Leonov (fictional spacecraft)

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The Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov is a fictional Soviet spaceship in the novel 2010: Odyssey Two, and its film adaptation 2010. It was named after Soyuz cosmonaut Alexei Leonov.

In the book Leonov is described as being equipped with a Sakharov drive, a new method of propulsion that makes it possible for the craft to make a round-trip to Jupiter. The craft also uses a large heatshield to aerobrake in Jupiter's outer atmosphere saving fuel. In recognition of Alexei Leonov, after whom the craft is named, there is a framed painting by the cosmonaut in the mess room. The Russians are said to view gravity as more or less a luxury and the Leonov does not have artificial gravity. The ship was originally to be christened the Gherman Titov, but was changed later for undisclosed reasons.

In the film, Leonov is shown to have a large rotating mid-section providing artificial gravity (presumably artistic license for ease of filming,) and has a large ballute in place of the heatshield. A film character comments that Titov had "fall[en] out of favor", as an explanation as to why the ship's name was changed to honor Alexei Leonov, but does not elaborate.

The model of the Leonov for the film was designed by Syd Mead.

The Omega class destroyer from Babylon 5 shares a number of design similarities to the Leonov, particularly the rotating midsection.