The Saint Louis Science Center strives to connect you with the most current and credible scientific information available. Below are areas of newsworthy scientific frontiers that we are following closely.
The famous Sochi photo showing most of the first group of Soviet cosmonauts (seated, l to r):Popovich, Gorbatko, Khrunov, Chief Designer Sergei P. Korolev, Gagarin, Cosmonaut Training Center Director Yevgeni A. Karpov, parachute instructor Nikolai K. Nikitin and physician Yevgeni A. Fyodorov. Middle row (standing, l to r): Leonov, Nikolayev, Rafikov, Zaikin, Volynov, Titov, Nelyubov, Bykovsky and Shonin. Back row (standing, l to r): Filatyev, Anikeyev and Belyayev. Image: I. Snegirev.
On this date in 1960, the Soviet Air Force Cosmonaut Training Group 1 was officially selected. There were 3,000 applicants, but only 20 were selected. Of these, only 12 would eventually fly in space. Find a comprehensive article comparing the US’ Mercury 7 with the Soviet Cosmonaut Group 1at NASA’s page here.
