Space Rocket History #453 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Mid-term Review

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Mike Annis

According to George Low, the Soviet mission operations control room was quite large – it contained 16 two-man consoles, thus allowing them 32 flight controllers. In addition, there was a back row of consoles which were used for personnel such as the project technical director; this back row was also a work station for display controllers who control the main display boards in the front of the room.

Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City

Star City Location in Relation to Moscow

Soviet manned space mission control in Kaliningrad. Credit Getty Images

Oct 11

Space Rocket History #449 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Apollo-Salyut Test Mission Planning

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Mike Annis

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The spacecraft designers led by Caldwell Johnson faced a demanding task. Director Gilruth urged them to accelerate the development of the docking adapter design, aiming to have a functional model ready for the upcoming November meeting with the Soviets.

Apollo-Salyut Hardware

Present & Future Docking System

Docking Module Concept Design

Sep 28

Space Rocket History #448 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Soyuz/Skylab & Apollo/Salyut

Posted on September 28, 2024 by Mike Annis

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Two options were presented: Apollo docking with Salyut/Soyuz or Soyuz with Skylab/Apollo. Caldwell Johnson was taken aback by the Soviets’ eagerness to immediately pursue the development of a universal docking mechanism.

Concept Apollo/Soyuz. Credit Astronomy.com

Concept Soyuz/Skylab

Concept Apollo/Salyut

Sep 14

Space Rocket History #447 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Creating a Partnership

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Mike Annis

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On January 20th, 1971 in private negotiation, Low and Frutkin met with Keldysh and Feoktistov to discuss rendezvous and docking. NASA proposed developing compatible systems for Apollo and Soyuz rather than future spacecraft, aiming to give specialists something concrete on which to work.