Interkosmos: The Eastern Bloc's Early Space Program [Paperback]

This book focuses on the Interkosmos program, which?was formed in 1967, marking a fundamentally new era of cooperation by socialist countries, led by the?Soviet Union,?in the study and exploration of space. The?chapters shed light on the space program that was at that time a prime outlet for?the Soviet Union's aims at becoming a world power.

Interkosmos?was a highly publicized Russian space program?that rapidly became a significant propaganda tool for the Soviet?Union in the waning years of communism. Billed as an international?research-cosmonaut imperative, it was also a high-profile means of?displaying solidarity with the nine participating Eastern bloc countries.?Those countries contributed pilots who were trained in Moscow for?week-long guest missions on orbiting Salyut stations. They did a little?subsidiary science and were permitted only the most basic mechanical?maneuvers.

In this enthralling new book, and following extensive international?research, the authors fully explore the background, accomplishments?and political legacy of the Interkosmos program. Through personal and?often highly revealing interviews with many of the participants they?relate the very human story behind this extraordinary but controversial?space venture..

History and Development of the Interkosmos program.- First to fly: Czechoslovakias cosmonaut.- From Poland to Salyut-6.- Sigmund J?hn and Soyuz-30.- Bulgaria in space.- Hungary joins the space club. - A Vietnamese cosmonaut. - The Soviet Cuban Salyut mission.- From the steppes of Mongolia. - Romania continues the program.- Beyond Interkosmos. - Soviet-Indian mission.  A Syrian researcher on Mir.  Bulgarias second flight.  Afghanistans cosmonaut-researcher.  Chr?tien in space again.  The Interkosmos program.  Appendices.  About the authors.  Index.