10 Unusual Secrets About the Russian Space Program

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The Russian space program, often shrouded in secrecy during its early years, has contributed immensely to human exploration beyond Earth. While widely known for sending the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space, it harbors a trove of lesser-known stories, strange protocols, and curious technology. These unusual aspects reveal the lengths to which Soviet scientists and engineers went, along with enduring traditions and innovations born from necessity, national pride, and scientific ambition.

The First Woman in Space Was Not Widely Known in the West

Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to journey into space aboard Vostok 6 in 1963, a feat predating the first American woman astronaut by two decades. Though her mission was celebrated within the Soviet Union, public and international attention to her accomplishment was limited in the West due to Cold War hostilities and the secretive nature of Soviet propaganda. Tereshkova had been a textile factory worker and amateur skydiver before being selected from over 400 applicants. Her mission lasted nearly three days, orbiting the Earth 48 times. Despite the remarkable nature of her achievement, she was not sent on further spaceflights, a decision rooted partly in internal politics and gender biases within the cosmonaut program.

The Soyuz Design Dates Back to the 1960s

One of the most enduring spacecraft in spaceflight history, the Soyuz capsule is still in use today, decades after its inception. Originally developed in the early 1960s by Sergei Korolev’s design bureau, the basic structure and configuration of the modern Soyuz bear a close resemblance to those of its early counterparts. Over the years, various upgrades in navigation, safety, and life-support systems have been implemented, but the fundamental design has remained stable. This reflects a strong engineering principle: reliability through thorough testing and incremental improvement rather than complete redesigns.

Cosmonaut Training Includes Military-Level Survival Skills

Unlike most other space programs, Russian cosmonauts are required to complete an intensive survival training regimen rooted in military standards. This includes scenarios such as surviving in sub-zero Siberian forests or being stranded in the desert. These rigorous tests prepare crews for potential off-course landings of their return capsule. Since the Soyuz capsule can land within thousands of kilometers from its planned site, cosmonauts must be ready to survive until recovery teams arrive. Training modules encompass winter survival, firearm handling for protection against wild animals, and even escape and evasion exercises in case of landing in hostile territory.

The Soviets Built a Reusable Space Shuttle – Then Abandoned It

The Buran spacecraft, derived from the Russian word for “blizzard,” was the Soviet response to NASA’s Space Shuttle. First launched in 1988, the Buran orbiter completed one fully automated, unmanned mission before the program was shelved. It was considered more advanced than its NASA counterpart in several ways, especially its autonomous flight capabilities. Financial constraints, political turmoil, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to its cancellation. The orbiter that flew is now destroyed, having been crushed under a roof collapse at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in 2002. Nonetheless, the Buran remains one of the most sophisticated aerospace engineering feats never to be properly utilized.

Russian Launch Sites Are Located Far From Major Cities

Unlike the United States, which launches many missions from facilities on either coast, the Soviet Union built its launch facilities in remote inland regions. The Baikonur Cosmodrome, lying in the steppe of Kazakhstan, was originally chosen for its isolation and proximity to the equator compared to other parts of the USSR. Designed to limit the chance that falling debris or launch failures would impact populated areas, this remote location made logistical support difficult and increased reliance on rail systems for transporting large rockets and components. Even today, Russian rockets are rolled to the pad horizontally and raised upright – a tradition continuing from Soviet engineering practices.

Cosmonauts Bring Icons and Superstitions into Space

Russian cosmonauts often bring religious relics, family photographs, or beloved cultural icons to space. One of the enduring traditions involves carrying a small icon of St. Nicholas or a miniature flag of the Russian Federation on missions. Before launch, crews visit Yuri Gagarin’s grave, watch the same pre-flight movie he did – “White Sun of the Desert” – and sign their hotel room door at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Even urinating on the rear tire of the transport bus – a ritual started by Gagarin – is still practiced by male cosmonauts. These rituals reflect a blend of old Soviet traditions, personal beliefs, and the psychological importance of ritual in high-stress operations.

Dogs Were Sent into Space Before Humans

Before Yuri Gagarin’s landmark flight, the Soviet space effort tested their rockets using stray dogs retrieved from Moscow streets, believing they would be better suited to extreme conditions. These early canine cosmonauts paved the way for human spaceflight testing physiology, life-support systems, and the limits of acceleration and weightlessness. Laika, the most famous of these dogs, became the first living creature to orbit the Earth aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957. Unlike later animal missions, Laika’s journey was one-way: she died hours after launch due to overheating. Later missions made strides in safely recovering the animals, and the data collected directly informed human spaceflight safety protocols.

The Secretive N1 Rocket Program Ended in Disastrous Silence

The Soviet equivalent to NASA’s Saturn V, the N1 rocket was designed to carry cosmonauts to the Moon. Between 1969 and 1972, the N1 rocket was launched four times – each attempt ended in failure. The most catastrophic explosion, during launch number two, leveled the launchpad in what remains one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The entire program was kept classified for decades, and very few outside the USSR knew of its existence. Engineers faced numerous challenges, including the complexity of managing thirty engines in its first stage, which often failed due to vibration and fuel instability. Instead of course-correcting, Soviet leadership chose to shut it down and diverted focus elsewhere in space exploration.

Spacecraft Materials Included Everyday Objects

In a few missions, engineers utilized materials with simple origins for solutions in spacecraft design. For example, cosmonaut Alexei Leonov’s 1965 spacewalk faced an unexpected hurdle – his spacesuit ballooned in the vacuum of space, making it difficult for him to re-enter the Voskhod 2 airlock. To resolve this, he released suit pressure manually, risking decompression sickness. Other spacecraft incorporated components such as repurposed wristwatches, kitchen timers, and even optical lenses from off-the-shelf cameras. These improvisations reflected both ingenuity and necessity in dealing with tight budgets and limited materials during certain periods of the USSR’s development.

Russia’s Space Toilets Are Surprisingly High-Tech

Unlike early missions where waste management was rudimentary at best, modern Russian spacecraft use advanced toilet systems aboard the International Space Station. The Russian ISS segment houses a device equipped with foot restraints and leg supports to prevent astronauts from floating away. Employing air suction rather than water, the waste is stored securely until it can be disposed of, typically through incineration during atmospheric reentry. Some stories exist about astronauts receiving grueling briefings on zero-gravity toilet operation, underscoring how health and hygiene concerns in space become subjects of innovative design. Russian engineers also contributed to the development of a female-specific urinal solution, focusing on comfort and functional utility in microgravity.

Last update on 2025-12-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API