History Today: When Alexei Leonov became the first man to walk in space

On March 18, 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov made history as the first person to walk in space. As pilot of the Voskhod 2 mission, he floated outside the spacecraft for 10 thrilling minutes.

Do you enjoy learning about key moments from history? If so, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, **History Today** , explores major historical events that have influenced the world.

On this day in 1937, a natural gas explosion at a school in Texas killed nearly 300 people in what is considered the deadliest school disaster in American history. Also, on this day in 1990, two thieves pulled off the largest art heist ever, stealing 13 masterpieces worth over $500 million from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

Let’s take a look at these events in detail:

First spacewalk is performed

On 18 March 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first human to step outside a spacecraft and float freely in orbit, tethered only to his capsule.

His historic spacewalk lasted 10 minutes. However, the mission was not without challenges.

Leonov’s spacesuit expanded in the vacuum of space, making it nearly impossible for him to re-enter the spacecraft. Then, he manually released air from his suit, risking his life to squeeze back inside.

More from Explainers

Sunita Williams’ return to Earth delayed again: How long can astronauts live in space? US says strikes on Houthis in Yemen will continue 'indefinitely' as Iran pledges to respond 'destructively'

This achievement put the Soviet Union ahead in the space race, leaving the United States scrambling to catch up. However, less than three months later, American astronaut Ed White completed the first spacewalk for Nasa during the Gemini 4 mission.

Leonov was part of the first group of Soviet cosmonauts, selected in 1960 alongside Yuri Gagarin, the first human to travel into space.

Born on 30 May 1934 in the Siberian town of Listvyanka, he was one of nine siblings and showed an early talent for mechanics - once building a bicycle from spare parts.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

Ghaziabad woman dead, pilgrims attacked in bus… How Nepal’s Gen-Z protests turned into a living hell for Indian tourists

Were bodyguards involved in Charlie Kirk’s shooting? The many conspiracies surrounding the killing

His second spaceflight came in 1975 when he was part of the docking of the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft with the American Apollo, a symbol of Cold War-era cooperation in space.

300 killed in gas explosion at Texas school

On this day in 1937, just minutes before the end of the school day, a massive explosion destroyed most of the New London Consolidated School in Rusk County, Texas.

More than 500 students and teachers were inside when the blast took place.

On March 18, 1937, a natural gas leak caused an explosion and destroyed the London School in New London, Texas. Initially, the number of deaths was reported as 425, but was later determined to be closer to 300.#texas #texashistory #archives #newlondon #news pic.twitter.com/yPBuXXPSYw

— TAMI (@texasarchive) March 18, 2024

The incident, which is considered the worst school disaster in American history, killed nearly 300 people, most of them children.

People nearby rushed to the scene, pulling survivors from the rubble. Hundreds of injured students were rescued, while some miraculously walked away unharmed.

The school, built in the 1930s at a cost of nearly $1 million, had been using natural gas from Union Gas for its energy needs. According to History.com, the school’s monthly gas bill was around $300.

Despite quick rescue efforts, 298 people died, mostly students from grades five to eleven, while dozens more later succumbed to their injuries.

The exact cause of the explosion was never confirmed, though experts now believe a static electricity spark may have ignited the leaking gas.

After this disaster, new regulations required wet gas to be burned at the source instead of being piped away.

Over seventy lawsuits were filed for damages, but District Judge Robert T. Brown dismissed most due to a lack of evidence.

The thirty surviving seniors completed their studies in temporary buildings while a new school was constructed on nearly the same site, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

Largest art heist in history

On this day in 1990, in what remains the world’s biggest art heist, two men disguised as police officers stole artwork worth hundreds of millions of dollars from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, US.

The thieves gained entry by posing as officers responding to a distress call.

A security guard on duty broke protocol by allowing them in through the employee entrance. When instructed, he stepped away from the watch desk, at which point he and a second guard were handcuffed and locked in the museum’s basement.

Over the next 81 minutes, the thieves took 13 works of art before making their escape.

To this day, the museum, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the US Attorney’s Office continue to pursue leads that could lead to the safe recovery of the stolen pieces.

Notably, the museum is also offering a $10 million reward for information that directly results in their return, according to its official website.

This Day, That Year

1922: Mahatma Gandhi was sentenced to six years in prison in India for leading civil disobedience. He was released after serving two years.

1925: Nearly 700 people were killed when the Tri-State Tornado hit southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, and southwestern Indiana. It remains the deadliest single tornado in US history.

1970: Award-winning American rapper and singer Queen Latifah was born.

2000: Chen Shui-bian, a key figure in Taiwan’s pro-independence movement, was elected president, ending the Nationalist Party’s 55-year rule.

2018: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 50th career hat-trick as Real Madrid secured a 6-3 victory over Girona.