Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

46 years ago today: Georgi Ivanov became the first Bulgarian cosmonaut

Georgi Ivanov (R) and Nikolai Rukavishnikov.
Photo: BTA

On this day 46 years ago, Georgi Ivanov made history as the first Bulgarian to go into space. On 10 April 1979, at 20:34 Moscow time, the Soyuz-33 spacecraft was launched into orbit with Georgi Ivanov and Soviet commander Nikolai Rukavishnikov on board.

Although the mission suffered a serious technical malfunction that prevented the spacecraft from docking with the Salyut-6 orbital station, the two cosmonauts managed to return safely. After thirty-one orbits, they landed 320 kilometres south-east of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. The mission lasted one day, 23 hours and 1 minute.
Remarkably, Ivanov remained calm throughout the mission - even during the emergency landing - and his pulse never exceeded the normal range. His physiological composure under extreme stress is still considered a world record.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Protest in Sofia demands referendum on adoption of Euro

An organizing committee, supported by the opposition nationalist party Vazrazhdane, organized a protest in front of the building housing one of the ruling parties – GERB – in Sofia. The protesters are demanding a referendum on the date of..

published on 6/12/25 1:36 PM

Bulgarian family forced to leave Ballymena amidst anti-immigrant riots in Northern Ireland

Bulgarian mother Mika Koleva and her children were forced to leave Northern Ireland after her home in Ballymena, County Antrim, was attacked by protesters . “This is what makes me want to move out of here to save my children,” she told BBC News..

published on 6/12/25 12:21 PM
Dimitar Radev

BNB Governor: In the Eurozone Bulgaria will maintain its conservative monetary policy

The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will maintain its conservative monetary policy, central bank governor Dimitar Radev told Politico. I lead one of the more conservative central banks and we have no intention of changing this course, Radev was quoted as..

published on 6/12/25 11:19 AM