Alexei Leonov, first space walker, has died

Spaceflight Now ^ | 10/11/2019 | William Harwood

[hoagy62]

egendary cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, the first human to walk in space — an experience that almost killed him — and later the commander of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that docked with a NASA Apollo capsule, symbolizing a historic thaw in the Cold War, has died after a long illness, the Russian space agency confirmed Friday. He was 85.

An accomplished amateur artist and a widely respected statesman in the international space community, Leonov remained a lifelong friend of his Apollo-Soyuz Test Project crewmates and a source of inspiration to a younger generation of cosmonauts who carried his photo to the International Space Station and marked his 85th birthday during a spacewalk in May.

“Leonov was certainly a cosmonaut’s cosmonaut, he was stout of mind, body and heart,” James Oberg, an expert on the Russian space program, said in an interview with CBS Radio. “He came through as a real tough guy who could handle problems, including almost being killed on his first spacewalk. But he also was a very decent human being.”

Said retired astronaut Scott Kelly in a Twitter posting: Cosmonaut #AlexeiLeonov passed away today in Moscow. He was not only the first person to walk in space, but also an accomplished artist. Most significant, however, he was a great human being. Fair winds and following seas my friend.”

[hoagy62]

RIP to a cosmonaut who did something extraordinary...and it nearly killed him. He may have been a Soviet, but I look up to him for his decision to do the daring, even in grave danger. Nice to know he was able to get back into space and do something a bit less dangerous, being a member of the Soyuz-Apollo mission.

[Bonemaker]

Sort of a Russian Neil Armstrong. RIP moy drug.

[Hacksaw]

And the Russians still have the same lifters, using decades old design, reliably sending men into orbit today.

That’s why I have more hope in Elon Musk than NASA.

[CivilWarBrewing]

I have his autograph! Sorry to hear about his passing.

For those who haven't seen his artwork, I highly recommend it. FANTASTIC artist.

[Rebelbase]

Additional info on the first space-walk mission:

“Leonov and Belyayev returned to Earth on March 19, 1965, landing nearly 240 miles off course after their Soyuz descent module did not properly separate from from an upper compartment. Compared to the pinpoint landings Soyuz spacecraft make today returning from the International Space Station, Leonov’s landing reads like an action adventure.

“The capsule’s radio beacon antenna broke off while landing among the trees, making it more difficult for the rescue forces to locate them,” Newkirk wrote. “Since there were no clearings nearby for helicopters to land, it would be the next day until rescue forces reached the capsule.

“The cosmonauts were forced to retreat to the capsule after meeting timber wolves that night and had to hold the hatch closed … while trying to rest in the very uncomfortable spacesuits. After skiing to recovery helicopters the next day, they were airlifted back to Star City.””

[neverevergiveup]

“The cosmonauts were forced to retreat to the capsule after meeting timber wolves that night and had to hold the hatch closed … while trying to rest in the very uncomfortable spacesuits. After skiing to recovery helicopters the next day, they were airlifted back to Star City.””

If true, that’s bada*s!

[Right Wing Assault]

See, that radiation is fatal.

[Nabber]

I’m pretty sure I remember at that time, a Popular Science article showing the space walk was a fake; wires in the pictures, etc.

[PIF]

Yeah it was a big deal - we all hung on every transmission hoping all would go well. It did as no one died. But little came of the intel gathered.