Space battle - this is how you can designate the rivalry between the two superpowers - the USSR and the USA - in the exploration of outer space during the second half of the last century. Our country laid the foundation for this event, first by launching an artificial satellite of the Earth, and then there was a launch of a person into a completely new reality for him - into space. Later, the first spacewalk happened.
Progress in engineering science
The 20th century has become a genuine scientific and technological breakthrough for mankind. Especially the period after the Second World War gave impetus to the development of rocket science - what was previously unattainable, it became quite possible to implement. People have long looked closely and tried to study outer space, but this was done exclusively from the surface of our planet. The second half of the last century was the real dawn of cosmonautics and the era of the study of near space. The geopolitical opponents of that period, the USSR and the USA, advanced especially far in this. The United States was developing in this direction, especially when the "father" turned out to be in this countryGerman rocket technology W. von Braun. It was he who was the pioneer of the European region in this direction of engineering and design thought. However, long-term developments were carried out in the USSR. The founders of Russian rocket-building thought (Tsiolkovsky, and later Korolev), first theoretically, and then practically substantiated their conclusions.
First steps in space exploration
The end of the 50s had a truly impressive impact on the minds of contemporaries. The Soviet Union first put into orbit an Earth satellite designed by engineers. Many nations greeted this event as a huge progress in scientific and technical thought, but for America it meant, albeit a small, defeat in this competition. An even greater furor was made by the event that occurred on an April day in 1961. It was then that Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin became the ancestor of all cosmonauts, regardless of their nationality, and the first person to travel outside the Earth. Flight preparations were carried out in an atmosphere of heightened secrecy. After all, then our country risked not only the life of a particular person, but also its authority in the international arena. The stakes were very high, but the results were comparable. After that, our country became a leader in space exploration. American President John F. Kennedy, at a meeting of his government, announced an accelerated research program and the allocation of large investments in space exploration.
Competition of the Brains
Thatthe person who was the first to go into outer space would secure the title of space leader for his country or take a retaliatory step against the step of the enemy. Both countries actively took up the preparation of this event. The American NASA tried to speed up the process of building manned spacecraft, but the rush led to the opposite result. Lack of experience led to a breakdown - a malfunction was noticed during the tests, so it was possible to avoid human casu alties, but the deadlines were seriously violated. In the USSR, almost at the same time, similar calculations were carried out and the training of a person who would be the first in outer space. The slightest shortcomings could seriously affect the entire further program for the development of a new world for man. In addition, haste and party control had a rather oppressive effect on all participants in the project. And yet, our compatriot turned out to be the one who was the first to visit outer space.
Historic moment
This man was Alexei Leonov. It was he who was chosen from a galaxy of well-trained astronauts. And already at the end of 1964, careful preparation and testing of all kinds of situations that could arise during this flight began. And then the long-awaited moment came, in 1965 (March 18) the Voskhod-2 spacecraft ended up in near-Earth orbit. After a short preparation, Alexei Leonov was the first to go into outer space. The stay outside the spacecraft was very short, about twelve and a half minutes. It was a monumental step in the history of all mankind. However, even in such a short period of time, an extraordinary situation happened. The cosmonaut's suit increased in size, and Alexei Arkhipovich could not get back into the ship's airlock. But he did not panic - by relieving the internal pressure of the suit, he achieved its reduction in size and was able to enter back into the spacecraft.
The vicissitudes of flight
The one who was the first to go into outer space had great courage and endurance, these personality traits helped him in the future. Another unpleasant situation happened to Leonov - during the landing, the descent vehicle turned out to be outside the calculated landing point. But this circumstance did not embarrass the brave conqueror of space. When landing, he found himself in a remote taiga, and at that time there were severe frosts. In such conditions, the crew stayed for two days, only on the third day did the rescue team make their way to them. For his feat, A. A. Leonov was awarded the title of "Hero" of the country. The Americans admitted their defeat, but stepped up preparations for the flight and landing of a man on the moon, but this happened four years later and did not detract from the merits of Soviet engineers and cosmonauts. And Alexei Leonov is the man who was the first to travel into outer space and forever inscribed his name in the annals of history.
