60 years ago Alexei Leonov made the first ever spacewalk
On 18 March 1965, during the Voskhod 2 mission, Alexei Leonov exited his spacecraft (tethered by a long cord) to experience floating in space, thus making the history books for the first ever spacewalk. His courageous accomplishment has had a colossal impact on human space exploration.
The achievement was ratified by FAI as an Astronautics Absolute World Record for Extravehicular Duration in Space: 12 minutes and 9 seconds.
Celebrating the anniversary, FAI President, Greg Principato, stated, “What has been learned through spacewalks has enabled the construction of the International Space Station, and the possibility of long-range space exploration. Leonov's path breaking spacewalk opened up a new era of possibilities in space and it is appropriate to celebrate that accomplishment, and all that it led to.”
About Leonov’s spacewalk
Alexei Arkhipovich Leonov was selected to perform a spacewalk from the Voskhod-3KD No.4 spacecraft during the 1965 Voskhod 2 mission with Commander Pavel Ivanovich Beliaev.
In an interview with FAI in 2015, Leonov recalls exiting the airlock hatch, tethered by a 5.5-metre long cord to see, “The Black Sea and the Crimea Peninsula … Romania, Bulgaria and … the boot of Italy… Stars were to my left, right, above and below me. The light of the sun, was very intense, and I felt its warmth on the part of my face... The sky was black and the silence was extraordinary.”
Although not mentioned in the original record application documentation supplied to FAI, in the interview, Leonov recalls the life-or-death situation in which he found himself, as he prepared to re-enter the hatch. His suit had inflated, severely restricting his movement. Despite the risk to his life, he decreased the pressure in the suit, and successfully re-entered the airlock, sweating profusely.
Despite the challenges faced by Leonov, his quick-thinking and bravery meant that the duo were able to successfully complete the mission. The Voskhod spacecraft touched down on Earth in the Siberian forest and the pair awaited the rescue team.
Legacy of Leonov’s achievement
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the first spacewalk, FAI celebrates the incredible legacy of Leonov’s bravery and expertise that has inspired and enabled so many future space missions.
The FAI records archive holds reports by both cosmonauts as well as photographs taken by Leonov and still images from the external video camera which captured the remarkable scenes of him emerging from the spacecraft:
Leonov’s own report makes the following conclusions about the importance of the first spacewalk:
- Leaving the spacecraft into outer space is quite possible and is no longer mysterious to a man;
- A man in a special space suit with a self-contained life support system may not only exist in space but also perform certain aimed and coordinated operations;
- It is possible to carry out some physical work, to make scientific observations in outer space.”
Alexei Leonov was born on 30 May 1934 and died on 11 October 2019.
