“Soyuz” – “Apollo”. Remote reboot – RIA Novosti

The historic launch of “Soyuz-19″ and “Apollo” was held July 15, 1975. The crew of “Soyuz-19″ included Alexei Leonov (commander) and Valery Kubasov (flight engineer) for “Apollo” flew Thomas Stafford (commander), Vance Brand (command module pilot) and Donald Slayton (docking module pilot).

In preparation for flight crews actively studied languages, including technical jargon. During the sessions became clear that both of them easier to communicate when the crew members do not speak the native language, and learned. Therefore, it was decided that during the flight the Americans will speak in Russian, and Russian – in English.

July 17 ships successfully docked, the astronauts greeted each other in two languages, with Stafford and Leonov shook hands in the airlock – the famous “handshake in space.” Astronauts have visited both ships exchanged flags and souvenirs, conducted scientific experiments, and later spoke directly with US President Gerald Ford. On the question of the White House, what they eat in orbit, followed by a humorous answer: “No beer, no crabs, but the food is generally OK – diverse”.

By the way, on the topic of food, drinking in a conversation with the astronauts Both countries then joked and Leonid Brezhnev, hosting the crews and teams of scientists after completion of the flight. “When I’m watching you, it’s interesting, of course, it was. And I think: Now they have a pint and herring. One! But can not you, probably”.

Leonid Ilyich all that day on the many rare joking, smiling, to interact with reporters, delight patted on the shoulder of astronauts: “Heroes!”

“So I would like to know how you fly there – ask them Brezhnev – as tumbling and how ridiculous we were there We look for you when you were at the top, tiny. ” And then he added that the flight “Soyuz – Apollo” and generally what they do, Soviet and American scientists and astronauts, is a masterpiece. “On the phone, you can speak through space to watch TV through the cosmos, for this great future. What the future holds, I do not know and do not know Keldysh. Science has no limits”.