alternatehistory.com
First man in space? No, a woman!
During final preparations for launch, it was known that Kuznetsova had only 50 percents chance for successful filght as 12 of 24 Soviet launches failed. When first cosmonaut waited in closed capsule, Korolev suffered from pain in a chest. Surprisingly, Kuznetsova was calm, her pulse was 64 bits per minute. Launch occurred on 12th April 1961; 06:07 from Baikonur Cosmodrome and was broadcasted in Soviet television*. Soon after that American newspapers, radio stations and television were informed about successful start of first Soviet manned spaceflight. Kuznetsova circled Earth twice as Korolev wanted to perform some tests about how human body reacts to weightlessness. Another factor in enlongation of mission duration was strictly political - Politburo perceived that even if Americans launch long-duration space mission, it will be distant in future as they struggled for manned suborbital flight. Woman spending more time in space than early American cosmonauts combined would be major propaganda success for the Soviet Union.
During the landing Kuznetsova was ejected from the capsule seven kilometers above ground and fell on the parachute. She later described her landing as the second most interesting move she'd (not an article, but still a mistake) done during her life. Just after flight in space of course. At 9:05 UT Kuznetsova landed on Earth 280 km west from theplanned landing site. Her landing was observed by farmer and her daughter. As Kuznetsova recalled: "When they saw me in orange space suit, white, big helmet and prachute I was dragging, they started to back away in fear. I've told them - Don't be afraid. I'm a Soviet citizen, who has descended from space I must find a telephone to call Moscow". She was greeted by the local inhabitants with small feast and bottle of vodka. Her slight intoxination wasn't mentioned in television. The Village was later renamed as Kuznetsovka in honor of the first cosmonaut.
*Decision about broadcast of flight was taken after long conversation in Politburo. While former Chairman of the Presidum of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Leonid Brezhnev was against this move as he wanted to spare Soviet Union from shame in case of failure, Anastas Mikoyan agreed that proletariat must know about technical victories in the Soviet Union.
"When I orbited Earth in a spaceship, I saw for the first time how beautiful our planet is. Mankind, let us preserve and increase this beauty and not destroy it." - Tatyana Kuznetsova; 17th April 1961
Whole world hold breath in lungs when Tatyana Kuznetsova, 20-years old secretary from Soviet Union flew into space and circled Earth two times on 12th April 1961. She soon became example of strong will, passion and hard-work as she - amateur parachutist from Moscow, capital city of agrarian country (as perceived by many Americans) that lost more than twenty millions people in war - became first human being to break final frontier and return safely. During next sixty years she gave hundreds, if not thousands lectures, participated in many Vostok 1 mission reconstructions, visited many countries in the world, met with every President of the United States since 1961, became leader of Soviet Union and head of Soviet feminist organizations. She gave inspiration for millions young girls to pursue their dreams despite peer pressure and chauvinistic views of many societies.
During final preparations for launch, it was known that Kuznetsova had only 50 percents chance for successful filght as 12 of 24 Soviet launches failed. When first cosmonaut waited in closed capsule, Korolev suffered from pain in a chest. Surprisingly, Kuznetsova was calm, her pulse was 64 bits per minute. Launch occurred on 12th April 1961; 06:07 from Baikonur Cosmodrome and was broadcasted in Soviet television*. Soon after that American newspapers, radio stations and television were informed about successful start of first Soviet manned spaceflight. Kuznetsova circled Earth twice as Korolev wanted to perform some tests about how human body reacts to weightlessness. Another factor in enlongation of mission duration was strictly political - Politburo perceived that even if Americans launch long-duration space mission, it will be distant in future as they struggled for manned suborbital flight. Woman spending more time in space than early American cosmonauts combined would be major propaganda success for the Soviet Union.
During the landing Kuznetsova was ejected from the capsule seven kilometers above ground and fell on the parachute. She later described her landing as the second most interesting move she'd (not an article, but still a mistake) done during her life. Just after flight in space of course. At 9:05 UT Kuznetsova landed on Earth 280 km west from theplanned landing site. Her landing was observed by farmer and her daughter. As Kuznetsova recalled: "When they saw me in orange space suit, white, big helmet and prachute I was dragging, they started to back away in fear. I've told them - Don't be afraid. I'm a Soviet citizen, who has descended from space I must find a telephone to call Moscow". She was greeted by the local inhabitants with small feast and bottle of vodka. Her slight intoxination wasn't mentioned in television. The Village was later renamed as Kuznetsovka in honor of the first cosmonaut.
*Decision about broadcast of flight was taken after long conversation in Politburo. While former Chairman of the Presidum of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Leonid Brezhnev was against this move as he wanted to spare Soviet Union from shame in case of failure, Anastas Mikoyan agreed that proletariat must know about technical victories in the Soviet Union.
- Tal Shiar
- Word Count: 550