Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
ASTP
Crew:
Thomas Stafford [4], Commander
Vance Brand [1], Command Module Pilot
Donald Slayton [1], Docking Module Pilot
Backup Crew:
Alan Bean, Commander
Ronald Evans, Command Module Pilot
Jack Lousma, Docking Module Pilot
Launch:
Location: John F. Kennedy Space Center
Pad: 39-B
Date: 15 July 1975
Time: 17:50:00 UTC
Flight:
Mission Duration: 9 days, 1 hours, 28 minutes, 24 seconds
Orbits: 145
Soyuz docking:
Soyuz 19, 17 July 1975 16:09 UTC - 19 July 1975 12:03 UTC
Soyuz 19, 19 July 1975 12:34 UTC - 19 July 1975 15:26 UTC
Landing:
Date: 24 July 1975
Time: 19:18:24 UTC
Recovery:
Location: Pacific Ocean (21° 52' N, 162° 45' W)
Vessel: USS New Orleans (LPH-11)
The Apollo rendezvous and docking with the Soviet Soyuz occurred on 17 July 1975. This was the first space flight for Donald K. (Deke) Slayton, one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, who was grounded with a heart murmur. The Apollo portion of ASTP is often (erroneously) referred to as Apollo 18. The capsule had originally been slated for the Apollo 18 lunar mission, which was cancelled.
A crisis occurred when ASTP was landing. The attitude control thrusters had been left on and fumes flooded the capsule during pressure equalization. This was very dangerous because the astronauts were not wearing pressure suits. The capsule inverted when it hit the water. Stafford was able to get out of his seat and get oxygen masks for the crew. Brand had already passed out.
The Soyuz flight (Soyuz 19) was flown 15-21 July 1975. It carried two crew members, Alexei A. Leonov and Valeri N. Kubasov.
The ASTP command module is currently on display at the California Museum of Science and Industry, Los Angeles, CA.
Launch vehicle was a Saturn IB.
Historic handshake between Alexei Leonov and Thomas Stafford. Credit: NASA
(click to enlarge)
ASTP on display
(click to enlarge)
Crew
Page last modified: 08 April 2024 09:06:54.
