Voskhod programme

The Soviet human spaceflight program that flew the first spacecraft carrying multiple people and the first spacewalk, in 1964–1965.

Voskhod 1: The 1964 Soviet mission that carried three cosmonauts into orbit aboard the first multi-person spacecraft. It demonstrated that Voskhod could carry a crew of three without individual spacesuits.
Alexei Leonov: A Soviet cosmonaut who performed the first spacewalk during Voskhod 2 in 1965. His excursion tested the airlock and exposed the practical hazards of working outside a spacecraft.
Sergei Korolev: The Soviet rocket engineer who led the design bureau responsible for major early Soviet spaceflight programs. His design organization adapted Vostok into Voskhod and directed its missions.
Extravehicular activity: Work performed by an astronaut or cosmonaut outside a spacecraft while wearing a spacesuit. Leonov’s Voskhod 2 excursion established the first instance of this activity.
Voskhod 3: A planned Soviet Voskhod mission intended to test an extended crewed flight but never launched. Its cancellation shows how quickly the program’s plans changed after its two completed flights.
Voskhod 2: The 1965 Soviet mission during which Alexei Leonov made the first spacewalk. Its inflatable airlock let Leonov leave the spacecraft while limiting cabin depressurization.
Pavel Belyayev: The Soviet cosmonaut who commanded Voskhod 2 and brought its malfunctioning spacecraft back to Earth. His piloting helped recover the mission after automatic systems failed.
Nikita Khrushchev: The Soviet political leader who governed during the early space race and promoted its public achievements. Political pressure for spectacular spaceflight milestones helped shape Voskhod’s priorities.
Space suit: A pressurized garment that protects a person from the vacuum and hazards of space. Leonov’s suit inflated in vacuum, revealing a practical challenge for later spacewalks.
Soviet crewed lunar programs: The Soviet efforts to send cosmonauts around or onto the Moon during the 1960s and early 1970s. Resources and attention shifted toward lunar competition as Voskhod ended.

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