Soyuz-Apollo manned space flight

Dear colleagues, veterans of cosmonautics, friends,

Thirty years ago, during July days the first-ever international flight of
manned space vehicles under the Soyuz-Apollo Experimental Program (EPAS) had
been performed.

The program was initially laid down in October 1970 when the specialists
from the USSR and USA were discussing potential directions of the
Soviet-American cooperation in the field of manned space flights. The
Program proper was launched in May 1972 at the time of signing the Agreement
between the two countries on their cooperation in space exploration and use
for peaceful purposes.

Over a very short period of time (as short as three years!) the scientists,
specialists, employees of the key enterprises from the USSR and USA had
managed to jointly prepare and implement the Soyuz-Apollo manned space
flight, the crews of which included Russian cosmonauts A.A. Leonov and V.N.
Kubasov, as well as American astronauts T. Stafford, D. Sleiton, V. Brandt.

Great efforts were made to modify the space vehicles, develop the compatible
systems and facilities to ensure life support, rendezvous and docking, space
vehicle flight control; develop and plan the collaborative astrophysical,
biological and technological experiments. In deciding these issues, our
enterprise, RSC Energia after S.P. Korolev (then Ts KBEM), played a most
important and key role as the leading enterprise on the USSR's part, the
developer and manufacturer of the Soyuz space vehicle and a number of the
compatible systems in support of the mission and docking.

The Soyuz-19/Apollo space vehicles flight that took place on July 15-24,
1975 initiated their international cooperation in space exploration and
development by manned space vehicles. During the flight taking place on July
17 and 19 the two successive scheduled dockings of these space vehicles
created in the world's leading countries and based upon originally different
technical solutions had been accomplished. On July 18 the crews successfully
completed the transfer from one space vehicle to the other. On the whole,
the joint program of the exciting space experiments had been implemented.

Further to the pioneer experience in their international cooperation, it
became possible to take up such collaborative programs as the Mir-Shuttle
and Mir-NASA (during 1995-1998), the Sea Launch Project (since 1999) and
other international projects aimed at providing services for orbital
insertion of space vehicles and developing satellite systems, with the
participation of both the 'Space Club" member states and developing
countries.

The cooperative experience provided background for an ambitious large-scale
International Space Station Project, which is in its 6th year of existence
and its construction is in progress. The Station has been flying in a
near-Earth orbit in a man-tended configuration for nearly five years. Today
the eleventh crew is working aboard the Station. International cooperation
in the field of manned space missions keeps developing in different
directions. Russian specialists are willing to cooperate with their foreign
colleagues in the development of a new manned space vehicle Clipper.

This Project arouses interest among the leaders and specialists from
America, Europe and Asia. The specialists and scientists from different
countries are currently involved in the joint investigations under the
Project of human space fights to Mars and Moon.

Common objectives set by the scientists and specialists from different
countries, sophisticated and expensive space technology inevitably lead the
humanity to joining its efforts to explore the Universe.
Rocket and Space Corporation Energia pursues this path, which was initiated
by the respected veterans of cosmonautics of the two leading space states
worldwide and which we continue to follow due to an active creative activity
of each and every employees of space industry.

This path is supported by those who understand and appreciate the world
cosmonautics achievements and regard cosmonautics as a major activity of the
Humanity, realize the need for its development, in particular, manned
programs.

In view of the 30th anniversary of implementing the first-ever international
flight of the manned space vehicles under the EPAS Program, we are pleased
to congratulate its participants - cosmonauts and astronauts, scientists and
specialists, employees of rocket and space industry enterprises both in
Russia and the USA on this significant event, we wish them good health and
new achievements in the collaborative research and development of space for
the benefit of the entire Mankind!

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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info