Soviet Astronaut Training

Year Published: 1963

Complete Record: Opens with shots of sunset on the Volga River in Russia. Along this river is where several Russian astronauts spent their youth, including Valentina Tereshkova. Shows a Russian city featuring a theatre that Valentina would frequent, and the textile mill that she worked at. She was also interested in parachute jumping and was part of an air club. A biplane packed with people ready to parachute. A park-like recreation area along the Volga River, where Valentina Tereshkova liked to spend time. In Moscow she begins her road to space. Valentina sitting at a desk covered in books. Close ups of pictures of the first rockets made in Soviet Russia, from as far back as 1933. Scientists and Valentina looking at more modern space equipment. Valentina in an office full of Soviet astronaut paraphernalia, awards, models. Doctors putting her through tests such as motor skills, recognition, etc. Reading at a desk with a decorated Soviet man. Valentina in a classroom and skiing in the snow. She sits and listens to records of Tchaikovsky’s music. Valentina sitting in a square in Moscow during her free time. Training and exercising in a field, jumping on a trampoline and swinging in complete circles from gym bars (all outside). Valentina training in a pressure chamber while scientists monitor her. Being taught mathematics at a chalkboard. Valentina at the chalkboard being taught calculus. She is subjected to tests involving fast-moving light. She undergoes other motion tests in the lab with fellow astronaut Valery Bykovsky. Bykovsky is more experienced and she looks up to him. They are both seen in a heat testing chamber. Valentina and Bykovsky exiting the heating chamber and being weighed. Soviet hero Yuri Gagarin and some generals examining a globe. Gagarin, the first man in space, works on some calculations. Valentina and Bykovsky in mock space flight. They are dressed in astronaut gear, and are seen parachuting out of planes while training. Valentina and the other trainees taking a break near the water, having private time. She then goes into an isolated living chamber for days. Doctors monitor her with many instruments. She is observed doing various small tasks in order to keep herself busy. She writes a letter to her mother. Valentina spends more lonely time in the chamber. She is then seen overlooking equipment outside the chamber, getting advice from “the man she loves,” presumably her first husband Andrian Nikolayev. The astronaut trainees take a walk through a garden before heading off to cosmodrome facility. The cottage where Yuri Gagarin and his fellow astronauts slept before they took off to space is seen. The astronaut trainees are seen dining together at the cosmodrome. They fill out a logbook, Valentina tries on her helmet with ear sensors, equipment and suits are check and the pilot seat is examined. Valentina’s hair is done for appearances. Bykovsky is seen with a doctor examining samples of yeast and other biological specimens that he will take with him into space for research. Medical, food and other supplies for each astronaut are also seen. Drinking water for the astronauts. The night before the launch, the trainees are seen relaxing and receiving final instructions. They play chess, prepare for tomorrow’s promise. While the astronauts sleep, scientists monitor them to make sure all is well. An animation of the Earth and surrounding space is seen, talking of the dangers of space and the revolution around the planet. Close up of the surface of the sun. Animation of the sun and the risk of radiation around Earth. A special observatory is seen, which contains large telescopes that monitor the condition of the sun and space in anticipation of launches. The specifics and features of these great telescopes are seen. They observe energy particles and solar flares. Astrophysicists examine charts. Animation of sun and radiation around Earth’s orbit. Animation of Earth’s orbit warning of the danger of space shuttle collision with meteorites. Scientists gauge level of meteor hazard before launch. Careful measurement of space danger before launch. Day of launch: June 14th 1963 - Bykovsky is seen being strapped into his space suit and made ready. He emerges from the cottage and gets on a bus which will take him to the launch site. The bus takes Bykovsky and other launch team to the shuttle site. Many uniformed men and women clap and watch as he exits the transport. He climbs the stairs and claps and waves before boarding the lift that takes him to the ship. Mathematicians and scientists are seen among impressive equipment, carefully monitoring launch preparation. Scientists and Bykovsky anxiously await launch as the clock counts down. Launch occurs but is not seen. Scientists monitor the trajectory of the ship. Data about orbit is studying by mathematicians. Computers calculate everything. The whole world listens of the launch on radios, showing various groups of excited people across Russia. Bykovsky is seen on the scientists’ monitors. Crowds observe the astronaut and the launch with delight. People in Asia are seen reading newspapers with Bykovsky’s face on them. People across the world read similar newspapers. Bykovsky is seen taking photographs of space, says he feels fine. Valentina is now seen coming out of the cottage in her space suit and boarding the same bus, being taken to her launch. Valentina on her journey to the ship. She proudly walks to the lift as she is photographed, and she salutes the crowd and waves goodbye. She boards the ship, while scientists monitor her countdown as well. The hatch closes, she prepares her instruments in the moments before lift off. The countdown continues and Valentina takes off. The launch is seen as the rocket blasts into the atmosphere, while people watch with binoculars. On June 16th, 1963 at 12:30 PM Moscow time, Valentina becomes the first woman to go into space. More scientists monitoring the entire launch. More women are seen working at scientific instruments. Valentina is seen smiling on the monitors. There are large crowds cheering and holding many newspapers with her face on them. Many people buy and read newspapers about the launch. A helicopter pilot lands and tells a bunch of people about it, who hug and cheer. Many newborn babies are named after Valentina and Bykovsky. People watch the footage and hear the radio broadcasts of the astronauts. “Valentina has captivated man and woman alike.” French and Japanese people marvel and print newspapers. Soviet scientists explain that everything is fine with the astronauts. More footage of Valentina and Bykovsky in their respective ships. Russian music plays over montage of space and landscape images, gives impression of Soviet pride. A large dish is seen, scientists monitor the reentry of the ships into the atmosphere. Close ups of people in crowds looking up at the sky in wonder, hoping that the astronauts will land okay. More scientists and equipment and radio towers. The reentry into the atmosphere is described by the narrator, and scientists clap as Valentina makes a successful landing. She is seen sitting in the grass among her landing gear, she smiles and drinks water as a large crowd watches her. She inquires about Bykovsky, who also lands safely and is greeted by fellow Soviet officers. Valentina was in space 71 hours and made 48 laps around Earth, which is about 2 million kilometers. Bykovsky was in space 119 hours and made 81 laps, which is 3 million and 300,000 kilometers. Valentina and Bykovsky, dressed for the special occasion, meet on an airstrip and embrace each other enthusiastically. There are flowers and a large crowd cheering them both on. The two walk together proudly. They rest on the Volga River, Valentina saws a log among a group and everyone acts merrily. They take a plane to Moscow on June 26th. Bykovsky gazes out the plane window. They land to a hero’s welcome.