Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Summary

These shoes are part of Aleksei Leonov's general's uniform that he wore while in service to the Soviet cosmonaut corps. Leonov became famous in March 1965, when he opened the hatch to his Voskhod 2 spacecraft while it was orbiting the Earth, climbed out, and performed the world's first walk in space.

After his 1965 flight, Leonov became an ambassador for spaceflight and traveled throughout the world to tell his story about his historic mission. Unlike the American astronauts, the Soviet cosmonauts retained their military rank and status while they served in the cosmonaut corps. Even the lone woman in the corps, Valentina Tereshkova, obtained a military rank during the course of her service. Among the early cosmonauts of the 1960s, only one, Konstantin Feoktistov, did not receive a military commission. For those reasons, Leonov's military uniform is a symbol of the close relationship that the Soviet space program had with the Ministry of Defense.

Aleksei Leonov donated this uniform to the National Air and Space Museum in 1993.

 Long Description

These shoes are part of Aleksei Leonov's General's uniform that he wore while in service to the U.S.S. R. cosmonaut corps. Leonov became famous in March 1965, when he opened the hatch to his Voskhod 2 spacecraft while it was orbiting the Earth and climbed out, to perform the world's first walk in space.

After his 1965 flight, Leonov became an ambassador for spaceflight and traveled throughout the world to tell his story about his historic mission. Unlike the American astronauts, the Soviet cosmonauts retained their military rank and status while they served in the cosmonaut corp. Even the lone woman in the corps, Valentina Tereshkova, obtained a military rank during the course of her service. Among the early cosmonaut of the 1960s, only one, Konstantin Feoktistov did not receive a military commission. For those reasons, Leonov's military uniform is s symbol of the close relationship that the Soviet space program had with the ministry.

Aleksei Leonov donated this uniform the National Air and Space Museum.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Type PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Uniforms: Military Astronaut Aleksei Arkhipovich Leonov
 Manufacturer Unknown
 Dimensions Clothing: 29.2 x 10.8 x 8.9cm (11 1/2 in. x 4 1/4 in. x 3 1/2 in.)
 Materials Leather, synthetic fabric, adhesive, steel
 Inventory Number A19940081000 Credit Line Gift of Aleksei Leonov Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.