Officiers of the Légion d'honneur People from Tula, Russia Physician astronauts Recipients of the Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of Parasat Burials at Vagankovo Cemetery Russian cosmonauts Soviet cosmonauts Soviet physicians