Jun 6

Space Rocket History #465 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Epilogue

Posted on June 6, 2025

Due to the deterioration of relations between the United States and the Soviet Union in the late 1970s, no follow-on missions to ASTP took place. A backup Apollo spacecraft and Saturn IB rocket were available and there were some discussions of possib...

P3-crewmembers pose with the Apollo Command Module from their mission

P2-President Ford at the White House during the tour of the United States

P1-Stafford, Leonov, Brand, Kubasov, and Slayton in Moscow during the tour of the Soviet Union

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Arnold Aldrich, Astp, Baykonur, Bobko, Chris Kraft, Crippen, Deke Slaton, Ellington Air Force Base, George Low, Gerald R Ford, Glynn Lunney, Iss, John F Kennedy, Jsc, Kiev, Kubasov, Leningrad, Leonov, Mir, Novosibirsk, Rockwell, Saturn Ib, Skylab, Space Shuttle, Star City, Tbilisi, Tom Stafford, Uss New Orleans, Vance Brand, Volgograd

May 23

Space Rocket History #464 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Coming Home

Posted on May 23, 2025

Celebrations erupted in Mission Control, with broad smiles and cigar smoke marking the successful conclusion. But, while Mission control was celebrating, it was not yet known that the crew had been exposed to toxic fumes during descent. The crew was ...

P2-Cosmonauts Leonov and Kubasov (speaking) are interviewed by Soviet newsmen shortly after their safe landing in Kazakhstan.

P1-Kubasov autographs the side of the Soyuz descent vehicle

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Ats 6, Baykonur, Bobko, Crippen, Deke Slaton, Glynn Lunney, Goddard, John F Kennedy, John Young, Jsc, Kazakhstan, Kubasov, Leonov, Neil, Sadie Link, Tom Stafford, Uss New Orleans, Vance Brand

May 9

Space Rocket History #463 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Joint Operations

Posted on May 9, 2025

“I had thoughts I couldn’t express at the time. It felt like we weren’t just opening a hatch in space, but opening the door to a new era on Earth.” Tom Stafford.

P2-A-S-Eclipse

P3-AS second docking

P1-Eclipse

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Baykonur, Bobko, Deke Slaton, Detente, Glynn Lunney, Goddard, John F Kennedy, Jsc, Ksc, Kubasov, Leonov, Marshall Space Flight Center, Nikita Khrushchev, Solar Eclipse, Syromyatnikov, Tom Stafford, Truly, Uva, Vance Brand

Apr 25

Space Rocket History #462 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Handshake

Posted on April 25, 2025

On July 17, 1975, orbiting in space high above the French city of Metz, the American and Russian commanders shook hands. Their conversation, a mix of personal and technical remarks, reflected a casual familiarity, reminiscent of their simulator train...

P2-friendship

P3-handshake

P1-Apollo-Soyuz-handshake

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Ats 6, Baykonur, Brezhnev, Bushuyev, Deke Slaton, Dzani Bek Ov, Ford, George Low, Glynn Lunney, James Fletcher, Jsc, Ksc, Kubasov, Leonov, Nell Hutchinson, Pyotr Klimuk, Sevastyanov, Tom Stafford, Truly, Vance Brand

Apr 11

Space Rocket History #461 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Rendezvous

Posted on April 11, 2025

CapCom Truly radioed at 10:46 with the go-ahead: “I’ve got two messages for you: Moscow is go for docking; Houston is go for docking. It’s up to you guys. Have fun.”

P3-AI Generated Image of Apollo Soyuz docke

P2-Improperly installed connector on the docking latch

P1-separated from the s-ivb

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Ats 6, Baykonur, Bob Crippen, Bushuyev, Chet Lee, Chris Kraft, Deke Slaton, Dzani Bek Ov, Farouk El Baz, George Low, Glynn Lunney, James Fletcher, Jsc, Karol Bobko, Ksc, Kubasov, Leonov, Nell Hutchinson, Pyotr Klimuk, Sevastyanov, Tom Stafford, Truly, Vance Brand

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