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Alexei Leonov, first human to walk in space, dies aged 85 | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Alexei Leonov, the legendary Soviet cosmonaut who became the first human to walk in space 54 years ago, has died in Moscow at 85. | Alexei Leonov, the legendary Soviet cosmonaut who became the first human to walk in space 54 years ago, has died in Moscow at 85. |
The Russian space agency Roscosmos announced the news on its website on Friday, but gave no cause of death. Leonov had health issues for several years, according to Russia media. | The Russian space agency Roscosmos announced the news on its website on Friday, but gave no cause of death. Leonov had health issues for several years, according to Russia media. |
Showing just how much of a space pioneer Leonov was, Nasa interrupted its live televised coverage of a spacewalk by two Americans outside the International Space Station to report Leonov’s death. | Showing just how much of a space pioneer Leonov was, Nasa interrupted its live televised coverage of a spacewalk by two Americans outside the International Space Station to report Leonov’s death. |
“A tribute to Leonov as today is a spacewalk,” Mission Control in Houston said. | “A tribute to Leonov as today is a spacewalk,” Mission Control in Houston said. |
Nasa astronauts to carry out first all-female spacewalk | Nasa astronauts to carry out first all-female spacewalk |
Leonov was an icon both in his country as well as in the US, so much so that the late science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke named a Soviet spaceship after him in his 2010 sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey. | Leonov was an icon both in his country as well as in the US, so much so that the late science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke named a Soviet spaceship after him in his 2010 sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey. |
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin,sent his condolences to Leonov’s family, calling him a “true pioneer, a strong and heroic person”. | The Russian president, Vladimir Putin,sent his condolences to Leonov’s family, calling him a “true pioneer, a strong and heroic person”. |
Leonov staked his place in space history on 18 March 1965, when he exited his Voskhod 2 space capsule secured by a tether. | Leonov staked his place in space history on 18 March 1965, when he exited his Voskhod 2 space capsule secured by a tether. |
“I stepped into that void and I didn’t fall in,” the cosmonaut recalled years later. “I was mesmerised by the stars. They were everywhere – up above, down below, to the left, to the right. I can still hear my breath and my heartbeat in that silence.” | “I stepped into that void and I didn’t fall in,” the cosmonaut recalled years later. “I was mesmerised by the stars. They were everywhere – up above, down below, to the left, to the right. I can still hear my breath and my heartbeat in that silence.” |
Spacewalking always carries a high risk but Leonov’s pioneering venture was particularly nerve-racking, according to details of the exploit which only became public decades later. | Spacewalking always carries a high risk but Leonov’s pioneering venture was particularly nerve-racking, according to details of the exploit which only became public decades later. |
His spacesuit had inflated so much in the vacuum of space that he could not get back into the spacecraft. He had to open a valve to vent oxygen from his suit to be able to fit through the hatch. | His spacesuit had inflated so much in the vacuum of space that he could not get back into the spacecraft. He had to open a valve to vent oxygen from his suit to be able to fit through the hatch. |
Leonov’s 12-minute spacewalk preceded the first US spacewalk, by Ed White, by less than three months. | Leonov’s 12-minute spacewalk preceded the first US spacewalk, by Ed White, by less than three months. |
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