On March 18, 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first human to step out of a spacecraft and float freely in space. His pioneering spacewalk, or EVA (Extravehicular Activity), marked a historic moment in the space race and pushed the boundaries of human exploration beyond Earth. However, Leonov’s bold step into the void was not without its challenges. This monumental achievement came with dangers and near-disasters that could have ended the mission in tragedy.

The prelude to the spacewalk

The early 1960s saw the height of the Cold War, with the United States and the Soviet Union vying for supremacy in space. Following the Soviet Union’s success in sending the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space in 1961, the next major milestone was to have a human venture outside a spacecraft.

The mission was part of the Voskhod 2 program, and Leonov, along with fellow cosmonaut Pavel Belyayev, was selected for this groundbreaking mission. The primary goal was to test the feasibility of human survival in open space and to demonstrate the Soviet Union’s technological prowess to the world.

The spacewalk begins

Leonov’s spacewalk began smoothly. After Voskhod 2 reached orbit, Leonov carefully exited the spacecraft, tethered to it by a 5-meter (16-foot) cable. He floated freely in space for 12 minutes, gazing at the Earth below and the vastness of space around him. His suit was equipped with a camera to capture the incredible views, and his voice was transmitted back to mission control, sharing his awe and excitement.

Leonov later described the sensation as surreal. He felt a mixture of wonder and isolation, floating alone in the emptiness of space, with only a thin tether connecting him to the safety of the spacecraft. “The Earth was small, the horizon was round, and I was surrounded by the stars,” Leonov said, capturing the profound moment of his journey.

A critical problem: the space suit swelling

As incredible as the spacewalk was, it quickly became apparent that Leonov’s suit was expanding. The vacuum of space caused the pressure in his suit to increase, making it difficult for him to move or bend his limbs. His gloves and boots swelled, and the suit stiffened to the point where he could no longer fit back through the airlock of the Voskhod 2 spacecraft.

The danger intensifies

Unable to re-enter the airlock, Leonov’s situation grew dire. He made a risky decision—against protocol—to manually release some of the oxygen in his suit, bringing the pressure down just enough to allow him to squeeze back into the spacecraft. This move was incredibly dangerous; reducing the oxygen could have led to decompression sickness, but Leonov remained calm under pressure and managed to maneuver back inside.

The aftermath: a safe return

Once Leonov re-entered the spacecraft, the mission faced another complication: a malfunction in the automated re-entry system. Belyayev had to manually guide the spacecraft back to Earth, resulting in a landing 386 kilometers off course, deep in the Siberian forest.

For two days, Leonov and Belyayev awaited rescue in freezing temperatures, fighting off wolves and bears while mission control scrambled to locate them. Eventually, they were found and safely returned home, hailed as heroes.

The legacy of the first spacewalk

Leonov’s spacewalk was a pivotal moment in the history of space exploration. It paved the way for future extravehicular activities, including the spacewalks necessary to assemble and maintain the International Space Station (ISS) and to explore the Moon during NASA’s Apollo missions.

His courage and calm in the face of danger demonstrated not only the incredible risks astronauts face but also the resilience and adaptability needed to survive in space. Today, Alexei Leonov is remembered as a trailblazer, one who took humanity’s first bold step into the vast unknown, showing the world that it is possible to work and live in space.

The first spacewalk, undertaken by Alexei Leonov, was a monumental achievement in the annals of space exploration. It demonstrated humanity’s ability to step beyond the confines of our planet and adapt to the harsh environment of space. Despite the life-threatening challenges Leonov faced, his successful return marked a turning point in space travel, proving that humans could venture outside their spacecraft—a skill that remains crucial in space missions today.