The prominent experiment in space accommodated
jointly on the Soviet space vehicle Soyuz-19 and the American
space vehicle Apollo had the entire world agog. The first-ever
docking of two space vehicles belonging to two different
nations has been implemented. New docking equipment has
been tested for purpose of handling safety of manned space
flights. Astrophysical, life sciences, technological, and
geophysical experiments have been performed. The mission
of the USSR and the US space vehicles was of historic significance
in developing the Soviet-American technical cooperation.
Its successful implementation revolutionized new aspects
of cooperation in space exploration for peaceful purposes
between different nations.
L.I. Brezhnev, N.V. Podgorny, A.N. Kosygin
July 1975
This mission is the next thrilling page inserted
in the manned space exploration history. It has evidenced
that cooperation in space including efforts and contributions
of more than one country is not only feasible, but also
desirable. I am sure that the example of the Apollo and
Soyuz crews will be joined by the others and, as a result,
more will be paid in scientific knowledge and better international
understanding. I am certain that the Soyuz-Apollo mission
has created only a pathway to the ongoing American-Russian
cooperation in manned space exploration.
J.R. Ford
July 1975
25 years, a quarter of century, gone
since that memorable event - the joint manned mission of
Soyuz and Apollo space vehicles that was the first International
Space Project in the area of manned missions. Hundreds of
thousands of specialists from the USSR and the United States
of America pooled their efforts to implement this complex
research project. Now, at the turn of centuries, it is becoming
more and more evident that prospects of international cooperation
in space offered from the ASTP orbit altitude were not a
mirage. That the Russian Space Stations and the American
space vehicles have been visited by dozens of International
crews is testimony to these outlooks. It is symbolical that
the docking unit concept verified in the process of the
Soyuz-Apollo Project implementation will serve to attach
modules and vehicles to the International Space Station
presently being the most tremendous International Project
in the area of new technologies. We congratulate all who
contributed to the ASTP Project on the anniversary and hope
for the international cooperation of scientists and experts
from different countries to broaden and strengthen and national
intellectual and economical potential to be employed for
solving the Earth's civilization problem - stable development
for the benefit and prosperity of mankind.
V.N. Kubasov, A.A. Leonov
July 2000
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