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

Slowdown in the global economy will reduce the growth of Bulgarian GDP

The World Bank has lowered its forecasts for the economic growth of the global economy and Bulgaria for this and next year. The assessment is part of the regular analysis of the international financial institution, published every 6..

published on 6/11/25 11:07 AM

Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends Bulgarians in Los Angeles to observe curfew

An emergency curfew has been imposed in the central part of Los Angeles, California, USA, the Situation Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned. The measure is due to the protest actions on the evening of June 10, 2025...

published on 6/11/25 10:48 AM

Bulgarian President supports US efforts for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine

China is the big winner from the EU sanctions policy against Russia, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev told CNN. Regarding the war in Ukraine, Radev thinks that the moment is approaching when “Ukraine may be left without enough people..

published on 6/11/25 10:00 AM