Komarov, Dobrovolski and Patcaev are widely regarded as national heroes (or at least they were regarded that way back in pre-Perestroyka days). In fact, back in

Komarov, Dobrovolski and Patcaev are widely regarded as national heroes (or at least they were regarded that way back in pre-Perestroyka days). In fact, back in those days pretty much every adult could name all cosmonauts that died on a mission and quite of few people also knew all cosmonauts by name. Space was a really big deal. So having three men die was a real national tragedy.