(CNN) — Alexei Leonov, the first person to perform a spacewalk, died this week. He was 85.
Russian space agency Roscosmos Space Corporation announced his passing Friday.
Roscosmos State Corporation is sad to announce the passing away of Alexey Arkhipovich Leonov — https://t.co/7hTW6BTWUd
The legendary Soviet cosmonaut No. 11 was the first human in the world to perform a spacewalk, was twice awarded with Hero of the Soviet Union title. pic.twitter.com/jwusuQCTEb
— РОСКОСМОС (@roscosmos) October 11, 2019
Leonov made history on March 18, 1965, when he embarked on the first spacewalk. He spent 12 minutes outside the craft on the Voskhod 2 mission.
On the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975, he met with US astronauts in space to give TV viewers tours of their respective crafts, the first time Soviet and US cosmonauts collaborated in space. The mission is credited with kickstarting international cooperation aboard the International Space Station.
The space agency provided few details about Leonov’s death but said his funeral will be held October 15 at Mytischi Military Memorial cemetery outside Moscow.
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