Feb 21

Space Rocket History #458 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Final Training & Tang Ceremony

Eight cosmonauts arrived in Washington, D.C. on February 7th, 1975 to start their final training session in the U.S. as the technical specialists argued whether the spacecraft was ready or not.

ASTP Cosmonauts visit Disney World

Leonov enters the Apollo Command Module

ASTP Soyuz Spacecraft being readied for the mission

Feb 07

Space Rocket History #457 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Soviet Concerns with Apollo

The origin of the Soviet’s concern, regarding the potential impact of the Apollo Command Module’s Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters on the Soyuz spacecraft during docking maneuvers, can be traced back to a Skylab film.

ASTP Crew

Apollo Simulator

Crew Transfer Drawing. Credit Encl. Astronautica.

Jan 24

Space Rocket History #456 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Soyuz 16

Soyuz 16 served as a comprehensive rehearsal for the Soviet contribution to Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP).

Anatoli Filipchenko. Credit Spacefacts.

Soyuz 16 Crew

Nikolai Rukavishnikov

Jan 10

Space Rocket History #455 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Spacecraft Orientation

The American astronauts acknowledged the necessity of enhancing their Russian language proficiency. They observed that their Russian counterparts, had demonstrated a remarkable commitment to learning English, dedicating 6 to 8 hours each day to individual language instruction.

Interior view of Environment Control System breadboard test

Spacecraft Simulators at Star City

Docking Systems Installed on a Simulator