The President said, in particular, in his telegram:
“An experienced cosmonaut and talented doctor, you took part in two space missions and hold the world record for the longest single spaceflight in human history, staying aboard the Soyuz TM-18 spacecraft and Mir space station. Your contribution to developing our space exploration and space medicine programmes was recognised with the high state decorations – Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of Russia.”
Over two space missions in 1988–89 and 1994–95, Valery Polyakov spent a total 678 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes in space.