On 18 March 1965, Alexey Leonov became the first human to conduct a spacewalk, spending 12 minutes and 9 seconds outside the Voskhod 2 capsule. This milestone required him to bleed air from his own suit after it inflated in the vacuum, nearly preventing his re-entry into the airlock while tethered to the spacecraft by a 4.8-metre cable.
Early Development and Military Training
Born in 1934 in Listvyanka, Leonov was the eighth of nine children. His father, an electrician, was arrested in 1936 during the Stalinist purges but was eventually released. Leonov initially pursued art to supplement family income before transitioning to aviation. He graduated from the Chuguev Higher Air Force Pilots School in 1957. By 1960, he was selected for the inaugural group of Soviet cosmonauts, eventually achieving the rank of Air Force major general.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Advancement in Space Exploration
Leonov participated in the rigorous training required for early Soviet space missions. Beyond his record-setting 1965 spacewalk, he was slated to command a circumlunar Soyuz 7K-L1 flight and was selected as the designated Soviet astronaut for a potential Moon landing. Both missions were cancelled due to delays and the progress of the American Apollo program. He also served as commander for various Salyut missions that did not ultimately launch with his crew.
International Collaboration and Leadership
In July 1975, Leonov commanded the Soviet side of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, marking the first docking of American and Soviet spacecraft. He formed a lasting bond with the American commander, Thomas P. Stafford. Following this mission, Leonov served as the deputy director of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and acted as the chief of the cosmonaut team from 1976 to 1982. He retired from active service in 1992.
Artistic and Intellectual Output
Throughout his life, Leonov maintained an interest in painting, famously sketching orbital sunrises during his first mission. His work caught the attention of author Arthur C. Clarke, who corresponded with Leonov regarding orbital alignments depicted in art and cinema. Leonov co-wrote the 1980 film The Orion Loop and authored various books, including collections of his artistic works created alongside Andrei Sokolov.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Listvyanka
- Died: 2019, Burdenko Hospital
- Military rank: Air Force major general
- First spacewalk: 18 March 1965
- Education: Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy
- Notable awards: Hero of the Soviet Union (1965, 1975)
- Joint mission: Apollo–Soyuz (1975)
- Final resting place: Federal Military Memorial Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Did Leonov ever land on the Moon?
No. While he was selected to be the first Soviet person to land on the Moon, the project was cancelled.
Was Leonov involved in civilian administration after his career as a cosmonaut?
Yes, he was a member of the fourth Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation.
Achievements
- Educated at Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy and Kremenchuk flight college of National Aviation University
- Worked as military aviator, astronaut and painter
