The tragic Russian cosmonaut who was sent into space knowing he would die.

Above is Vladimir Komarov's remains.

Vladimir Komarov, one of the very first Russian cosmonauts and close friend of Yuri Gagarin(The first human in space)was destined too die.

You see during the space race the Russians wanted a big show for the 50th anniversary of the communist revolution, and so Leonid Brezhnev, leader of the Soviet Union, decided to put on a big show.. However this landed during the space race and so the best big show was to send a man up in a rocket. Even though the rocket wasn't ready.

Gagarin and Komarov found 109 serious faults when inspecting the rocket, and sent a memo out, however anyone who read the memo was sent too diplomatic siberia.

Komarov however still decided to take the flight because the other candidate was Gagarin and Komarov didn't wish that pain on his dear friend.

Check the link for the full story. Or grab the book Starman which comes out next month
npr.org