Step into the Universe: how a man went into outer space
On March 18, 1965, Alexey Leonov was the first to step out of a spaceship into the cold of the interplanetary vacuum. It was an advanced scientific and technical experiment that required both the designers and the cosmonaut to be professional on the verge of fantasy. Izvestia recalled how it was.
A candidate for free flight
Our designers and doctors began to solve the problem of human spacewalking even before Yuri Gagarin's flight. This step in space exploration was considered one of the key ones at the first stage. In terms of importance for science, it is comparable only to the first manned space flight.
Cosmonauts Alexey Leonov and Pavel Belyaev on a ski trip. The year is 1963
Who should be entrusted with this most dangerous experiment, the most responsible task that could only be at that time? This issue was essentially decided by three people. Leonid Brezhnev, the new first secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, trusted professionals. These are Sergei Korolev, Valentin Glushko and one of the first Heroes of the Soviet Union, Colonel-General of Aviation Nikolai Kamanin, who was the "flight daddy" of the first cosmonauts and was responsible for the program at the Ministry of Defense. There were almost no arguments. Alexey Leonov was the best fit for this mission by nature, level of training, and physical characteristics. He was 30 years old. As a fighter pilot, he managed to serve in the best aviation regiments. In the first cosmonaut squad, he was one of the best in all the tests. In 1963, he was an understudy to Valery Bykovsky, who flew into orbit, and coped with this nervous job perfectly.
Yuri Gagarin also supported Leonov's candidacy. Kamanin, who was well versed in the psychology of pilots, also looked closely at Leonov. He noted that Leonov sometimes violates discipline, even violates instructions, taking the initiative. He wants to try everything "by the tooth", to make sure of everything personally. These qualities can help in the unpredictable situation of working in outer space.
The USSR vs. the USA
Pavel Belyaev was chosen as Leonov's partner and crew commander. By nature, he was the opposite of Leonov: calm, taciturn. Fantastically reliable. The front-line experience of the pilot affected. In August and September 1945, as part of the 38th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 12th Assault Aviation Division of the Pacific Fleet, he participated in combat operations against the Japanese militarists. And they had a good relationship with the impulsive, sociable Leonov.
Cosmonaut Alexey Leonov after a training flight on a jet plane. The picture before the flight into space
The Americans also worked on the astronaut's spacewalk. They invested resources in space research that the Soviet Union simply did not possess. We had other things — experience and people. Korolev once again set an ambitious task for the designers — we should be the first and only us. This was especially important given the political situation. Brezhnev and his team needed a big space victory. So far, all our high-profile successes in orbit have been associated with Nikita Khrushchev's name (although Brezhnev oversaw this branch from the Politburo and knew all the leading scientists in this field very well). Korolev and Glushko were not pressured, as in the Khrushchev years, they were given complete freedom as designers, but victory was expected of them. Therefore, the institutes that worked on the project had to hurry.
Alexey Leonov during the preparation for the space flight on the Voskhod-2 spacecraft
This affected, for example, the design of the Berkut spacesuit, designed specifically for spacewalks and rescue during ship depressurization, with a safety halyard of 7 m. The space inspection of this space outfit was rough, which was taken into account when working on next-generation spacesuits.
The flight was planned to be fast, but it was a step into the unknown. For such an occasion, the Voskhod three-seater spacecraft was converted into a two-seater so that Leonov could put on a spacesuit. In addition, an inflatable Volga airlock was equipped on the ship (or rather, behind it), through which the cosmonaut had to enter outer space. Both the camera and the spacesuit were created under the supervision of Chief designer Guy Severin. Korolev, knowing Leonov's restless nature, instructed him before the flight: "Don't get into trouble there. Come out, wave to us, and that's it!"
Triumph in an inflated spacesuit
On March 18, 1965, at 10:00 Moscow time, the spacecraft lifted off from earth at the Baikonur cosmodrome. The airlock was opened already during the first orbit above the Ground. And on the second turn, Leonov stepped into the airlock, and out of it into outer space. At 11:34 a.m. 51 seconds, Belyaev sent a message to Moscow: "Attention! A man has entered outer space!"
Leonov spent 23 minutes and 41 seconds in airless space, of which 12 minutes and 9 seconds outside the airlock in outer space. It would seem a little. But considering how new and unknown he was doing, it took forever. Leonov, as planned, made five departures from the airlock chamber, with the first departure taking the minimum distance to orient himself in the new conditions, and the rest taking the full length of the halyard. He really felt like he was in free flight.
Cosmonaut Alexey Leonov tries on hermetic gloves during training at the Cosmonaut Training Center
There Leonov even managed to talk to the Earth. And not only with the chief designer, but also with "dear Leonid Ilyich", who found kind words for such an occasion.: "Come home, we're waiting for you, hugging you." Leonov's somersaults in space were filmed on cameras mounted in the ship's hull. Leonov's every move in outer space against the backdrop of the distant planet Earth was part of an experiment that was very important to designers, doctors, psychologists, and even mathematicians. The only thing that Leonov failed to accomplish in outer space was to take photographs.
A shot from the documentary "A man went into space". The crew of the Voskhod-2 spacecraft: co-pilot Alexey Leonov (right) and commander Pavel Belyaev. March 18, 1965
There was a serious problem that was not reported in the press in those days. In the space atmosphere, the spacesuit behaved abnormally: it was inflated. The physical condition of the rubberized fabric has changed. But Leonov was found. That's where his cocky personality and ability to make decisions quickly and independently came in handy. He released the pressure in the suit to critical, violating the instructions. Leonov returned to the airlock headfirst, and to close the hatch, like a gymnast, he somersaulted in a cramped space. It required superhuman efforts, but any other option meant serious injury for the astronaut, and maybe even death. Meanwhile, the historic Exit program has been completed successfully.
Alexey Leonov in outer space. A shot from the documentary "In a spacesuit over the planet". March 18, 1965
The return of Voskhod 2 to Earth also went poorly. The automatic control system failed on the descent. Belyaev made an extra turn around the Earth and began to descend in manual mode. They landed in the Perm region, in the forest. They successfully hung on trees, but the communication system was damaged. It was cold, Leonov and Belyaev lit a fire and tried to dry themselves. For several hours, Moscow did not know anything about the fate of the astronauts. Finally, they were discovered from helicopters, dropped food and warm clothes. And after such trials, the space heroes had practically no rest. Already on March 23, they were solemnly welcomed by Moscow. Leonov vigorously performed from the podium of the Mausoleum in front of thousands of people. No one could have imagined that a few days before he had suffered critical dehydration. That's the price of a feat.
A new era of cosmonautics
It wasn't until three months later, when American astronaut Edward White went into outer space, that everyone realized that our designers had accomplished something great. American engineers did not think to install the airlock system and were forced to depressurize the entire ship. When Leonov asked his American colleagues: "Why didn't you use the gateway?", they answered him honestly: "Somehow you didn't think about it."
Cosmonaut Alexey Leonov after the landing of the Voskhod-2 spacecraft. March 21, 1965
Neither Korolev, Glushko, nor Kamanin have ever regretted entrusting this historic task to Leonov. He became a global celebrity — and passed the new test, the test of copper pipes, with flying colors. He was as bold and casual at press conferences as he was in outer space. He spared no time for meetings in a wide variety of classrooms, from academics to school classrooms. Of course, everyone was interested in him.
A solemn meeting of Soviet cosmonauts Pavel Belyaev and Alexei Leonov, who flew on the Voskhod-2 spacecraft. Vnukovo Airport, March 1965
Leonov opened a new era in space exploration, which is why this day is written not only in calendars, but also in history textbooks. Today, it is impossible to imagine orbital flights without spacewalks. The time of docking has begun, the time of orbital stations, where space exploration has not stopped for years. The human presence in orbit is not interrupted. And dozens of astronauts are working in outer space.
The author is the deputy editor—in-chief of the magazine "Historian"
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
