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Today in History: Alexei Leonov makes history as first spacewalker

3/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On March 18, 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov made history by becoming the first person to conduct a spacewalk during the Voskhod 2 mission. He exited the spacecraft for 12 minutes and 9 seconds, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. This achievement showcased human capability in the harsh environment of outer space.

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Story summary

On March 18, 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov made history by becoming the first person to conduct a spacewalk during the Voskhod 2 mission. He exited the spacecraft for 12 minutes and 9 seconds, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. This achievement showcased human capability in the harsh environment of outer space.