50 years of extravehicular activity

The article is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the first human egress into space, which was implemented by Alexey Leonov on March 18, 1965 from spacecraft Voskhod-2. Consideration is given to essential scientific and technical, humanitarian and philosophical aspects of the phenomenon of extravehicular activity. The paper summaries a structure and functions, areas of scientific, engineering and experimental support of the extravehicular activity, current state of protective equipment, i.e. spacesuit, restraint aids for weightlessness and adaptive tools. The role and functions of S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia in generation and development of measures and methods ensuring a productive work for the crew outside the orbital station are highlighted. An individual human activity in outer space executed as a mankind space activity is emphasized. An attempt is made to identify an optimization vector of extravehicular activity directed to the end of the twenty-first century.