enigmaland:

Very rare cosmonaut daily itinerary signed by Yuri Gagarin, Gherman Titov, and Grigori Nelyubov. Document also signed by Sergei Korolyov and Nikolai Kamanin. Item dated March 4, 1961 just one month and one week before the launch of “Vostok-1”. Itinerary includes: 08:00 Complex exercise/ 13:30 Classes on studying elements of controlling systems and techniques of piloting/ 19:00 Classes of radio communications. There is a center crease and a corner crease most likely created by one of these space and aviation pioneers. Dimensions: 8”x5½”. Very fine condition.

The backup crew of Soyuz TMA-04M visited а special gazebo in Baikonur a few days ago. It was here on 10 April 1961 that cosmonauts (Gagarin, Titov, Nelyubov, Nikolayev, Popovich and Bykovsky), Chief Designer Sergei Korolyov and high ranking officials held an important meeting to discuss Yuri Gagarin’s flight as the first man in space.

(Source: 1 & 4)

sovietsymbols:

Soviet Cosmonauts

(Source: victorovich)

The rascally Grigori Nelyubov with his wife Zinaida

Before Yuri Gagarin’s flight at Baikonur. From left: Chief of the Cosmonaut Training Center Nikolai Kamanin, Gherman Titov, Konstantin Rudnev (Soviet Statesman), Sergei Korolyov, Yuri Gagarin, Grigori Nelyubov (April 10 1961)

Cosmonauts playing chess before Yuri Gagarin’s first flight. Pavel Popovich and Yuri Gagarin are on the left and Grigori Nelyubov is on the right. (1961)

The first cosmonaut group during parachute training

Grigori Nelyubov during parachute training.

Nelyubov was one of the more experienced pilots in the first cosmonaut group(he was one of Gagarin’s backups) but was dismissed in 1963 for disciplinary reasons. He sunk into alcoholism and in 1966 was run over by a train.