Russia’s space agency Roscosmos on Wednesday commemorated a tragic space accident 50 years ago by publishing the last radio message transmitted by the crew who lost their lives.
“We are meeting tomorrow, prepare the cognac!” were the last words of cosmonaut Vladislav Volkovm, sent one hour before the tragedy and kept secret until now.
Volkov and crewmembers Georgy Dobrovolsky and Viktor Patsayev were found dead in their space capsule in June 1971 after returning from the Salyut space station.
During their flight back to Earth from the first manned space station, the cabin suddenly depressurized, leading to the death of all crew members.
Immediate attempts to revive the crew upon the capsule’s landing, 200 kilometres from Kasakhstan’s city of Kostanay, were not successful.
It is said to be the worst accident of Russian space travel.
