Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) Handshake

Apollo and Soyuz spacecrafts dock in space, the hatch between the spacecrafts are opened, and astronauts Thomas Stafford and Deke Slayton shakes hands with cosmonaut Alexey Leonov. As a gesture of friendship, American astronauts speak Russian, while the cosmonauts speak English.

Then, Thomas Stafford is shown assembling two halves of a medallion commemorating the ASTP.

The 1975 docking of the American Apollo and Soviet Soyuz vehicles was the first international space project, and showed that the two space programs could work together.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Apollo
• Soyuz
• ASTP
• Thomas
• Stafford
• aviation
• space
• Deke
• Slayton
• Alexey
• Alexei
• Leonov
• handshake
• international

[06hurdwp]

This is the single greatest moment in human history.

[PatchesRips]

Awesome! :)

[El135o]

I read that this flight was supposed to have been Slayton-Swigert-Brand, but Swigert was caught up in the stamp scandal.

Was Stafford brought in for his experience? Slayton has apparently submitted himself as commander at first.

[NASAHUB]

I had the great opportunity to meet up with Tom Stafford, Alexei Leonov, and Valery Kubasov in Weatherford, OK, a couple of years ago when the cosmonauts were at the Stafford Air & Space Museum to autograph various artifacts, books, and photos. It's a wonderful museum if anyone is ever out in that area of I-40 (74 miles west of Ok City). I hear that Alexei has been ill - I pray for his recovery.

[toddsmitts]

...his piloting skills were exceptional and his cool head kept Gemini 8 and an LLRV crash from becoming tragedies.

The fact that McDivitt was chosen for the maiden flight of the LM speaks volumes of what NASA thought of his piloting skills, and let's not forget the active role he and other astronauts played in the delevopment of both the LM and CSM.

Aldrin made many scientific contributions to the program to be sure, but piloting skill over the ones I mentioned? Doubtful.

[toddsmitts]

On and on about the landings, as if that was the be all and end all of an astronauts career. A great honor, to be sure, but there were other important milestones made by the early missions, even the ones that weren't as famous.

And no, I didn't mention Armstrong because he was the first on the moon. Landing on the moon first didn't make him a great astronaut. He was chosen to land on the moon first BECAUSE he was a great astronaut...

[tracyterry]

You appear to be assuming that I know nothing about the space program. I wonder if you have read as many books as I have on the subject. You seem a little peeved. I am only discussing, not arguing. I agree with much you say.

[tracyterry]

The Navy bias thing is prevalent in the moon landings - 6 of 7 commanded by Navy pilots. Grissom the best? Never. Armstrong? He was great, but just because he was the first to walk on the moon? So what? McDivitt? OK, Yeah, I respect Jim. He's very intelligent. But Aldrin revolutionized space-walking, invented water-egress training, and his orbital theories in astrodynamics were the basis for rendevous. Aldrin has the best scientific mind in space.......

[toddsmitts]

Also, Charlie Bassett was intended to make an EVA on Gemini 9 before this pushed up the crews which left Lovell and Aldrin prime crew on 12 (so it evens out).

I never said Capenter was a great astronaut, but Aldrin the best? Over the likes of Grissom, McDivitt, or Armstrong? I think not.

[toddsmitts]

Did you read anything I wrote?  It was the Air Force who paved the way by proving the hardware. It's basically a trade-off between the privledge of being first to fly a mission and flying later but having longer, more elaborate missions.

The first American spacewalk was performed by West Point man Ed White. In fact four of the six intended Gemini EVA's were performed by Air Force guys, if you include the aborted Gemini 8.