In 1972, the Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission was officially underway. However, it did not come easily or quickly. Only through years of negotiation and planning did the United States and the Soviet Union come to an agreement that would later allow for a rendezvous in space. Oddly, the idea had been talked about since the 1960’s when astronauts and cosmonauts infrequently met at official functions around the world. That talk eventually became a reality to the disbelief of many from both countries. ASTP would also serve as a fitting conclusion to the Space Race and the Apollo era.
Since the 1960’s the Apollo spacecraft was an arrow that pierced the pride of the Soviet Union. It was the most sophisticated machine ever built at the time and its performance contributed significantly to reaching the goal of the moon. With the goal of the moon achieved by the United States and the Soviet Union the loser for numerous reasons, it was time for a show of good will. ASTP even got a little help in its fruition by a movie that was released in 1968 called “Marooned”. In the movie, a stranded Apollo crew receives help from a Russian cosmonaut who breaks his orbit in an attempt to rescue them.
However, before the joint mission could take place there were several technical and logistical obstacles that had to be overcome. The primary problem was that a docking module had to be constructed that could link up the two spacecraft once in space. The module would also have to act as a pressure regulator since the Apollo and Soyuz had different internal atmospheres (The Apollo had a pure oxygen atmosphere of 5 Psi. The Soyuz used a part oxygen, part nitrogen atmosphere of 14.7 Psi. ) Once docked, the 3.15-meter module would prevent the two crews from getting the “bends.” Both countries helped construct the docking module.
