The Russian Who Almost Walked on the Moon
Alexei Leonov: The First Spacewalker
On March 18, 1965, Alexei Leonov became the first human to walk in space, spending 12 minutes outside his Voskhod 2 spacecraft. The mission was perilous—his spacesuit overinflated, nearly preventing his return. To survive, he released oxygen, risking death.
Early Life & Cosmonaut Career
Born in Siberia in 1934, Leonov pursued aviation after financial struggles prevented him from studying art. He became a fighter pilot before joining the Soviet space program in 1960.
Spacewalk & Survival Challenges
Leonov’s historic spacewalk faced near-disaster, but he remained calm under pressure. Upon re-entry, he was exhausted but safe. The return to Earth was equally challenging—he and his crewmate crash-landed in the Siberian wilderness, enduring freezing conditions until rescue.
The Abandoned Soviet Moon Mission
Leonov trained to be the first man on the Moon, but the Soviet N1 rocket failed multiple times. After Neil Armstrong’s 1969 Moon landing, the USSR quietly canceled the program.
U.S.-Soviet Space Collaboration
In 1975, Leonov led the Soviet crew in the Apollo-Soyuz mission, the first U.S.-Soviet space partnership. He famously shook hands in orbit with American astronaut Thomas Stafford, marking a turning point in Cold War space relations.
Legacy
Leonov never reached the Moon but remains a spaceflight pioneer. His daring spacewalk paved the way for future missions, and his role in international cooperation helped shape modern space exploration. He continued his passion for art until his death in 2019.
