Alexei Leonov Autograph

Profession:
(1934-2019) Soviet/Russian cosmonaut, Air Force Major general, writer and artist.

Year of Birth: 1934

Alexei Leonov was a Soviet astronaut and cosmonaut who became the first man to complete a spacewalk. Born on May 30, 1934, in Listvyanka, Siberia, Leonov developed a passion for aviation from a young age. He enrolled in a military aviation school and eventually became a fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Force.

In 1961, Leonov was selected as one of the first 20 Soviet cosmonauts. He underwent rigorous training and preparation for space missions. On March 18, 1965, he made history by stepping out of the Voskhod 2 spacecraft and floating in the vacuum of space for about 12 minutes and 9 seconds. This achievement made Leonov a national hero in the Soviet Union.

Following his spacewalk, Leonov continued to make significant contributions to the Soviet space program. He was scheduled to command the Soviet mission to the Moon, but the mission was eventually canceled due to technical difficulties. Leonov also served as the commander of Soyuz 19, which was part of the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975, where Soviet and American spacecraft docked in space for the first time.

During his career, Leonov received numerous honors and awards for his achievements in space exploration. He was twice awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and received the Order of Lenin, among other decorations. In addition to his space achievements, Leonov was also a skilled artist and painted scenes from space and aviation.

After retiring from the Soviet space program in 1992, Leonov remained active in the promotion of space exploration and education. He wrote several books, including his memoir "Two Sides of the Moon," which he co-authored with American astronaut David Scott. Alexei Leonov passed away on October 11, 2019, but his legacy as one of the pioneers of human space exploration will continue to inspire future generations.