In order to achieve this goal, Soviet scientists decided it was time to build a new multi-purpose spacecraft that would serve for many years as a safe and reliable space transportation system. The design they came up with was the Soyuz spacecraft. In the middle of the design and construction of this new engineering marvel, Sergej Korolyov, the main designer of all the spacecraft and rockets used previously, died suddenly while undergoing an operation. Despite this setback, construction continued and by early 1967, the first Soyuz rockets were ready.
To celebrate this accomplishment, and to flaunt their superiority, the USSR planned a spectacular demonstration. Soyuz 1 would take off into orbit carrying one cosmonaut. The following day, Sozuz 2 would lift off with a crew of three. The ships would rendezvous in orbit and a space walk would occur, carrying two of the second crew to the first Soyuz.
On April 23, 1967 the Soyuz 1 took off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying a single cosmonaut, Colonel Vladimir Komarov.
Almost immediately, the troubles began. One of the solar panels required to provide power failed to deploy, instead, remaining wrapped around the module. Despite having only half the solar power planned for, a maneuvering of the craft was attempted. It didn't work because of interference of the reaction control system exhaust with the ion flow sensors. Only backup communications were available, and then not very reliable.
Next, plans were made to have the crew on the second Soyuz, Valery Bykovsky, Yevgeny Khrunov, and Aleksei Yeliseyev, launch and perform a spacewalk to fix the solar panel of Soyuz 1. However heavy rain storms at the Baikonur facility made the launch impossible. Finally, it was decided that when Soyuz 1 orbited above the USSR again, it would be returned from orbit.
