Georgi Dobrovolsky

50 years ago, cosmonauts Georgi Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev became the first (and so far only) humans to die in space when their cabin depressurized. Recovery crews found the trio dead in their seats, with blue patches on their faces and blood dripping from their ears and noses

50 years ago, on June 29, 1971, cosmonauts Georgi Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev died in space, the first humans to do so, as the Soyuz 11 crew capsule depressurized. They had been the first crew to board Salyut 1, the first space station, spending 23 days conducting experiments.