Leonov's exit into outer space. When Leonov went into outer space

In March 2015, a very important date in the history of Russia was noted: 50 years ago Leonov's exit into outer space was made. The release date is known to every schoolboy: March 18, 1965, a valiant hero-pilot of the Soviet Union Alexei Leonov became the first person to be in the open airless space. Leonov's exit into outer space was very short-lived. But still it was a real feat.

Alexei Leonov: going into outer space. When did this happen and how was it?

The whole space exercise took about twenty minutes. Leonov still remembers with his aspiration those first sweet moments, when he realized how quiet and calm it is in the open space. The first thing he talked about in his most recent interviews after this event is silence. The cosmonaut could even hear his breathing and heartbeat. The release of Alexei Leonov into space was the number one event in the Russian and foreign press, a huge leap forward for mankind in the development of cosmonautics.

Leonov's exit into outer space was carried out from the side of the experimental ship Voskhod-2. It was significantly different from Gagarin's "Sunrise-1": there were already a couple of places for pilots, besides it was equipped with a camera "Volga", which was inflated during a space flight.

The crew of the ship consisted of only two people. The commander of the apparatus also at that time often flashed in the press. It was Pavel Belyaev, and Aleksey Leonov was appointed the pilot. Especially for this mission, the Berkut space suit was made. It is he who will lead astronaut at the most inopportune moment.

Leonov's exit into open space is a very well-known date: the start was made from Baikonur at 10 am Moscow time. It was very risky, the cosmonauts had to go out into space on the second flight of the flight. Just at this time, under the apparatus were the sands of the Sahara. Already at half past eleven, Leonov was in outer space.

Difficulties in flight

Connected with the aircraft Leonov was very strong, everything was calculated to trifles, the length of the cable was five meters. Five times the astronaut was approaching and retreating from the ship during his stay in a vacuum. The danger began to be felt almost from the first minute: from a strong pressure, the suit was inflated. When it was time to return, Leonov had to break two points of strict instructions from the Earth. Because of the dimensions, he lowered the pressure inside the suit and penetrated the ship forward with his head, not with his feet.

But on this terrible misadventure, unfortunately, did not end. Due to the temperature drop, a fairly large cleft formed right in the hatch skin, which could lead to the depressurization of the ship and the death of the astronauts. The automatic systems "Voskhod-2" at the same time worked to increase the supply of oxygen, so everything could end in an explosion. Overcoming the problems was only seven hours later, only then the pilots could feel safe.

And before the release of the legendary cosmonaut almost forgot to fix the safety rope. Belyaev accidentally noticed this and barely managed to save his partner. If not for this fact, then Leonov's body would still be in orbit around the planet.

1965, when Leonov came out into open space, a year for the USSR is very significant, so the astronauts did not have the right to make a mistake.

Landing

"Sunrise-2" made as many as nineteen turns around the Earth before it sank to the hard surface of the planet. Imagine only: the calculations did not correlate with reality, so landing did not happen where originally planned. Two hundred kilometers from the city of Perm, in the cold and inhospitable deserted taiga, far from civilization, pilots sat down. For two whole days the astronauts were waiting for rescue, later they were sent to Perm, and from there by plane again to Baikonur.

Work on bugs

Leonov very often and now remembers his flight: in many interviews he said that there were very many mistakes, that they could be avoided and that in many respects only a happy coincidence of circumstances helped him and his friend to survive.

Just imagine: the suit was not practically tested, as it was almost impossible to create the necessary test conditions on the Earth, only calculations were based on its development. But this was not enough, that's the first suit and failed.

The height of the flight was significantly larger than originally planned. A few tens of meters higher - and the astronauts would receive a strong radiation exposure. The cause of this fact was not revealed even after the flight.

Indescribable feelings

When the legendary cosmonaut was already in the spacesuit and everything was ready for an important event, which Leonov's exit into open space should have been, all the permits were not given. Leonov languished in anticipation until he heard a voice from the Earth. This personally Gagarin communicated with Leonov, he gave permission, and Alexei Arkhipovich rushed to the hatch.

And then there was silence and the sound of breathing and heartbeats, which were transmitted by a signal to the Earth. It would seem that the flight should have excited Leonov, but this serene silence only calmed, his breathing was smooth.

The first spacewalk did not last long, but was imprinted in the astronaut's memory forever. When Leonov went into open space, the release date was published in all the world's newspapers. Therefore, this flight was remembered literally to all his contemporaries.

Everything was amazing in the sky: the fact that the Earth really was a ball, even though Leonov knew this, but was still amazed at what he saw; And the fact that the stars in the sky are simply nemeros; And the fact that they are all so bright, and the cosmos is completely black, well, just impenetrable. And the Sun, as if mounted in the sky, exuded a huge heat and a very bright light.

Diving suit

And now try to imagine how hard it was to work and be in a spacesuit. In order to only clench the fist in outer space, we had to make efforts equal to raising twenty-five kilograms on Earth. And this is with one hand! Leonov's earth training, aimed at ensuring that he was able to cope with the task in the future, was extremely difficult. He had to raise the bar every ninety kilograms a day. It was less impossible - then I would not have coped with the task. And this is besides other exhausting daily workouts.

Leonov's experience has shown that man's stay in outer space is possible, besides all the shortcomings and mistakes were taken into account for further flights. And the suit of Alexey Arkhipovich was taken as a basis for future developments. Many modern cosmonauts work, based on the experience that Leonov once received.

The experience of Leonov is invaluable ...

The memories of the Russian cosmonaut Fedor Yurchikhin, who made several similar flights, and also visited one hour in space, are filled with gratitude to Leonov and the experience he has received. Now space suits are created in such a way that the pilot can safely spend several hours in an airless space. Or rather, about seven hours. There is a detailed briefing, which takes place before the flights of all modern astronauts. In the first hour they need to look at the Earth as little as possible, since this species is very mesmerizing and distracting. It is in the first hour that it is better and quiet to perform the main part of the work, and then you can already admire the view. And at the heart of all these instructions is the experience of Alexei Leonov.

The first exit of Leonov in the open space was a matter of state importance. His suit was wearing the proud name "Berkut", and for the cosmonaut to be able to train, the model of the entire spacecraft was set to full size on board the real Soviet aircraft.

Leonov went to outer space for the first time. And few know that he could have died because of one oversight - already his own. It's very scary to imagine, but due to the long waiting for Leonov's order for absent-mindedness he almost forgot to fasten his insurance to the suit. His partner and part-time commander barely managed to grab the pilot by the leg and fasten. If this did not happen, Leonov would have died.

Moreover, when he entered the ship, having fulfilled his main task, he hit the cylinders necessary for life support with his feet. All the truth could end badly. So many mistakes, but not one has led to terrible consequences. Oh, and the lucky one got the carriage!

Work in space is a risky business

After some time after Leonov's feat, his flight could be repeated already by American pilots who also visited the orbit and in outer space. Only Leonov was the first, and no matter how hard the Americans tried, and they had to watch from the Earth the Soviet pilot-pioneer in the development of airless space.

Work in space only seems romantic and beautiful, in fact it is a constant danger and a huge expenditure of energy. All the pilots of spacecraft in one voice say exactly this. And that's why all those who want to do so do not take to cosmonauts. Health for this work should be excellent.

And yet it requires constant concentration and concentration: you will be distracted literally for a second - and all ... Anything can happen. For example, such a force majeure, as when Leonov made an exit into outer space: the pressure increased sharply, the suit was inflated. That is why now there are very strict and clear briefings for space pilots, which give recommendations on behavior in a variety of situations.

Colleagues

The story of another cosmonaut - SK Krikalev, the continuer of Leonov's case - is also interesting. This man is an absolute world record holder in terms of the number of hours spent on Earth orbit. His seniority is eight hundred and three days.

In many interviews, he talked about the fact that one day his partner was denied a cooling system in a spacesuit. And cosmonauts always leave and work now at least together. It was necessary to him, having spent a lot of time to save his comrade, to carry out the entire task independently, also in a short time.

And once again, his partner's glass of the suit was completely fogged, he could not see anything at all. But such situations are thoroughly worked out yet on terrestrial cosmodromes, so they coped with the work of the colleague at that moment skillfully, everything ended well. But Leonov something went into orbit completely alone, without security. It is still amazing to realize how difficult this man was.

Training

Prepare for those emotions and physical sensations that a person experiences when hitting open space on the Earth is almost impossible. Leonov's first appearance in outer space was a matter of responsibility. Training was just necessary. They last for the future cosmonauts all day and are conducted on special simulators that create conditions similar to space ones. There are, for example, hydrotrains, which can create weightlessness. And there are those that completely imitate the situation of the spacecraft and the conditions of residence in it. The loads are huge. The health of the pilots is closely watched by qualified doctors, for nutrition and the regime of the day - too.

Of course, in the flight pilots do not rest for a minute. In addition to repair work, cosmonauts are constantly engaged in research activities. Therefore, an astronaut is not only a physically strong and healthy person, but also a qualified specialist in various fields of science.

It was space expeditions that made it possible to prove that life in space is possible. Bacteria survive perfectly and overboard the ship, like mosquito larvae, which were on one of the space stations placed for a long time in a vacuum. Often cosmonauts take fish, plants and insect larvae with them to flight, to see what will happen to them in space. The astronauts conduct during each flight a huge number of experiments, the results of which scientists are eagerly awaiting on Earth.

And many of the space pilots claim that the cosmos has its own smell. It's hard to feel, but it's there. He is most like a discharged air after a thunderstorm, filled with freshness. And this opinion is very many. Perhaps Leonov, too, felt it.

Earth

The pressure difference caused the legendary Soviet cosmonaut to nearly die. When Leonov went into outer space, he realized that it would be very difficult to climb back into the hatchway. And the air supply was exhausted, the solution was just necessary this very second. Leonov's exit into outer space was accompanied by many mistakes, but still ended successfully, as we already know.

Now Alexey Arhipovich can already tell the whole truth about the flight. The Earth met him not so affably. Wrong calculations, many mistakes during the flight led to an unplanned, unexpected landing site.

The most interesting thing is that at that time, probably, in order to support the prestige of the party and Soviet scientists, it was said in all mass media that the flight was successful, and the cosmonauts are resting and gaining strength for new accomplishments not far from Perm at the dacha. Leonov's dachas are still there, and, of course, they did not see any dachas there either. Not at the dacha, but in the taiga, in a forest covered with snow, in the neighborhood with many dangerous animals were both pilots. Found them only two days later, they had to go on their own nine kilometers on skis. If it were not for exhausting workouts before the flight, then it's not a fact that it would have happened. After they were transported to Perm, and then to Baikonur, so that the cosmonauts continued their training.

There are very few people who will not spare their lives and forces for the sake of the good and prestige of their state. When Leonov went into open space, this date was remembered very much. And the citizens of our country remember this heroic feat to this day.