TASS DOSSIER. On October 11, 2021, it became known that Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, the first person to perform a spacewalk, died in Moscow at the age of 86.
Alexey Arkhipovich Leonov was born on May 30, 1934 in the village of Listvyanka, Tisulsky district, Kemerovo region, into a large family. Father, Arkhip Alekseevich (1893-1981), worked as chairman of the village council, was repressed (1936), then rehabilitated (1939). Mother, Evdokia Minaevna (nee Sotnikova; 1895-1967), was a teacher. In 1948, he and his family moved to Kaliningrad (regional center).
Education, academic degree
In 1955, Alexey Leonov graduated from the 10th Military Aviation School of Initial Pilot Training in the city of Kremenchug (Ukraine), in 1957 - Chuguev Military Aviation School of Pilots (Ukraine; now - Ivan Kozhedub Kharkov National University of the Air Force) with a degree in pilot -fighter". After graduating in 1968 from the engineering faculty of the Air Force Engineering Academy. N. E. Zhukovsky (VVIA) received the specialty “design and operation of aerospace vehicles and engines for them” (qualification - “pilot-engineer-cosmonaut”). In 1981 he completed his postgraduate studies at VVIA.
In 1981, he defended his thesis for Candidate of Technical Sciences at VVIA.
Merits
Alexey Arkhipovich is a holder of dozens of domestic and foreign awards, orders, and medals. The cosmonaut is an honorary citizen of 30 cities around the world, a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, an academician of the Russian Academy of Astronautics, and a candidate of technical sciences.
Cosmonaut Alexey Leonov
Leonov is the author and co-author of scientific research and experiments. The most significant of them are the following works:
- development of a hydro laboratory and creation of a spacesuit for working in the hydrosphere (1966);
- study of light and color characteristics of vision after space flight (1967);
- the influence of space flight factors on the visual acuity of the pilot of the Buran complex (1980).
In the cosmonaut corps
On March 7, 1960, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, he was enrolled as a student-cosmonaut in the cosmonaut corps of the Air Force Cosmonaut Training Center (CPC; now the Scientific Research Testing Center for Cosmonaut Training named after Yu.A. Gagarin, Scientific Research Institute of the Cosmonaut Training Center), was among the first 20 pilots, selected for space flights (the first group of cosmonauts).
At the Cosmonaut Training Center he held the positions of cosmonaut (since 1961), cosmonaut instructor (since 1966), deputy commander of the 1st cosmonaut detachment (since 1966), deputy head of the department and senior cosmonaut instructor (since 1969), deputy head of the Cosmonaut Training Center (since 1970). In 1975, he was awarded the qualification of 2nd class cosmonaut. In 1976-1982 he was the commander of the cosmonaut corps.
Alexey Leonov completed two space flights, flying a total of 7 days 33 minutes, and the world's first spacewalk (total time - 23 minutes 41 seconds, of which 12 minutes 9 seconds - outside the ship).
The first flight took place on March 18-19, 1965, in which he was the co-pilot of the Voskhod-2 spacecraft (commanded by Pavel Belyaev). On March 18 he went into outer space.
In 1967-1970, Leonov led a group of cosmonauts preparing for a flight to the Moon. After the closure of the lunar program, he underwent training under the DOS program (Long-term Orbital Station), but did not fly to the first Salyut stations.
During the second flight, July 15-21, 1975, as a crew commander, he participated in the first docking of spacecraft from different countries - Soyuz-19 (USSR) and Apollo (USA). Then in orbit there was a meeting and a historic handshake between members of the two crews - Alexei Leonov, Valery Kubasov, Vance Brand, Thomas Stafford, Donald Slayton.
On January 26, 1982, he was expelled from the cosmonaut corps and appointed to the position of first deputy head of the Cosmonaut Training Center for flight and space training, which he held until 1991.
Cosmonautics
After failure with the Academy of Arts, Leonov entered the elementary aviation school in Kremenchug, where Komsomol recruitment was just taking place. Upon completion of his studies in 1955, the young pilot continued his education at the Chuguev Higher Aviation School, where he received the specialty of a fighter pilot. After graduating from college, from 1957 to 1959, Alexey Leonov served in the tenth guards aviation division in Kremenchug, from 1959 to 1960 - in Germany, as part of the Soviet troops.
Pilot Alexey Leonov
In the fall of 1959, Alexei Arkhipovich was destined to once again change his fate dramatically. It was then that he met the head of the Cosmonaut Training Center (CPC), Colonel Karpov. At the first selection committee in Sokolniki, Leonov first met Yuri Gagarin, with whom he subsequently developed a strong friendship.
Alexey Leonov and Yuri Gagarin
In 1960, Alexei Leonov was enrolled in a special detachment. This was followed by CPC courses and countless training sessions. In 1964, the design bureau under the leadership of Korolev began construction of a new spacecraft that would allow astronauts to go into airless space. This ship was Voskhod-2.
Two crews were preparing for the flight. The main team included Alexey Lenov and Pavel Belyaev, their backups were cosmonauts Khrunov and Gorbatko. The historic flight and the first manned spacewalk took place on March 18, 1965.
Alexey Leonov and Pavel Belyaev
After the flight on Voskhod 2, Leonov was part of a group of cosmonauts who were trained for the flight and landing on the Moon, but in the end the program was closed. Leonov's next entry into earth orbit took place in 1975, when the legendary docking of the Soviet Soyuz-19 spacecraft and the American Apollo was carried out.
In 1982-1991, Leonov was the first deputy head of the CPC; in 1992 he retired.
First in outer space
In 1965, TASS broadcast a message about the first human spacewalk in history: “On March 19, at 12:02 Moscow time, the Voskhod-2 spacecraft, piloted by a crew consisting of the ship’s commander, Colonel Pavel Ivanovich Belyaev, and the co-pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Leonov Alexey Arkhipovich, landed safely near the city of Perm. The landing was carried out by the ship's commander, Colonel Belyaev, using a manual control system. Comrades Belyaev and Leonov are feeling well. The scientific research program has been fully completed. During the flight, a complex scientific and technical experiment was successfully carried out involving an astronaut entering outer space in a special space suit with an autonomous life support system, opening a new stage in human space exploration. The materials obtained during the flight of the Voskhod-2 spacecraft are being processed and analyzed.
That message did not mention that it was Leonov who made that very first spacewalk. Only a few experts knew what risks this experiment was associated with. Only many years later did it become known to the general public that Leonov was initially unable to return to the ship because, due to the pressure difference, his spacesuit swelled and did not fit into the hatch. But the cosmonaut did not lose his composure and, acting under acute time pressure, managed to bleed some of the air from the suit through the valve and squeeze into the airlock chamber.
In anticipation of flights
Despite the fact that the future cosmonaut Leonov passed a tough selection process, he had to undergo rigorous training. Only good preparation opened up the possibility of upcoming flights.
In 1964, the design bureau, which was headed by Korolev at that time, began to design a new spacecraft. It was designed for two seats, and its design allowed access to airless space.
Simultaneously with the preparation of the ship, two crews underwent pre-flight training. These are cosmonauts Belyaev and Leonov, as well as their backups - Khrunov and Gorbatko. When selecting a crew for the Voskhod-2 spacecraft, doctors took into account the complexity and duration of the flight, its main tasks and goals, as well as the psychological characteristics of the people. The astronauts had to work as harmoniously as possible, completely trusting each other. Leonov and Belyaev had different characters. But at the same time, they complemented each other perfectly and were able to complete the most difficult task assigned to them.
Activities after space flights
In September 1991, after leaving the TsPK, by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense, he was placed at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force for subsequent dismissal from active military service (due to age). On March 9, 1992, he was discharged from military service with the rank of major general of aviation.
In 1991-1997 - Chairman of the International Association of Space Flight Participants.
Since 1991, he has held senior positions in international space, and in 1992-1993 he was director of space programs.
In 1992, he was elected president of the check investment fund Alfa Capital (founder - Alfa Group).
Since 2000, he served as vice president of Alfa Bank. Currently, he is an adviser to the first deputy chairman of the board of directors of the bank, Oleg Sysuev.
Was a member of the CPSU. He was elected as a deputy of the Moscow City Council (1966, 1979-1984), as well as a member of the Supreme Council of the All-Russian political party "United Russia".
He was involved in charity (the Life Line program - helping children with cardiovascular diseases).
Awards, honorary titles
Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1965, 1975). Awarded two Orders of Lenin (1965, 1975), Orders of the Red Star (1961), “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” III degree (1975), “For Services to the Fatherland” I, III and IV degrees (2019, 2014, 2000 ), Friendship (2011).
Laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Prize (1980), State Prize of the USSR (1981), Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation named after. Yu. A. Gagarin in the field of space activities for 2011
Marked with gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation (1996), a certificate of honor from the Government of the Russian Federation (2009).
He was awarded foreign titles and awards: Hero of Socialist Labor of Bulgaria (1965), Hero of Labor of Vietnam, Order of Georgi Dimitrov (Bulgaria, 1965), Order of Karl Marx (GDR, 1965), State Banner (Hungary, 1965), “For Distinction”, 1st degree ( Syria, 1966), “For Merit” III degree (Ukraine, 2011), etc.
Among his awards are gold medals named after. K. E. Tsiolkovsky (USSR Academy of Sciences) and them. Yu. A. Gagarin (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, FAI), international award of the St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation “Faith and Loyalty” (2016).
Pilot-cosmonaut of the USSR (1965). Honored Master of Sports (1965). Member of the Union of Artists of the USSR (1965), honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts (2004). Full member of the International Academy of Astronautics, academician of the Russian Academy of Astronautics.
Honorary citizen of more than 30 cities of Russia and countries of the world: Kaluga (1965), Kaliningrad (1965), Kemerovo (1967), Perm (1965), Baikonur (1976, Kazakhstan), San Antonio (Chile), etc. As well as an honorary citizen Moscow (2014), Vladimir (2016) regions.
Awards
The achievements of the legendary cosmonaut were noted by the country's leadership:
- title of Hero of the Soviet Union (twice);
- two Orders of Lenin;
- two Gold Star medals;
- Order of the Red Star;
- title of Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR;
- Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" III class. and IV Art.
These are not all the awards received by A. Leonov; their list is quite large and also includes insignia of international distinction.
The story about the life of the legendary cosmonaut is in the film “Alexei Leonov. First in outer space":
Works, hobbies
He is the author of more than 10 scientific papers, four inventions and a number of books, among them “Pedestrian of Space” (1967), “Solar Wind” (1969), “Going Out into Space” (1970), “Time of the First. My destiny is myself...” (2017), etc. Co-author of the books “Perception of Space and Time in Space” (1968), “Life Among the Stars” (1981).
From childhood he was fond of painting (he painted about 200 paintings). In collaboration with science fiction artist Andrei Sokolov, he created a number of USSR postage stamps on a space theme.
He had 2nd category in cycling, 3rd category in fencing.
Perpetuation
In the homeland of Alexei Leonov (in Listvyanka), in Kemerovo and on the Alley of Cosmonauts in Moscow, his bronze busts were installed. Kemerovo International Airport, secondary school No. 4 in the city of Gagarin, Smolensk region, streets in Kaliningrad, Kemerovo, Perm, Kremenchug (Ukraine) are named after the cosmonaut. One of the craters on the Moon is named after Leonov.
In 2014, the authorities of the Kemerovo region established a regional award - the Alexey Leonov Medal.
In 2021, a feature film directed by Dmitry Kiselev, “Time of the First,” about Alexei Leonov’s spacewalk, in which he was played by Evgeny Mironov, was released in Russia. The astronaut himself was one of the main consultants when working on the picture. In the same year, the artistic biographical album “Alexey Leonov. Man and Space", which collected reproductions of paintings by the cosmonaut, his memories, as well as quotes from prominent figures, colleagues and friends of Leonov, rare photographs, documents and historical information.
