cosmonauts

The ‘very potent’ supplement once given to Soviet cosmonauts can curb anxiety

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The ‘very potent’ supplement once given to Soviet cosmonauts can curb anxiety

Houston, we have a chill pill. Back in the 1960s, Soviet scientists developed a sweet little supplement that they stocked in the space kits of cosmonauts — the Russian version of an astronaut — to keep them cool under pressure. Still a popular over-the-counter option in Russia today, the drug promises to curb anxiety, cure … Read more

Russia’s original space program nearly killed cosmonauts with crazy blunders and amateur tech

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Russia’s original space program nearly killed cosmonauts with crazy blunders and amateur tech

The “space race” of the 1950s and 60s conjures images of the gleaming Sputnik satellite, Soviet scientists in crisp white coats and sharp-nosed rockets rising into the sky with fiery splendor. But, the reality of the USSR’s space program — which narrowly beat the US to send the first man to space — was far … Read more