42 years since the first flight of a Bulgarian astronaut in space

published on 4/10/21 6:50 AM

Nikolai Rukavishnikov and Georgi Ivanov (right)

Photo: BNR archive

The day was April 10, 1979 and the time 20 hours and 34 minutes. The Soyuz-33 spacecraft launched into orbit takes to outer space. The first Bulgarian cosmonaut Georgi Ivanov was onboard. He made 31 complete orbits around the Earth. Onboard the ship Bulgaria's Ivanov was with the Soviet cosmonaut Nikolai Rukavishnikov.

This flight placed Bulgaria as the 6th space country in the world after the USSR, USA, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the GDR.

All-Bulgarian equipment and appliances were created specifically for this flight which were the work of Bulgarian scientists. Bulgarian scientists also created different types of space foods while preserving the taste, aroma and nutritional qualities of the products in space flight.

Some of the Bulgarian developments continue to be used in space flights to this day.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria News astronaut cosmonaut flight in space Georgi Ivanov Nikolai Rukavishnikov outer space Soyuz space USSR

More from category

National Library Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Parliamentary culture committee votes against changing name of National Library

The Culture Committee of the Bulgarian National Assembly failed to approve, at first reading, a bill on amendments to the Public Libraries Act to rename the National Library Sts. Cyril and Methodius to People’s Library. 2 MPs voted “for”, 4 voted..

published on 3/14/25 9:58 AM

Proposal for creation of state-run chain stores for Bulgarian groceries to be voted alongside budget

A proposal for the establishment of a state-run company for trading in groceries, primarily produced in Bulgaria, via chain stores, was approved by the National Assembly’s Committee on Budget and Finance. The proposal was tabled between the..

published on 3/14/25 9:40 AM

Eurogroup president encourages Bulgaria’s efforts towards adoption of euro

The Eurogroup encourages Bulgaria to adopt the euro, according to a letter by its President Paschal Donohoe to European Council President Antonio Costa. The letter comes in connection with the upcoming meeting of the European leaders in Brussels on..

published on 3/14/25 8:51 AM