Alexei Leonov

Alexei Leonov
Name	Alexei Leonov
Caption	Leonov in 1974
Type	Soviet Air Forces cosmonaut
Nationality	Soviet / Russian
Status	Deceased
Birth date	30 May 1934
Birth place	Listvyanka, Kemerovo Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Death date	11 October 2019 (aged 85)
Death place	Moscow, Russia
Occupation	Fighter pilot, cosmonaut
Rank	Major general (Soviet Air Force)
Selection	Soviet Cosmonaut Group 1
Time	7d 0h 32m
Mission	Voskhod 2, Soyuz 19 (Apollo–Soyuz Test Project)
Awards	Hero of the Soviet Union (twice), Order of Lenin, Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR

Alexei Leonov was a pioneering Soviet Air Forces cosmonaut, celebrated as the first human to conduct a spacewalk. His historic extravehicular activity during the Voskhod 2 mission in 1965 marked a monumental achievement in the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States. Later, he commanded the Soviet half of the groundbreaking Apollo–Soyuz Test Project in 1975, the first joint U.S.–Soviet space mission. Beyond his spaceflight career, he was also an accomplished artist and served as a senior official within the Soviet space program.

Early life and military career

Born in the remote village of Listvyanka, Kemerovo Oblast in Siberia, he developed an early interest in aviation. He attended the Kremenchug Military Aviation School before graduating from the prestigious Chuguyev Higher Military Aviation School in Ukraine, qualifying as a fighter pilot. He served with distinction in the Soviet Air Forces, flying various aircraft including the MiG-15 and MiG-17. His exceptional skills led to his selection in 1960 as part of the original Soviet cosmonaut group, known as the "Sochi Six" or Vanguard Six, which also included Yuri Gagarin.

Spaceflight career

His initial training focused on the Vostok programme, and he was a backup for Pavel Popovich on Vostok 4. He was subsequently chosen for the ambitious Voskhod programme, which aimed to achieve further space firsts for the Soviet Union. This assignment culminated in his historic flight as pilot of Voskhod 2 alongside commander Pavel Belyayev. Following this mission, he was heavily involved in the Soviet crewed lunar programs, including training for a potential lunar landing mission. He was selected to command the circumlunar Zond 7 mission, though the program was canceled.

First human spacewalk

On 18 March 1965, during the Voskhod 2 mission, he exited the spacecraft's inflatable airlock, becoming the first person to perform an extravehicular activity. During the 12-minute excursion, his spacesuit, the Berkut, ballooned in the vacuum, nearly preventing his re-entry into the Voskhod capsule. After a perilous struggle to depressurize his suit, he successfully returned inside. The mission faced further crises, including a faulty retrorocket that forced a manual re-entry and an off-target landing in the snowy Urals near Perm, where he and Belyayev endured two nights before rescue.

Later space missions and leadership

He was appointed commander of the Soviet crew for the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, a symbol of détente during the Cold War. In July 1975, he commanded Soyuz 19, which docked with the American Apollo Command/Service Module commanded by Thomas P. Stafford. Following this mission, he served as deputy director of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City. He later held a senior position as the Chief of Cosmonaut Training and was a prominent figure within the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and the Energia design bureau.

Artistic and cultural contributions

A talented artist, he was the first person to paint in space, using colored pencils during his Voskhod 2 mission. His artworks, often depicting celestial views and fellow cosmonauts like Yuri Gagarin, have been exhibited internationally. He authored several books, including the autobiographical "Two Sides of the Moon" with American astronaut David Scott. His artistic endeavors provided a unique humanistic perspective on space exploration, bridging the scientific and cultural realms of the Space Age.

Personal life and legacy

He was married to Svetlana Pavlovna Leonova and had two daughters. He received numerous honors, including twice being named a Hero of the Soviet Union and awarded the Order of Lenin. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he remained an active public figure in Russia, advising corporations like Alfa-Bank. He died in Moscow in 2019 and was buried with full military honors at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery. His legacy endures through the cable layer ship named for him and his immortal status as the first human to walk in the cosmic void.

Category:Soviet cosmonauts Category:1934 births Category:2019 deaths