The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project

ON may 24, 1972 former President Nixon signed an agreement with Soviet Premier Aleksei Kosygin committing the United States to the first international space venture, a linkup between American and Soviet space vehicles known as the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). The flight, scheduled for July 1975, was designed as the culmination of detente, a great meeting in the heavens of two old foes become friends.

On the surface, preparations for the flight still appear to be going smoothly. But the more American experts learn about Soviet space operations, the more critical they are of the ASTP. Since the ASTP was conceived in an atmosphere of great euphoria, but without much real consideration of facts, perhaps it would be wise to reevaluate it before it’s too late: to analyze the importance of the goals, the success expected in meeting them, and the cost to the United States.

MK

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Michael S. Kelly

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ON may 24, 1972 former President Nixon signed an agreement with Soviet Premier Aleksei Kosygin committing the United States to the first international space venture, a linkup between American and Soviet space vehicles known as the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). The flight, scheduled for July 1975, was designed as the culmination of detente, a great meeting in the heavens of two old foes become friends.

On the surface, preparations for the flight still appear to be going smoothly. But the more American experts learn about Soviet space operations, the more critical they are of the ASTP. Since the ASTP was conceived in an atmosphere of great euphoria, but without much real consideration of facts, perhaps it would be wise to reevaluate it before it’s too late: to analyze the importance of the goals, the success expected in meeting them, and the cost to the United States.