A Ferry To Space Stations

A FERRY TO SPACE STATIONS

Soyuz has transported cosmonauts to and from space stations since 1971. During the first decade of Soyuz use, the cosmonauts' planned stay in orbit might exceed the battery life of their Soyuz spacecraft. Therefore, the early versions of the Soyuz had to be replaced with a fresh vehicle, just as food, water, and air supplies had to be replenished.

Although the replacement Soyuz could be guided to the space station without a crew, cosmonauts usually ferried the vehicles, because periodic visitors and crew exchanges were welcome changes in the orbital routine. That sociable tradition continues in today's Russian space program.

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Soyuz supply missions have provided opportunities for some space "firsts." The first black person in space, Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez (Cuba), and the first woman to perform a spacewalk, Svetlana Savitskaya, flew on visiting missions to a Salyut space station.

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DIPLOMACY IN SPACE

The Soviets began a guest cosmonaut program in March 1978 with the launch of Soyuz 28, which carried Czechoslovak pilot Vladimir Remek to the space station Salyut 6. The guest cosmonaut program gave Soviet officials a way to promote friendly relations with other socialist countries. The program quickly grew to include Soviet allies and other nations.

Through 1996 the program included representatives from 19 nations on 26 flights. In 1995 U.S. astronaut Norman Thagard became the first American launched aboard a Soyuz.

Czechoslovakia	Poland	East Germany	Bulgaria
Hungary	Vietnam	Cuba	Mongolia
Romania	France	India	Syria
Afghanistan	Japan	Great Britain	Austria
Germany	Kazakstan	United States

Why Land on the Ground			Paying for a Ride
Space Race > A Permanent Presence > Soyuz > 1-2-3-4-5 >> Space Shuttle