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

Part of the opposition will not support the vote of no confidence in the government

ITN continues to support the coalition agreement and to work with partners as a minority government. This was what MP Pavela Mitova said after the DPS of Ahmed Dogan announced that they were leaving the majority and the government of..

published on 4/16/25 10:38 AM

Thracian treasures that visited the USA are now in Bulgaria

All artefacts from the exhibition in the USA "Ancient Thrace and the Classical World. Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania and Greece" are now home in the respective museums. This was what Deputy Minister of Culture Todor Chobanov..

published on 4/16/25 9:02 AM

Bulgarian Parliament to discuss second vote of no confidence in the government

In its session today, the Bulgarian Parliament will discuss the reasons for the second vote of no confidence in the government . It was submitted by "Moral, Unity and Honor" (MECH) party to the National Assembly's registry last week and supported by..

published on 4/16/25 8:37 AM