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.
