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

Bulgaria marks 55 years of space research and 45 years since the flight of а Bulgarian cosmonaut

Georgi Ivanov - the first Bulgarian astronaut
Photo: Lovech municipality

The Institute for Space Research and Technology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences will solemnly celebrate today its 55th anniversary together with the 45th anniversary of the flight of the first Bulgarian cosmonaut Georgi Ivanov.  Bulgaria's first cosmonaut Georgi Ivanov will also take part in the event, which is held under the auspices of President Rumen Radev.

In 1969, the Scientific Group on Space Physics was founded at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, which in 1987 grew into the Institute for Space Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. 

The first Bulgarian cosmonaut Georgi Ivanov (right) with Soviet cosmonaut Nikolai Rukavishnikov before the launch of Soyuz-33, Baikonur, April 10, 1979.
In 1979, Georgi Ivanov was selected to join the crew of the Soviet spacecraft "Soyuz 33". On April 10 of that year, he took off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, along with Soviet cosmonaut Nikolai Rukavishnikov. The mission of the first Bulgarian cosmonaut was to carry out scientific research and test new space technologies. 

Thus, Bulgaria became the sixth space country in the world after Russia, USA, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Germany.


Read also:



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

Unemployment benefits in Sofia go above the minimum wage

Unemployment benefits in Sofia continue to be above the minimum wage, according to the latest data from the National Social Security Institute. It is the highest in the country and is on average 1,145 leva (585.43 EUR).  The lowest unemployment..

published on 11/4/25 3:48 PM

"Yes, Bulgaria" political party defines Budget 2026 as an "economic tsunami"

"Yes, Bulgaria" party (part of "Democratic Bulgaria") have defined the budget for next year as an "economic tsunami". MP Ivaylo Mirchev was firm that the pary will oppose it when the project comes up for discussion in parliament.  "Yesterday we were..

published on 11/4/25 3:33 PM

President Radev presents national flag to the 34th Bulgarian Antarctic expedition

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has presented the national flag to the participants in the 34th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. At a ceremony in the Hall of Arms, the flag was accepted by the head and doyen of Bulgarian research in the White Continent,..

published on 11/4/25 1:24 PM