Have any cosmonaughts died in space and are they still floating around in the capsules up there?

Question

knock on wood no american has died in space yet

Answer 1

Soyuz 1 was launched into orbit on April 23, 1967, carrying a single cosmonaut, Colonel Vladimir Komarov, who was killed when the spacecraft crashed during its return to Earth. This was the first in-flight fatality in the history of spaceflight.

Soyuz 11 was the first successful visit to the world's first space station, Salyut 1. However the mission ended in disaster when the crew capsule depressurised during preparations for re-entry, killing the three-man crew. This accident resulted in the first and to date only astronaut deaths to occur in space (not in high atmosphere). On June 30, 1971, after an apparently normal re-entry of the capsule of the Soyuz 11 mission, the recovery team opened the capsule to find the crew dead.

So far no one who has died in space has remained there.  They have all returned to earth for burial, etc.  If they did die in orbit, their spacecraft could be programmed to deorbit by ground crews.

Answer 2

I don't believe that anyone has died in orbit in space.

There have been many fatalities, both for the Russians and the U.S., but generally they have occurred either during lioftoff and the boost phase (such as the Challenger and several Russian shots that blew up on the pad), or during the descent out of orbit to return to Earth (such as the Columbia and several Soyuz landings that went bad).

Answer 3

Old rumors about a pair of Russians from a lunar attempt test- vehicle has broke up on re-entry, noted as possible spy satellite.  Another rumor of single cosmonaut died in space - environmental system failure during multi orbit test of early space shuttle/supply vehicle for Soyuz station.

Answer 4

No. But the only dead that orbited the eath before burning up in the atmosphere was Gene Rodenberry. The creator of Star Trek.

Answer 5

No.

Why only Americans? Do you not value the lives of other nationalities?

Answer 6

I think they all died on re-entry or exploding on lift off.