The fate of the first Soviet cosmonauts from the “Gagarin six”

The first Soviet cosmonauts – the famous six best, which after a while the people will be called “Gagarin”. These candidates passed many interviews, studies, and exams. After all, for space flights, it was necessary to find a person with almost perfect physical and mental parameters.

Initially, more than a thousand people were selected, but gradually the candidates were screened out. Someone did not fit in one or another parameters, and someone refused himself. And this is understandable, because the subjects did not fully know what awaits them in the future. The space program was kept secret.

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As a result, of the numerous candidates, 20 people remained in the leadership’s priority. But then a special commission recommended a special order of astronauts who were soon to go into space: Yuri Gagarin, German Titov, Grigory Nelyubov, Andriyan Nikolaev, Valery Bykovsky, Pavel Popovich.

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The fate of each of the “Gagarin six” was different. Someone lived a long life, and someone left it unacceptably early. These cosmonauts realized their dream - they saw the Earth from the window of the spacecraft. However, one of them could not see this incredible beauty with his own eyes.

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Cosmonaut Grigory Nelyubov was the second understudy of Yuri Gagarin, during the first human flight into space on April 12, 1961. But it may seem that fate gave Nelyubov some signs. For example, in the twenty best astronaut was number 13. Moreover, Gagarin's first understudy - German Titov - went to the launch pad in a suit, like Gagarin. Nelyubov traveled only in military uniform.

There is an opinion that the name of Grigory Nelyubov did not like the then head of state Nikita Khrushchev. He said, “That would have been love.” That's another matter. But the exclusion of the candidate from the first cosmonaut squad was facilitated by an unfortunate accident. Grigory Nelyubov and two other astronaut candidates met in their spare time. These two after drinking beer decided to fight on their hands at the table of the buffet, where soon arrived Nelyubov. Broke the salt shaker, the bartender made a noise, a military patrol passed nearby.

For the entire group of astronauts decided to arrange a demonstration scene and exclude all three. To make the rest of us feel bad. The culprits of the situation - candidates Anikeev and Filatiev - did not receive special attention as future cosmonauts. For Grigory Nelyubov, many stood up, among them Yuri Gagarin himself. They asked him to apologize, but he never did. He said goodbye to his dream forever.

Exception to cosmonaut It was an incredible blow for Gregory. He sought solace at the bottom of a glass of strong drink. Moreover, Nelyubov had a beautiful wife, a good house, a decent job. But nothing could comfort him. In space, Grigory Nelyubov never managed to visit, but soon this promising young man still went to heaven because of an accident. And he stayed there forever.

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The wedding of cosmonauts Andriyan Nikolaev and Valentina Tereshkova in 1963 was a real surprise for the public. The solemn event immediately overgrown with myths and various conjectures. Someone suggested that the wedding is a special project of scientists to understand what kind of offspring can give people who have been in space. Others speculated that Nikita Khrushchev himself could become the “customer” of the celebration, due to political motives.

After 18 years, the only family of two astronauts of the first detachment, unfortunately, broke up. Official reasons were not disclosed, but such an event was not without attention to evil tongues. It was assumed that Nikolaev had a bad character, and Tereshkova did meet with another man before the divorce. But these are just rumors. As you know, someone else’s soul is dark. Valentina Tereshkova and Andriyan Nikolaev made their choice and Everyone should respect their right to privacy.

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The first, who became the second cosmonaut of the planet - German Titov, undoubtedly wanted to become the first. But senior management decided otherwise. In his diaries, General Nikolai Kamanin, who supervised the selection and training of the first cosmonauts, mentioned: “Titov’s concentration, perseverance and endurance can only be envied. He is undoubtedly the best of the best.” But Sergey Korolev decided that Titov’s abilities would be ideal for studying the conditions of a longer flight into space.

In the cosmonaut detachment, German Titov was the youngest. The guy was only 25 years old. He dreamed of becoming the oldest man in space, but he never achieved his dream. In order to break this record, you had to live to 78 years. The heart of the great cosmonaut went to eternal rest after the 65th anniversary.

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As lived the first Soviet cosmonauts Valery Bykovsky and Pavel Popovich lived a long life. They kept flying, writing books, raising children. They are lucky to maintain a balance between their work and family. Of course, they were not the first, and not everyone will be able to remember their feat. But these astronauts deserve no less respect than world-famous heroes.

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You may not know what the essence of the research that these astronauts conducted during the flight. But we must pay tribute to their work. And remember. Remember how these young guys were willing to lay themselves on the altar of the space race. How they wanted to be first. We wanted to become the one who will forever open the way for humanity to the vast outer space. Their role in history cannot be overstated. Let's be grateful.

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