The Russian cinema fund
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Present
Zero twelve, come in!
This is zero twelve, over.
Zero twelve, why the radio silence?
My engine's on fire. Permission to enable the fire extinguishing system?
Belay that! The system will shut down the engine!
Copy that.
Descend to 1,000 meters and eject above the field. Do you copy?
Copy that. Descending.
Markelov, did you do the preflight check? Hey, I'm talking to you!
Did you remove the ejection safety pin?
Zero twelve, what the hell is going on?
Eject now! That's an order...
Damnit... he shut down the engine.
- What the...? Head toward the strip. - Yes, sir.
Comrade colonel, the commission is here.
- What commission? - General kamanin.
He's blowing out the engine.
Come on... come on, birdie...
Do it...
Come on!
Alex... Alex!
Markelov...
You slacker...
Comrade general, commander of the 294th recon aviation unit reporting...
At ease. What's this circus act with special effects you've got going on here?
Alex, you alright?!
Why didn't you eject? We nearly turned gray...
Here, hide it somewhere.
But... what are we going to say?
I'll just say I wanted to save the expensive Soviet aircraft.
That was brilliant, Alex!
The plane is old, the engine must have failed.
We'll investigate this incident.
Who's the pilot?
Lieutenant leonov.
I'm going to have a serious talk with him. The guy is crazy.
Give him to me. Crazy is exactly what we need.
The spacewalker
Experimental design bureau no.1 1963
Nineteen sixty-five.
You're all dismissed.
I said, you're all dismissed!
Why 1965?
Why? We were talking about 1967!
By then, voskhod 2 would be completely ready. Why 1965?
Because the Americans rescheduled their flight.
They want to be first to conduct a spacewalk. We can't let that happen.
Do you suggest we launch a faulty craft with an inscription saying 'ussr'?
And shit ourselves in front of the whole world?
And bury two heroic corpses in space instead of bringing two heroes back to earth?
We'll do our best to get the ship ready, but we must hurry...
Two ships. One will be a prototype.
We'll test it for as many contingencies as we can.
The rest will depend on our people.
Thank god we have two of the country's best pilots.
"Cosmonaut training"
How many combat flights did you have in the war?
Leave me alone, Alex.
We're approaching the unloading point!
Very low ceiling ahead, and the wind is getting stronger!
How bad?
Ceiling 400 m, wind beaufort 12, hurricane force. Let's go back?
Let's go back.
Come on, let's feel some wind on our faces!
With that kind of wind, only one jump out of ten ends well. Have an apple.
Are we going to chicken out in space, too?
In space we'll have different instructions.
What did they choose us for? Why you and me, and not somebody else?
I haven't thought about that yet.
They chose us to do the impossible.
Eat your apple. It's good.
I'll eat it at home.
Alex, we're not jumping now!
- Says who? - The guidelines!
Don't get too bored here, veteran.
Viad, close behind Mel!
Keep calm, pavel. Break away from the main chute!
Untwist it! Untwist the chute!
Legs together!
- What? - Keep your legs together!
Hurry up, son.
Let's go! Alex!
Don't touch the nest, or the mama bird will abandon it.
- Is this her home? - Yes, it is.
- Does she sleep here? - How would I know?
No, dad, really - where does the birdie sleep?
If you want to know, find out for yourself. Let's go.
Alex! Get moving!
It's compiled properly, but the tone has to be more official.
- Permission to speak? - No.
Please order that I get the permission to see lieutenant colonel belyayev.
- That's up to the doctors... - He doesn't want to see anyone.
He is depressed. I want to boost his morale...
- Why are you limping? - My leg fell asleep while I waited for you.
Leonov, you know why I haven't kicked you out yet?
No, sir, I don't.
Neither do I. Continue with the training.
Thank you for that, comrade general! As soon as pavel gets out, we'll..
- Your new partner is major khrunov. - Khrunov? Why not pavel?
It wasn't his fault. I jumped first. I provoked him...
I know. I read your report.
Calm down. Belyayev needs rest and medical attention.
He's not young, almost forty. Let him rally his strength.
Meanwhile, we can't stall the program, so you will train with khrunov for now.
Yes, sir.
- The food is getting cold. - Yeah...
Looks similar.
Sveta, "similar" is the worst compliment you can give to an artist.
That was a compliment to a cosmonaut with a paintbrush.
Who could've been a very good artist, by the way.
Move away from the light, please. What about space?
In order to get into space, a true artist doesn't need to travel there in a rocket.
I can see stars through the ceiling.
Actually, no. I don't see the ceiling, I only see the sky.
I could get to the moon on a bicycle. If only there was such a bicycle.
Lunch is ready!
- Can I have this apple? - You can have it after lunch.
- Let's have lunch right now then. - You cheeky monkey...
Hey there!
I see how it is...
That's even better. You keep quiet. I'll do the talking.
We're going to start your strength recovery program.
I only have one life to live. And only one partner to fly with.
I won't work with anyone else.
I'm training with khrunov for now, while you're here,
but as soon as you recover we'll meet with the bosses
and request a medical for you. Everything will be just fine.
Your leg isn't broken, right? That's very good.
Your old fracture reopened - big deal... it'll heal in no time.
People get their heads smashed open...
- Alexey, look at me. - Looking.
And hear me out. I'm not flying anywhere with you.
Why do you hate me so much?
It's not about that. You're fearless, and that's dangerous.
I'll tell you a story from my childhood...
- Go away. - And you'll understand.
Leavel
I'm not a leaver, and not a quitter. I'll finish doing what I'm doing, then I'll leave.
Wait a second... there. Like that. Now work it.
One... two.
One... two. See? It works!
- Let me help you... - Get the hell out of here!
What happened?
- He's fine... - Go away!
Everything's fine. We've sorted things out...
- Go away! - Leaving.
Got an itch? I can scratch it for you.
Scratch your own itch.
Why, after so many sessions of weightlessness,
haven't you entered the airlock at least once?
What's holding you down, comrade major?
There are several reasons. One of them is the spacesuit.
This berkut is so heavy and rigid, it should've been called sarcophagus.
Permission to offer a suggestion?
Comrade rauschenbach, join us.
Operating the tether and steering the body requires at least some flexibility.
Adding hinge joints at the shoulders, elbows and wrists
would allow for greater freedom of movement...
- You drew this? - Yes, sir.
And correlate with the pressure inside the suit.
Guys, designing and building such a spacesuit will take at least two years...
- Which we don't have, comrade leonov. - I understand, but...
But if the tether was attached to the helmet...
Excuse me? What for?
The way it is now, a cosmonaut enters the airlock feet first, right? Right.
It would make more sense if he could see where he's going,
and enter the airlock head first.
Comrades, please stop your work and leave us for a few minutes.
Get in.
- Me? - Yes.
Did you say "head first"? Go ahead.
Go on.
Alright. Now turn around to face the hatch.
What for?
To manually close and lock it.
- But it closes automatically. - Nine times out of ten it does.
But let's assume you're out of luck.
Now imagine you're wearing a rigid spacesuit.
And you're running out of oxygen.
- Imagine the situation? - Yes.
You're dead. And so is your partner.
That makes sense, sergey pavlovich.
We'll work on the current task. Sorry for taking your time.
Sergey pavlovich...
We'll fly wearing chain armor, even shackles, if need be...
Being children of our nation, we all fly in shackles from the moment we're born.
But imagine what would happen if we lost them?
We would've lost control and crashed.
That's the kind of people we are. You can go now.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Leave your sketch here.
Sure.
Doctor! Something's wrong with belyayev!
What do you mean, "wrong"? Goddamnit...
Comrade belyayev, why are you doing this to yourself?
I'm exercising my leg, like you told me to.
But I said you should increase the weight gradually over time...
Time is what I don't have, doctor.
Oh! Looks like the grandpa of Soviet aviation is back.
You know what I like about you the most, khrunov?
- What? - Your smile.
Let me see it again. As nice as gagarin's.
Pavell
Welcome back.
Fall in line! Down for pushups!
Sorry I'm late.
- Join in, comrade belyayev. - Yes, sir.
- Welcome back. - Thanks.
One, two...
Experimental design bureau no.1 120 days to launch
nikishinl!
Nikishinl!
Go home and get some sleep. You'll finish tomorrow.
Sergey pavlovich, people need to rest.
They've been working 18-hour shifts for three weeks now.
After the review commission's visit everyone gets a 24-hour rest period.
Let's maybe let the chair of the commission inside the ship?
Five minutes pretending he's gagarin, and he'll be happy.
Then we feed them and kick them out.
I like the "kick them out" part,
but I won't let any outsiders go inside the ship, not even brezhnev.
- What happened? Is it nikishin? - Let me through.
Shine your flashlights at his chest and face.
Alive?
- Dead. - Oh god...
I want to know exactly what happened, and why.
Comrade chertok,
in 30 minutes I expect a report on what went wrong with the electrics.
Yes, sir.
- Are we cancelling the commission's visit? - Absolutely not. I want them to see this.
For us it's crucial that they see it and report to you-know-who.
You started off much better, comrade lieutenant colonel.
Excuse me... please give these to the medical chief.
- Alright. - Tell her, today is a lovely day...
- Alright. - For making wise decisions.
- What's this about? - Someone asked me to give them to you.
Put them here.
Well, comrade lieutenant colonel, so far I see no major issues.
Let's give it another go, and check your blood pressure.
- A toast to the ladies! - Hoorah!
By the way, if a woman goes to space, is she a 'cosmonaut' or 'cosmonautess'?
The toast was to the ladies, not cosmonauis.
How did your medical go?
- What did they say? - I didn't pass. That's the verdict.
Wait a second... "The verdict"? On what grounds?
- Did they say anything specific? - My age and my leg trauma.
They said I'm not much of a runner anymore.
I see. You're giving up.
Who am I supposed to fly with? Are you flaking on me, partner?
Stop making stuff up, Alex. I'm not your partner.
Your partner is over there.
We're here to follow orders, not our dreams. The doctors are right.
Nonsense. We're not going to space to run a marathon, are we?
Chief is coming. Fall in line!
Squad, at-ten-tion!
It's not about running... Can't run away from destiny.
It just didn't work out for me.
Can't run away from destiny, huh?
Alex!
Bet it'll be us spacewalking, buddy.
What sort of behavior is this? Trying to get kicked out of the crew?
Comrade general, permission to speak?
What was it, comrade leonov?
You saw him running, didn't you? He is as fit as fit can bel
- is that all? - Yes. I mean, yes, sir.
- You're both dismissed. - Yes, sir.
You're dismissed.
I'd like to see the results of belyayev's medical.
"Tero gravity"
This is almaz-2. I'm in the airlock.
Well done, almaz.
Launch day for the unmanned test module
so, comrade cosmonauts, while the test is underway
we'll make a video report about the daily lives of Soviet heroes.
- I feel like a clown. - Better than a showgirl.
Scene three, take one.
We're not here today to celebrate victory,
but to make sure victory is possible at all.
- The reunion scene. Ready? And... - Go to daddy.
Gol addy! Daddy!
Stop!
Let's do another take.
Key to ignition...
- I had a bad dream. - Come on, that's silly.
The launch of an unmanned module
is scheduled for today at ten hours and thirty minutes Moscow time.
Recorder two start...
As you all know, it will be an unmanned orbital test flight.
Key to vent...
Sveta, pull yourself together. We're not alone here...
The parting scene. Part two, frame three, take one.
Our task is to perform a complete equipment check.
Ignition...
The systems aboard voskhod 2,
including the inflatable airlock, will be deemed successfully tested
only after the unmanned module returns safely to earth.
Liftoff.
- Daddy! - Yes!
We must make sure all our calculations are correct
before our cosmonauts pavel belyayev and alexey leonov go into orbit...
The spacecraft reached the orbit.
Lo undertake a critically important mission.
Airlock deployed...
One of them will be the first person to leave the spacecraft
and conduct a spacewalk.
Simulated spacewalk complete...
The success of this mission will bring us closer to
becoming truly familiar with outer space
and making it part of our lives.
Let's celebrate!
Attention! We lost contact with the test module.
I repeat, we lost contact with the test module.
I confirm. I see a cloud of debris.
Good afternoon, sergey pavlovich. This way please.
"I assure the Soviet government, the communist party and the Soviet people..."
- Hello, leonid llyich. - Hey there, sergey pavlovich.
Let's finish watching the movie and then talk.
I have no time for movies.
We're in a race. My feet can't feel the ground.
That's good, because only those who stand in one spot are grounded.
You, korolev, are the engine of progress.
I brought the full report with me. It has all the technical details.
I'll try to briefly summarise it for you. Stop me if something isn't clear.
I know everything already. The ship went into orbit.
The simulated spacewalk was flawless.
Do the same thing with men on board, and come get your gold star medal.
But the module broke apart, and we still don't know why.
Did the spacewalk happen?
- Disputably, yes. - Now make it happen indisputably.
The United States are planning to launch their ship in may.
Our voskhod must fly before that.
I want the whole world to know we're number one.
The Soviets must continue to lead in space exploration, to be first.
I don't care what the U.S. is up to.
I understand it's crucial for us and our country to not lose face,
but, as long as I'm in charge of the program,
I won't launch a faulty craft with my people on board.
Over my dead body.
- So it's like that? - Yes, like that.
Look... sleep on it, have a good think. And tomorrow, get to work.
No one else can do your job. You're indispensable.
Hotel for cosmonauts. Baikonur. One day to launch.
I wonder if it's snowing in Moscow. I want to go skiing with my girls.
Great idea. Make a snowman, eat some homemade pies.
Reward yourself for a year of training.
Have your drink since you poured it.
You think the mission's canceled?
It doesn't matter what I think. We have regulations.
The time, the effort we've put into this - all for nothing.
What are they thinking?
Should korolev just hope we get lucky?
What are you talking about? You and I know every single cable on that ship!
I trust it like I trust my own mother! And you - you're busy packing your stuff!
You think I don't want to go on this mission?!
Anyway, we'll have to do as our motherland orders.
Screw you and your orders.
I won't back down.
Yes?
- Good morning, sergey pavlovich. - Morning, comrade chief designer.
Good morning.
- How long have you been up? - Not long. Drinking tea now...
As you know, the test flight ended in failure.
The risk of launching voskhod 2 with people on board is too high.
For now we'll launch your ship with dummies on board and do another test.
In a year's time we'll build a new ship for you.
I see...
You don't like the idea of Americans getting there first?
We're in top shape; We've gone through three thousand contingency scenarios...
In space there will be three thousand one, two, and three contingencies.
I can't let you go now, my little eagles. That would be death without obituary.
Is that why you're here?
You and your village manners...
I come from a siberian village of listvyanka.
When I was three, my dad was arrested as 'enemy of the people'.
We, his family, were branded subversives.
The neighbors came barging in
and took all our food, then our furniture, then our house.
They kicked us out in the middle of winter.
My mother was pregnant, and she already had eight mouths to feed.
One of the neighbors then returned and took my pants,
leaving me standing in my undershirt.
Thank god, my oldest sister and her husband took us in.
They lived in a workers' dormitory in a small, 16 square meter room.
My corner was under one of the beds. We all survived somehow.
Then the war came. All the men went to fight.
The rest went to work in field hospitals, defense plants and factories.
Mom enrolled me in school. On the first day, in the schoolyard,
I stood proudly in a puddle of melted ice,
because I had no shoes.
But I survived somehow.
The victory came at a heavy price. My uncles and brothers died in combat.
Every family in the country lost someone.
Sergey pavlovich, after everything we've all gone and suffered through,
we can't be afraid to take risks.
I'll gnaw a hole in that hatch and walk out of that airlock, I will.
Sergey pavlovich, we're prepared to take the risk.
Your tea is much too strong.
See you later!
At-ten-tionl!
Good morning, comrades. At ease.
Comrade general, we're ready for launch.
Report to comrade brezhnev and comrade kosygin
that the voskhod 2 spacecraft is ready for launch.
Yes, sir!
Zarya, almazes are ready.
T minus one minute.
- Key to ignition. - Roger key to ignition.
- Purge. - Roger purge.
- Key to vent. - Roger key to vent.
- Main engine start. - Roger main engine start.
- Ignition. - Roger ignition.
- Preliminary. - Roger preliminary.
- Main. - Roger main.
- Liftoff. - Roger liftoff.
Good luck to you, my little eagles.
- Liftoff contact. - Liftoff contact confirmed.
Engines of the first and second stages are working properly.
Launch vehicle control system parameters within norm.
Twenty-five.
Thirty. Launch vehicle construction parameters within norm.
Spacecraft attitude is stable.
Fifty. Pressure in combustion chambers within norm.
Sixty.
Pitch, yaw, and roll within norm.
Seventy.
Flight is normal.
Attention, Moscow is speaking!
Eighty.
All the radio and television stations of the Soviet union are operating!
Control system parameters within norm.
Today, on march 18th, 1965, at 10 o'clock in the morning,
the manned spacecraft voskhod 2 was launched into the earth's orbit.
Radio communication with the spacecraft is maintained continuously.
Comrades belyayev and leonov
are carrying out work in accordance with the flight program.
Zaryaq, this is almaz.
There is a slight vibration, but all the instruments are working properly.
We're feeling very well, ready to proceed with the mission.
Almazes, proceed with the mission.
Copy that, zarya. Deploying the airlock now.
"Airlock deployed"
zarya, airlock is deployed. Now beginning to pressurize it.
Zarya, now preparing to enter the airlock.
Zaryaq, the airlock is pressurized.
Now switching over to the Eva backpack system for oxygen.
Zarya, the spacesuit is pressurized. Now opening the airlock's inner hatch.
Don't get bored. I won't be long.
Give me a push, buddy. A gentle one.
This is almaz-2. I'm inside the airlock.
Almaz-2, understood.
Zlarya, this is almaz. Now closing the airlock"s inner hatch.
"Inner hatch closed"
zlarya, this is almaz. Now beginning to depressurize the airlock.
Almaz-2, depressurization will take five minutes.
Almaz-2, your oxygen consumption is above normal. Calm your breath, buddy.
I'm barely breathing as it is.
Attention, get ready.
Zaryaq, the airlock is depressurized.
Now opening the outer hatch.
Almaz-2, report on the situation.
This is almaz-2, reporting. Everything is fine.
I'm ready to step out into space.
Proceed to step out into space.
Copy that. Almaz-2, you are go to step out into space.
Alex, you're doing two kick-offs:
One to test the conditions, and another one to take photos.
Copy that, almaz.
Zarya, this is almaz-2.
I am on the rim of the airlock.
I am feeling great.
I see clouds and sea down below.
We've just passed over the caucasus.
I see the sky and the ground.
The volga is right below me.
Working conditions are normal.
- Almaz-2, prepare to kick off. - Copy that.
Remove the cap from the camera lens.
I removed the cap. Erm... where do I put it? Huh?
- Just throw it away. - Copy that. I'm throwing it away.
Zaryaq, this is almaz-2. I am pulling out the tether.
The Soviet cosmovision is broadcasting live from aboard the voskhod 2 spacecraft.
We are about to withess an event which only yesterday seemed in the realm of fantasy.
Almaz-2, proceed to kick off.
- Almaz-2, you can kick off now. - Give me a second...
Alright, I'm off.
Vesna, zaryaq, this is almaz.
Man has gone out into space!
Floating freely!
Today, on march 18th, 1965, at 11 hours 30 minutes Moscow time,
during the flight of the voskhod 2 spacecraft,
a man stepped from the vehicle and performed mankind's first walk in space.
During the spacecraft's second orbit, pilot cosmonaut alexey arkhipovich leonov,
dressed in a special spacesvit with an autonomous life support system,
stepped out into space.
Daddy is a real cosmonaut! A real one!
Well, docking is the next step, and then - a military space program.
Well done, everyone, thank you. Now let's get back to work.
Comrade general, the kremlin's on the line, asking to speak directly with the cosmonaut.
Alright, connect them.
- Connect them. - Yes, sir.
- Alex? - Yes?
- Alex? - Yes? Who's this?
This is brezhnev.
- Leonid llyich? Wow... - How are you, my boy?
Reporting: I'm fully conscious. My vision is clear.
My spatial orientation isn't impaired.
Man can work in open space!
Man can work in open space.
I see you somersaulting up there.
The entire country is watching. The whole world!
- Thank you. - We're proud of you.
Thank you!
Make sure you get back alive. That's an order. Understood?
I serve the Soviet union!
What are his vitals?
His blood pressure and temperature went up a bit, but within normal range.
- Air? - Enough for 27 minutes.
Let's proceed to the next step.
Almaz-2, prepare to kick off
to test your vestibular adaptation and aerodynamics.
Let's do this.
Almaz-2, how do you feel?
I feel great. Ready for the final kick-off to take photographs.
His blood pressure went up to 140 over 90. His pulse is 125, and temperature is 37c.
He's nervous. Who wouldn't be?
Almaz-2, just snap a few shots and return to the ship.
No sharp movements. Go easy.
Copy that, going easy.
Pavel, are you smiling in there?
Yes, I'm smiling.
- I'm taking your picture. - Do it and get back inside.
What the... what's with the suit pressure?
What's with the suit pressure?
Almaz-2, are you alright?
Almazes, what's going on?
Almaz-2 is not responding.
Something hit the hull. I have no visual of almaz-2.
Do we have contact?
Yes, technically we have radio contact with almaz-2.
His vitals?
Blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature - all rising.
Almaz, keep calling almaz-2. I repeat: Keep calling almaz-2.
Everything was going too well...
- Stop the live broadcast. - Yes, sir.
We now present to our viewers
a production of Sergei prokofiev's ballet the tale of the stone flower,
staged at the state academic bolshoi theatre of the ussr.
We'll just have to wait.
Almaz-2, do you read me? Over!
Almaz-2, come in!
Zarya, I cannot confirm radio contact with almaz-2. I'll keep calling.
Sergey pavlovich, there are guidelines for this situation.
If almaz-2 fails to return to the ship we'll have to jettison the airlock.
Blood pressure 155 over 100, pulse 150, temperature 38.5c.
Larya, this is almaz. Requesting permission to enter the airlock.
- When will they enter the 'dead zone'? - In five minutes.
Sergey pavlovich, in order to leave the ship almaz will have to depressurize it.
And, because we'll lose signal, they'd be on their own.
God only knows how the depressurized ship would behave.
Start praying then.
Sergey pavlovich, if we jettison the airlock, one of the cosmonauts will die.
But if we don't, we might lose both of them.
Almaz, prepare to depressurize the ship.
- Copy that, zarya. - Begin in two minutes.
If belyayev fails, we'll lose the ship.
Thousands of people worked hard to send it to orbit, not to leave it there.
Right now it's about two people, not thousands.
Zaryaq, this is almaz.
I'm ready to enter the airlock. Standing by for go-ahead.
We can't fail the entire space program because of one man.
'Dead zone' in one minute!
Abort your command, sergey pavlovich.
What are almaz-2's vitals?
Blood pressure 170 over 110, pulse 165, temperature 39c.
He's alive. Alive. Are we clear?
Zarya, this is almaz. I repeat,
I'm ready to enter the airlock. Standing by for go-ahead.
I'm sure you know what to do.
'Dead zone' in thirty seconds!
- Zarya, I'm standing by for go-ahead. - Proceed to depressurize the ship.
Fifteen!
- Almaz-2 is by the airlock! - Zarya, I confirm. He's by the airlock.
Almaz-2, damnit, hurry back!!!
They're in the 'dead zone'.
What happened?
My suit ballooned. I can't bend any joints in it.
- Why did you keep quiet? - I didn't want to scare anyone.
I see. Understood.
How much oxygen do I have left?
Very little.
Hurry back, Alex.
Grab the camera and get back inside.
- I need to dismount it first... - Come on, come on.
Well done.
Try to get in.
- Damnit. - There's no other way.
Stupid suit! Damnit...
Keep trying. Focus!
Don't you dare! Feet first only!
Close it. Close if!
Close the goddamn hatch!
- It didn't lock, did it? - No.
Right. I'll have to turn around and lock it manually.
You won't be able to.
Do we have other options?
- I'll open the hatch and pull you in... - And depressurize the ship?
- We have to take the risk. - We can't risk failing the mission.
- No, buddy, I have to try. - Alex, don't!
Alex!
Stop! You won't have any air left for recompression.
- Then, jettison the airlock with me in it! - So bull-headed...
- I'm stuck. Can't move any further. - Keep quiet, save the air.
Copy that.
How about I grab my leg... And fold it...
Come on, buddy.
Come on, Alex!
Come on, come on...
You did it. Well done.
Now wait for two minutes. I'm repressurizing the airlock.
Alex... Alex, nol
Alex!
- That's it. - What?
Space is screwed now.
You crack me up.
Can't you tell us at least? Yes, but what does that mean?
I see... thank you.
Well, all they say is, "the flight continues as normal".
Which means they're either too busy to talk, or...
Or things are bad.
In Moscow and Leningrad they're already rallying in honor of the flight.
Svetlana leonova called... No tea for me, thanks.
- She's clearly worried. - Why? Nothing bad happened.
- We should have signal in one minute. - Start calling them.
Alex...
Buddy, get back on the ground. Almaz-2, we're leaving the 'dead zone'.
I was just thinking, when we go to the moon...
We have signal now. Prepare to get ours butts kicked.
- Almaz, this is zarya. Do you read me? - Zarya, this is almaz. I read you perfectly well.
Almaz, what do you have on aimaz-2?
Zarya, almaz-2 also reads you well.
The bastard!
Almaz-2, welcome back, and thank you for your service!
- Thank you. I serve the Soviet... - Why the hell did you go quiet?!
Zarya, we had signal problems. The reason is unclear...
- Almaz-2, can't you talk for yourself? - I confirm.
Zarya, we're fine. We're ready to jettison the airlock.
- Prepare to jettison the airlock. - Copy that. Preparing to jettison.
Almazes, be aware that the test cycle was carried out only up to this point.
We don't know what will happen after the airlock is jettisoned.
Be prepared for anything.
It can't possibly get any worse...
- Almaz, confirm cabin pressure. - Cabin pressure is normal.
- Check the explosive bolt circuits. - Circuits checked, ready to jettison.
Jettison.
Zaryaq, the airlock is jettisoned.
No depressurization, no damage to the ship... but now we're spinning.
- What's the spin rate, almazes? - Approximately 20 degrees per second.
The automatic guidance system would stabilize the spin...
And use up all the fuel, including what's reserved for manual re-entry?
Sergey pavlovich, I guarantee the reliability of all automatic controls.
There'll be no need for manual re-entry.
Almazes, how do you feel?
We're feeling fine, zarya.
What would you say to a ride on a merry-go-round?
That's 15 orbits, approximately 22 hours. Could you bear with it?
- We'll bear with it, zarya. - Bear with it, my little eagles.
Twenty-two hours...
That's like a train journey from Moscow to tuapse, on a top bunk.
20th hour of the flight. Two orbits before the scheduled re-entry
Get some sleep. We have ten more orbits to go.
I have to finish my sketch. It's for the tretyakov gallery.
Yeah right.
I'm serious. It's the first work of art created in space.
No Van gogh's sunflowers can't beat that.
It'll hang right next to shishkin's morning in a pine forest.
I was supposed to go to art school and become a painter.
- Why didn't you? - Why would 1?
I could be a pilot with an art hobby, but not a painter with a flying hobby.
You're not wrong there... Well, I'm supposed to go to Cuba.
You are?
Can you imagine? The ambassador called the ship, congratulated me
and invited me for a vacation there.
- Where was I when he called? - Out for a walk.
That's right. That was when brezhnev called to congratulate me.
He'll meet me personally at the airport. He said,
"Alex, I'll be standing to your left, wearing my signature karakul hat".
We'll go straight to his dacha... no, first to the kremlin, then to his dacha.
You should've gone to art school.
Alex...
Alex?
- Are you feeling alright? - Yeah... a bit nauseous.
But that's normal I think...
- What's with our oxygen? - Let's see...
Damnit...
Almost up to 300. Call ground.
Zarya, this is almaz. Our partial oxygen pressure is twice the norm.
- What's the reading? - 296 and rising.
Almazes, make no sharp movements. You're breathing pure oxygen there.
One tiny spark and you'll burn alive.
Understood. What do we do?
Turn off the main cabin lighting and stand by for instructions.
Understood.
Where's the oxygen coming from?
They'll figure it out.
- There's a leak. - From the Eva backpacks?
Leonov left his in the airlock, so it's belyayev's?
What, 296 from one backpack? Nonsense!
From the oxygen compensator then.
But the systems are working, and the cabin is sealed.
Maybe the hatch cracked when they jettisoned the airlock?
The temperature would've dropped almost instantly.
Both almazes' blood pressure and pulse rate are dropping.
Soon they'll get oxygen poisoning.
I need the detailed diagram of the central part of the cabin ceiling.
Almazes, most likely there's a microscopic crack in the hull.
It's not dangerous in itself,
but the system is reacting to the leak and is now pumping oxygen.
You can only deactivate the compensation sensor manually.
You'll have to do some disassembly.
Yes, sir.
We can't let them do that! There's high voltage everywhere!
Do you have a better idea?
Almazes, the compensation sensor is right above you,
in the central area of the ceiling, next to the pressure relief valve.
You need to cut through the lining and open it up.
This is a gamble. A technician got killed during the assembly, remember?
Unlike them, he was a top specialist!
See how tightly everything is packed in there?
They have no tools and no lighting!
Holy mother of...
Zarya, we opened up the lining.
The sensor system is behind the cables.
To get to it you must cut the strap that's holding the cables together.
Copy that, zarya.
Alex, shine here.
What will happen to them?
First, their limbs will go numb.
Then, they'll have painful muscle cramps.
Plus partial hearing loss and visual hallucinations.
Stop! Don't move.
Stay still. Don't move.
Be calm...
Better if I do it. Hold the flashlight.
- Eventually, they'll fall asleep. - Fall asleep? And that's it?
Yes. That would be it.
Almazes?
I'll do it...
Almazes, can you hear me?
Just a moment, pavel, buddy...
Almazes? Can you hear me?
Almazes?
Can you hear me?
Pavel, you're doing great... The light is so smooth... and so bright...
You're doing great...
Yeah, zarya...
I can see it... I can see it...
- I see the sensor. - Great. Now, the most important part:
Do you see a yellow cable?
You need to pull the yellow cable out of the nest!
Can you hear me? Pull...
- Zlaryaq, repeat. - Out of the nest!
- Zlarya, repeat that! - Pull the yellow... the nest!
- Do you copy? - The nest...
- So that's where she lives... - I didn't copy that, almaz.
- That's where she sleeps... her home... - What are you talking about?
I didn't copy that, almaz! Repeat!
- I'll pull it out... - Did you?
Where's her home?
Did you disconnect it? Almazes?
Here, I found it...
Just a second, pavel...
Almazes?
Almazes, can you hear me?
Did you disconnect it? Talk to me! Did you? Almazes?
Almazes, can you hear me?
Almazes?!
We lost signal. They're in the 'dead zone'.
The automatic guidance system will turn on before they come out of it.
Cycle four will land them.
Do they have a chance of survival?
Mommy, is it night in space too?
Yes, sweetie. Go to sleep.
Is daddy sleeping too?
Of course he is.
Everybody needs to sleep.
Will daddy be back when I wake up?
He will do his best.
He will do his very best.
22nd hour of the flight. 25 minutes after the scheduled re-entry
We're checking constantly, but no signal yet, and no visual contact.
That's terrible.
A crowd of healthy, strong men sitting around doing nothing,
sighing mournfully, as if at a wake!
If we can't help our comrades,
let's at least not be arranging their funeral ahead of time!
Miss, coffee for everyone, including me. And make it strong!
Let's think logically. The ship was scheduled to land 23 minutes ago.
Perhaps upon re-entry it went off course and landed in a different location...
All I hear from you is "perhaps”, "maybe", and "I think".
I need calculations of all possible deviations from the trajectory.
Yes, sir. Prepare the calculations.
We can't wait any longer. We must begin searching for them from the air.
Sergey pavlovich, the kremlin wants to congratulate you...
- Tell them to call later. - Yes, sir.
I have their vitals! Almazes are alive!
They're alive!
- We have contact with the ship. - We have signal!
Tell him korolev went to meet the cosmonauis.
Almazes, you hoodlums! We read you loud and clear!
Where the hell did you land, my little eagles?
We landed in our seats.
Zaryaq, this is almaz. We're feeling fine.
Cycle four didn't start.
I repeat, cycle four didn't start.
We're still in orbit. We've just come out of the 'dead zone'. Over.
Sergey pavlovich, I don't have an explanation at this time.
Perhaps it's because of spinning. We have a contingency here...
Do we really? Another one of how many? Is anybody keeping count?
I aml!
We'll try to restart the system, and land them on the next orbit.
We can't land them on the next orbit.
The ship would be above the enemy territory.
We'll get our boys back to earth now, and worry about the territory later.
Zarya, this is almaz, requesting permission to switch to manual control
and proceed to re-enter right now, over.
Almazes, we must calculate the landing location. That takes time.
Sergey pavlovich, we have all the calculations we need.
Look, zarya, I'm thinking we'll land in the urals, not far from perm...
Alex...
Be reasonable. He's "thinking", "not far from perm".
- Nonsence. - But they're both experienced pilots...
Nobody has ever landed a spaceship manually.
The manual control system is a relic, the last resort.
Only to be used in desperate situations!
Such as ours.
Sergey pavlovich, can we speak for a moment?
And so the discussion begins...
They'll create a commission, select the chairman,
listen to the speakers. Then they'll start to disagree...
Now you know why I kept quiet. I would've been dead by now.
We can land this thing, buddy. We've landed worse...
You can land it, can't you?
We have no choice.
Well, we either land it manually now or they decide to leave us in orbit.
We'll do as our motherland orders.
You think they won't give us the go ahead?
I wouldn't if I were them.
Sergey pavlovich, you and I are not sisters of mercy.
We cannot gamble state secrets.
I don't understand what you mean.
Or rather, I do - but that's even worse.
Are you suggesting leaving them in orbit? Is that what you mean?
There is a war on. A cold war, but a war nonetheless.
What if they land in Europe? Or, god forbid, in China?
All of our space program secrets will fall into enemy hands.
So, let them die 'just in case' they might land where they shouldn't?
They're soldiers.
Sometimes soldiers have to die protecting their country's interests.
I see. Yes. Alright.
Your thought isn't revolutionary, but it's constructive. Thank you.
I suppose I'll think about it.
Almazes, this is zarya.
Permission to switch to manual mode...
Granted. Proceed to pressurize your suits.
Zarya, copy that. Proceeding.
Good thing the decision wasn't up to you.
Zarya, I repeat, the approximate landing location is...
They can't hear you, Alex. They'll find us if we manage to land.
- Let's land in the red square maybe? - Very funny. Let me stabilize the ship first.
- I think I positioned us. - You can do it if you put your mind to it.
Now we aim for the earth.
- Move a bit. - I'm squeezing into my seat.
- I can't see anything with you there. - Should I leave maybe?
Give me directions.
I'm ready.
- West. - Got it.
South-west.
Got it.
North... no, north-west.
- North or north-west? - Easy, easy... go clockwise...
Easy, very easy...
- Now, west. - Got it.
No, too much! Stop! Back to square one...
Now, west.
West!
- Pavel, time. - I have to see where I'm going.
- Hey, you'll shift our center of gravity. - Get out of the seat.
- Where should I go? - Down there, under the vzor.
I'll try.
- Hold my feet, like that. - I got you.
I'll take aim now, and we will carefully,
like two little mice, dive into the atmosphere.
Hurry, or we'll land in China.
Don't rush me. If I miss we'll ricochet into space.
Now we crawl back into our seats.
Earth looking leveled?
- It's shifting. - By how much?
- By seven degrees now. - Damnit... any nitrogen left?
Almost zero.
Are you buckled in?
Yeah.
They activated retropropulsion.
Where will they end up?
You and I will 'end up' in trouble if things go bad. They will 'land'.
Telemetry detected a tilt.
That means they left their seats to aim manually,
and as they returned, the ship's center of gravity shifted.
And?
- The landing trajectory might change. - Sergey pavlovich, have a look here.
With a 6-7 degree tilt, the ship will enter the atmosphere at a sharp angle.
It could ricochet back into orbit. Gravity will eventually pull them down...
But not any time soon.
Comrade rauschenbach, calculate all possible landing locations.
Now we get back to work. We wait for the transmitter signal,
and hope for the best.
Is today Thursday or Friday?
Damned if I knew.
You think the kids are vp already?
I wonder if vika is at the kindergarten or if she's still got the sniffles...
Lighten up, buddy.
If we missed, the gravity will pull us down in three years' time.
I can't wait for a fancy state funeral.
Right...
Let's have some grub.
Wow, look at this deli lunch.
Yum, borscht...
But no garlic to add to it.
Want some?
Alex, you idiot.
Looks like gravity to me.
Abort deli lunch. We're going home!
Copy that, comrade commander!
Jettison retro engine.
Retro engine is jettisoned.
Prepare for equipment module jettison. Jettisonl!
- Equipment module didn't separate! - Brace yourself, we're in for a spin.
Yes! Yes! It separated!
You alive?
Pavel?
- I'm alive, goddamn it! - You idiot!
- Did I scare you? - Did you really have to?!
Alright, cut it out.
Let's get out.
Ready for a loud blast?
Wait...
- Alright, out we go. - Yeah.
Three hours after landing
Dearch complete in quadrant 24. No signal detected, no signs of landing.
Scanning the area. No signal yet.
Nothing here. Continuing the search.
I have radio silence over my entire sw range. No signal.
Why, despite the achievements of Soviet science,
can't we locate a single radio beacon in a designated area?!
The signal disappeared upon re-entry, which can mean anything...
No it can't. I need specifics!
Sergey pavlovich, it's obvious that they landed in a different location.
We're conducting a full-scale search operation.
I urge you to have some rest.
I will rest after we've found them. Anybody has any ideas?
Firstly, the beacon could have been damaged during impact landing.
Secondly, they could've damaged it while cutting through the lining.
They would still have a backup portable transmitter.
Why don't we have the signal then?
- It won't work in freezing temperature... - Can't they warm up the battery?
They need to warm themselves up first.
The spacesvits won't protect them from the cold.
The ship isn't a shelter either; In an hour it'll lose all its heat.
Perhaps the radio waves can't get through.
Quality of the sw signal depends on the terrain and weather...
Suppose they have the worst possible weather conditions.
How long can they last?
Twenty-four hours.
"Battery"
The taiga is killing the signal.
The morse code should do it.
It's more reliable.
Do something to keep warm, alexey.
I'm fine for now.
"E-f-e-f"
ef... ef... ef? What does that stand for?
Ef... what's that?
Here it is... "Everything's fine".
- Why are you up? - Our little eagles have landed! Ef!
What?
- 'Everything's fine'! - Not with your head.
Wait! I want to listen to the rescue operation!
They'll manage without you. We'll see it on TV tomorrow.
- Why are you always like that? - Stop eavesdropping on state secrets.
The kremlin wants us to issue an official statement.
Tomorrow, at ten in the morning.
We have nothing to state yet.
Sergey pavlovich, you need to rest. Nothing depends on you anymore.
There's plenty of time until morning, and we can't waste it.
Comrade general, permission to speak? The weather report came in.
Heavy snowfall is expected over the ural region.
An arctic cyclone is moving in. Tonight, the temperature will drop to -35c.
Tonight.
It's still daytime now. Right?
Still daytime.
Six hours after landing
if they got the signal, triangulating our location takes no more than two hours.
They'll be here soon. Very soon. Any time now.
That's if they got the signal.
Here, your turn.
Stop fussing around. We knew what we were in for.
If they find the logbook the mission will be considered accomplished.
What do you mean, "accomplished"? Did you forget about your girls?
They can't wait to welcome their daddy back home.
Their living, breathing daddy. Not a chunk of frozen mammoth crap.
No, buddy... help me get up.
No, I can't do this to my family.
I have to be there for vika on her first day of school.
Listen, comrade belyayev, we're not giving up on life. Wait here, I won't be long.
I want all available aircraft in the air. Double the search areaq.
Yes, sir.
General kamanin orders all aircraft...
Send the text to record the announcement.
- Which one of them? - Both, for either outcome.
Hello, comrades.
"State security committee of the ussr"
"Death of the crew."
Can I have some water?
I'm ready.
"Recording"
on march 18th, 1945,
for the purpose of conducting a flight test,
the Soviet manned voskhod 2 spacecraft was launched into earth orbit,
Piloted by Soviet pilot cosmonauts
lieutenant colonel pavel Ivanovich belyayev and major alexey arkhipovich leonov.
At the end of the flight, which lasted more than 24 hours,
During landing, parachute suspension lines got tangled,
causing the descent module to fall at high speed...
Which resulted in the death of the crew.
What's the matter with you people?
Hey! Where the hell are you?! Are you all complete idiots?!
We're alive in here! Hey! We're alive!
Are you all deaf?! Hey! We're alive!
The untimely death
of the outstanding cosmonauts pavel belyayev and alexey leonov
is a heavy and irreplaceable loss for the entire Soviet nation.
They are awarded the title hero of the Soviet union...
Posthumously.
Pavell
Pavel! Pavel!
Pavel! Hey, don't you fall asleep on me!
Hey! Pavell come on, wake up! Wake up! Pavel!
It's over, buddy.
Pavel Ivanovich!
Let's practice our speech for the press, or you'll just stand like a lamp post...
You'll handle the press on your own. You're a hero now.
Me? You were already a hero back when I was still herding cows.
You'd had hundreds of combat flights by the time I became a pilot...
- One. - One what?
One combat flight.
I never even pressed the firing button.
The 'oldies' were fighting with the Japanese
while we newbies refueled planes and swept the airfield.
Finally, I got scheduled for a combat flight.
I thought, "finally I can do something to be useful".
Well, on that day the Japanese didn't attack.
We shelled some areas and returned to the base.
The next day, Japan capitulated...
That's the story of the war hero pavel belyayev.
You know why I went to the pilot school?
Why?
Their student allowance was higher than in the art school.
I could've been happily doodling away now.
Instead, today the whole world saw me
waddling on a hose like a bloated frog. I nearly shit myself in that spacesuit.
And that's the story of the space conqueror alexey leonov.
Pavel, I'm sorry I dragged you out there with me.
No, that was a good thing.
If you say so.
Good thing you didn't become an artist. It was a pleasure flying with you.
Maybe we'll fly again someday.
We'll have to do as our motherland orders, Alex.
As our motherland orders.
They landed. Successfully.
They're asking for help. But nobody is coming for them.
They'll come for you instead, and successfully land you in prison.
But I'll have nobody to ask for help.
What's the right thing to do?
Nine hours after landing
the weather is now at its worst. I have to temporarily halt the search operation.
I see.
- As soon as the storm passes, we'll... - Yes, yes. Of course.
We have to inform their families.
Sergey pavlovich, there's no need to do that right now.
They shouldn't have to find out from the news.
They caught the signal!
Sergey pavlovich, they seem to have caught the signal!
"Seem to have caught"?
I apologize, comrade lieutenant general. The committee called just now.
A radio enthusiast from sakhalin contacted them saying
he accidentally received the signal from the cosmonauis.
- Accidentally? Nonsense. - Accidentally? A radio enthusiast?
Yes, sir.
- Sakhalin? - Yes, sir.
What's the quadrant?
They triangulated the location in quadrant 62.
Do we have anyone in 62?
One unit, several kilometers away.
- Call them. - Yes, sir.
Two-sixteen, we have the signal in quadrant 462.
You're closest to them; Try to establish visual contact.
I repeat: Try to establish visual contact.
This is two-sixteen. I'm in quadrant 62. Weather conditions are very bad.
- Keep searching while you can. - Yes, sir.
Can you hear that?
That's our ride.
They found us.
Where's the flare gun?
Pavel?
Where's the flare gun? Did I manage to lose it?
Huh? Such an idiot.
Commander, we're almost out of fuel. We should go back to the base.
This is two -sixteen. We're almost out of fuel.
They have to return.
- Let them return. - Yes, sir.
Two-sixteen, return to the base.
Two-sixteen, this is sergey korolev. What's your name?
Major markelov.
- What's your first name? - Vladimir.
Vladimir, buddy, listen to me. There should be a parachute on tree tops.
It's very big and noticeable.
Please have a better look. If should be hard to miss. Can you hear me?
Yes, sir.
Damnit, where did I put it? Why is everything so screwed up?
Help... alexey, help me. It's frozen to my arm.
Pavell
well done, you. Hold on...
We're burning our reserve fuel. We have to go back.
Alex, shoot the flare. I can't see anything.
Hold on, buddy. Well done...
I'll help you shoot it...
Hold on...
Commander, if we don't leave now we won't make it back.
This is two-sixteen. No sign of the parachute.
No signal from the cosmonauts. We did our best. Sorry.
- I can't bend my fingers... - Let's try again, together...
- Pavel, come on, press the trigger... - I can't...
- Two-sixteen, return to the base. - Copy that. Returning.
This is two-sixteen! We see a signal flare! It's them!
- Deploy the rescue team. - Two-sixteen, give me the coordinates!
Thirty kilometers to the south-east of the town berezniki.
The coordinates are 5934 north and 55.28 east...
Thank you, viadimir.
Miss, I'd love a sip of something strong, please.
Right away, sergey pavlovich.
Chkalovsky airport, Moscow region. Day three after launch
Daddy!
Alex!
Dad!
Alex!
What are you doing here in the middle of the night?
She sleeps in the nest.
- Who does? - The mama bird.
You my little explorer...
Were you scared? I bet you were.
Your heart is beating so fast from all this running around!
No, dad, I wasn't running. I was flying.
Attention, Moscow is speaking!
This is a message from the tass.
On march 19th, at 12 hours 02 minutes Moscow time,
the Soviet manned voskhod 2 spacecraft,
piloted by commander colonel pavel Ivanovich belyayev
and second-in-command
lieutenant colonel alexey arkhipovich leonov,
landed successfully in the perm region.
Comrades belyayev and leonov are feeling well.
In memory of my friend,
commander pavel Ivanovich belyayev.
Alexey leonov
Chief consultant: Alexey leonov