Alexei Arkhipovich Leonov (1934–2019) was a Soviet cosmonaut, aviation major general, writer, and artist. He is best known for being the first human to perform an extravehicular activity (EVA), or "spacewalk," on March 18, 1965.
Early Life and Education Born in Listvyanka, Altai Krai, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union, Leonov was the eighth of nine children. He developed an early interest in aviation and art. He graduated from the Chuguev Higher Air Force School in 1957, becoming a fighter pilot. In 1960, he was selected as one of the original 20 Soviet cosmonauts, part of the first class of cosmonauts.
Voskhod 2 Mission and the First Spacewalk Leonov's historic spacewalk occurred during the Voskhod 2 mission. Launched on March 18, 1965, the mission's primary objective was for Leonov to exit the spacecraft and float freely in space. After the spacecraft reached orbit, a special airlock was deployed. Leonov, wearing a modified Berkut spacesuit, spent 12 minutes and 9 seconds outside the Voskhod 2 capsule, tethered by a 5.35-meter (17.5-foot) umbilical cable.
The spacewalk proved to be more challenging than anticipated. Leonov's spacesuit inflated significantly in the vacuum of space, making it difficult for him to re-enter the airlock. He had to partially depressurize his suit while struggling to maneuver back inside. After a perilous effort, he successfully returned to the capsule. The mission then faced further complications upon re-entry, with the spacecraft's automatic landing system failing, forcing the crew (Leonov and Pavel Belyayev) to manually guide the capsule to a landing hundreds of kilometers off course in a remote, snow-covered forest in the Ural Mountains. They endured two nights in the wilderness before being rescued.
Later Career and Contributions Despite the difficulties of Voskhod 2, Leonov continued his career in the Soviet space program. He was slated to command a circumlunar Soyuz mission and later a Soviet moon landing mission, but these programs were eventually canceled. His next spaceflight occurred in 1975, when he commanded the Soyuz 19 mission as part of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). This historic mission marked the first joint U.S.-Soviet space flight, where a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft docked with an American Apollo spacecraft in Earth orbit, symbolizing a period of détente in the Cold War.
From 1979 to 1991, Leonov served as the commander of the cosmonaut team and deputy director of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, overseeing the training of future cosmonauts. He also pursued his passion for art, often depicting space and space exploration in his paintings. He co-authored several books, including "Two Sides of the Moon: Our Story of the Cold War Space Race."
Legacy Alexei Leonov is celebrated as a pioneer of space exploration. His first spacewalk was a momentous achievement that demonstrated humanity's capability to survive and operate in the vacuum of space, paving the way for future spacewalks, orbital assembly, and the construction of space stations. His participation in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project also holds significant historical importance for its role in fostering international cooperation in space. Leonov received numerous awards and honors, including the title Hero of the Soviet Union twice. He died in Moscow on October 11, 2019, at the age of 85.