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THE SPACE PROGRAM
The Early Years
The Mercury Program
The Gemini Program
The Apollo Program
Skylab
Apollo-Soyuz

The Shuttle Program
Program Info
Orbiter Info
Mission Info

The Space Station
Background
Assembly
Dog Crews

Mars
Missions
Art

The Apollo Program

Apollo-Soyuz
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
(ASTP)

Apollo-Soyuz patch
American Astronauts:
Vance Brand
Deke Slayton
Thomas P. Stafford

Soviet Cosmonauts:
Valeriy Nikolayevich Kubasov
Alexei Arkhipovich Leonov

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) was the first space-flight mission managed jointly by two nations, the United States and the USSR. It was designed to test the compatibility of rendezvous and docking for American and Soviet space-craft. Both nations hoped to open the way for future joint flights. The Soyuz was launched just over seven hours prior to the launch of the Apollo CSM. Apollo then maneuvered to rendezvous and docking 52 hours after the Soyuz launch. The Apollo and Soyuz crews conducted a variety of experiments over a two-day period. After separation, Apollo remained in space an additional 6 days. Soyuz returned to Earth approximately 43 hours after separation.

 Apollo-Soyuz Photo by Nasa

PHOTO: Apollo-Soyuz The final launch of a Saturn rocket came on July 15, 1975 as part of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. Earlier that day, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft lifted off its launch pad at a Soviet launch site carrying three cosmonauts. Seven and one-half hours later, the U.S. Apollo spacecraft was launched with its crew of American astronauts. Rendezvous and docking of the two ships were accomplished on July 17. The two ships remained docked for two days, conducting joint experiments and exchanging national mementos. In this photograph, astronauts Donald Slayton and Thomas Stafford chat with cosmonaut Alexei Leonov during their visit to the Soyuz Orbital Module.



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