The First Ten In Space Part II
each of its mission's insured that the next mission would only be more successful. Take into account also that while Mercury was sending astronauts into space, the Gemini program was being developed at the same time.
By the time the Gemini program had successfully completed 6 missions in 1966 it appears that the Space Race was already won. Astronauts were performing advanced docking maneuvers, and managing around space emergencies (Gemini 8). Gemini also followed a strict rule of German rocket design philosophy: success through incremental steps that slowly increase in sophistication and danger.
The Soviet Union went on to the Voshkod program after Vostok. The Western press quickly labeled Voshkod similar to the Gemini capsule in capability but it was not even close. Voshkod was essentially a redesign of the Vostok meant to give the appearance that it was better than its American counterpart. Sadly, this meant that many safety precautions were eliminated from the Voshkod such as, pressure suits and ejection seats. Voshkod was canceled after two missions because it was considered too dangerous for cosmonauts.
Another side note to this time in history is that on July 15, 1963 a woman by the name of Valentina Tereshkova became the 12th person to enter space. In the scope of human history, the introduction of a female into such an exclusive labor such as manned spaceflight is unprecedented. While rumors of odd behavior appear to cloud Tereshkova's flight, the Soviets, never the less, succeeded in creating another first in space flight. As if it were a story written for Pravda, cosmonauts Nikolayev and Tereshkova married in 1963. They created the first baby, Elena, to have parents who were both space travelers in 1964.
The first ten people into space took enormous risks to their lives so that they might pave the way for future explorers. On one side of the world Cosmonauts were forced to live in virtual secrecy and run the risk of being erased from existence if their mission failed. In the West, astronauts suffered the highest divorce rate of any profession and were, despite their near celebrity status, not eligible for life insurance. Like Lewis and Clark, the first space explorers took tremendous risks. A few died, most succeeded, but all of them have a place in history.
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