On July 17, 1975, an Apollo capsule carrying three astronauts docked with a Soviet Soyuz capsule carrying two cosmonauts. It was the first time two different countries met in space. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was designed to test a docking module that was designed by both US and Soviet engineers that would be used in future joint missions. To prepare for this mission, astronauts visited both country's facilities and trained aboard simulators to familiarize themselves with each other's systems. Russian cosmonauts learned English and American astronauts learned Russian.
Both capsules were launched on July 15 and entered orbit. It was the first time a Soviet launch was televised. The docking was achieved 52 hours later and was televised worldwide. The five astronauts opened the docking hatch and greeted each other. This mission was a preview of future US/Russian space cooperation such as visiting the Mir space station. It also marked the end of the long standing Cold War's "Space Race".
Find out what else occurred on this day in science history.
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