Anniversary of The First Spacewalk: 60 Years of Strolling in Space
On March 18, 1965, the world saw the first person to venture outside a spacecraft, floating in the vastness of space. This is the story of how two cosmonauts almost died several times while performing this historical move.
Contents
- First spacewalk by Alexei Leonov
- 60 years of spacewalking in curious questions
- First space walk: to sum up
First spacewalk by Alexei Leonov
On March 18, 1965, at 10 a.m. Moscow time, the Soviet spacecraft Voskhod-2 with a crew consisting of Pavel Belyaev and Alexei Leonov launched from the base in Baikonur (modern-day Kazakhstan). At 11:35 a.m., Alexei Leonov left the airlock of the ship and became the first man to perform a spacewalk. He spent 12 minutes and 9 seconds in outer space. This spacewalk marked the beginning of the history of extravehicular activity (EVA), which is now an important part of the work of astronauts.
What was the purpose of the mission?
With the first human spaceflights already achieved, the next challenge was to perform a spacewalk. The mission had both scientific and political significance. Scientists were eager to study how the human body would react to outer space, while Soviet leaders sought to maintain their lead in the space race against the United States.
What were the preparations for the first spacewalk?
The three-seat Voskhod spacecraft was converted into a two-seater, freeing up space for putting on a spacesuit. Also, the Soviet engineers developed a special spacesuit designed for extravehicular activity and an inflatable airlock that could be deployed in space. This was a breakthrough solution because the next generation of inflatable space modules was tested only 50 years later.
The cosmonauts’ training took place in an airplane simulating weightlessness, using a life-size Voskhod-2 model. But no training could fully prepare them for the real thing.
How did the first spacewalk go?
Immediately after entering orbit, the airlock was inflated. Both cosmonauts were in spacesuits: Belyaev was ready to enter the airlock and help Leonov in case of emergency. When Leonov stepped out, he became the first human to experience the direct vastness of space.
Alexei Leonov conducted experiments and observations in outer space. Leonov moved away from the airlock and back five times, with the help of a 5.35-meter-long tether. Pavel Belyaev monitored Leonov's work in space using a TV camera and telemetry. The process was recorded by the onboard television system and observed from Earth. Leonov also had a built-in camera in a spacesuit, but unfortunately, it malfunctioned.
Capturing moments in space has always been a challenge. But technology has come a long way since then. Take a look at how our view of the planets has evolved – from the first-ever photos to the latest stunning images!
What went wrong during the first spacewalk?
Leonov’s spacewalk quickly turned into a survival challenge. Due to a pressure imbalance, his spacesuit swelled up and became stiff like a ball, making it nearly impossible for him to bend and re-enter the airlock. With oxygen running low, he took a risky move: venting air from his suit until it was flexible enough to squeeze inside. He had to enter headfirst instead of feet first, against protocol, and struggled to turn around in the cramped airlock to seal it properly.
The challenges didn’t stop there. Soon after, oxygen levels inside the spacecraft began rising dangerously. A single spark could have caused an explosion. After seven tense hours, the issue was resolved when an emergency valve activated, stabilizing the atmosphere.
Adding to the chaos, the orientation system failed, causing Voskhod-2 to spin wildly. The crew managed to stabilize it manually. Then, during re-entry, the automatic landing system failed, forcing Belyaev to perform the first-ever manual landing in spaceflight history.
Initially, the landing was planned for Kostanay (a city in Kazakhstan), where recovery teams were waiting. Due to the series of malfunctions, the cosmonauts had to calculate a new landing point – about 1,000 kilometers away. But as the capsule descended, an unexpected spin caused it to touch down 80 kilometers off their new target, landing them deep in the frigid Siberian taiga. There, they endured two days before being rescued.
In total, seven major malfunctions occurred during the mission – three or four of which, according to Leonov, could have been fatal.
By the way, the first spacewalk was so intense, it deserved a film adaptation! Even knowing it's based on real events, it’s hard to believe such blockbuster-worthy moments actually happened. In space, reality often feels like fiction, and fiction can seem real. Think you can tell the difference? Take our quiz and find out!
60 years of spacewalking in curious questions
Over the past six decades, spacewalks have evolved from daring experiments to routine operations essential for space exploration. Here are some of the most popular questions about spacewalking and its history.
Why do astronauts go on spacewalks?
Astronauts perform spacewalks to conduct experiments, test new equipment, and repair satellites or spacecraft while in orbit, reducing the need to bring them back to Earth for maintenance.
Who was the first American to walk in space?
On June 3, 1965, NASA astronaut Edward White became the first American to perform a spacewalk, floating in space for roughly 20 minutes.
Who was the first woman to walk in space?
On August 19, 1982, the Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya performed the first woman's spacewalk and conducted a unique experiment to create an insulin product within weightlessness.
Is it possible to spacewalk without a tether?
Yes, it has been done. On February 7, 1984, U.S. astronaut Bruce McCandless performed the first untethered spacewalk using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), a nitrogen-powered jetpack. He reached a maximum distance of over 97.5 meters from the spacecraft.
Has anyone ever floated away in space?
No astronaut has ever been lost in space. Tethers and jet-powered maneuvering units keep spacewalkers safely connected. However, if an astronaut were to become untethered and the safety measures failed, they would either continue orbiting indefinitely or eventually burn up upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
Who lost a glove on a spacewalk?
It was Edward White, the first American spacewalker. His right glove floated out of the opened capsule door and into space. This moment was even captured on video at the 5:43 time mark of his spacewalk footage. But that’s not the only thing astronauts have lost in space – one even lost a wedding ring! Find out what happened in our list of surprising space facts.
Space is a frontier of firsts – first astronauts, first spacecraft, first discoveries that changed how we see the universe. From the first human to step into outer space to the first planet found using math, these milestones shaped history. How much do you know about space pioneers and groundbreaking achievements? Take our quiz and find out!
First space walk: to sum up
Leonov’s pioneering spacewalk paved the way for countless extravehicular activities, from repairing satellites to assembling the International Space Station. Sixty years later, space agencies worldwide continue to refine spacesuit technology and EVA procedures, ensuring that astronauts can work safely in the vacuum of space. As humanity prepares for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, the lessons learned from Leonov’s journey remain as relevant as ever. From that first daring step into the void to today’s high-tech spacewalks, one thing remains certain: Leonov’s stroll in space was just the beginning.
