ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
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.
Radio Bulgaria News    Bulgaria as a space country Georgi Ivanov Georgi Ivanov space research

More from category

European Council President meets Bulgarian Prime Minister and President

For two decades Bulgaria has known what it is striving for, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said after a meeting with President of the European Council António Costa, who arrived on a three-day visit to Bulgaria. Zhelyazkov pointed..

published on 4/28/25 8:55 AM

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev will participate in the Three Seas initiative

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev begins his two-day visit to Warsaw at the invitation of his counterpart Andrzej Duda. In the Polish capital, he will participate in the 10th Summit of the “Three Seas” initiative to deepen cooperation in the energy,..

published on 4/28/25 7:35 AM

Bulgarian National Bank issues commemorative silver coin with the image of Zahari Stoyanov

The Bulgarian National Bank is issuing a new silver commemorative coin from the “Bulgarian National Revival” series , the institution announced today. This time the coin is on the theme of “175 years since the birth of Zahari Stoyanov”. The..

published on 4/28/25 6:10 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 24
Partly Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 14
Partly Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 15
Clear
Min: 2 | Max: 24
Clear
Min: 2 | Max: 22
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 20
Clear
Min: -1 | Max: 21
Clear
Min: 1 | Max: 22
Partly Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 23
Clear
Min: 3 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 24
Partly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 20
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 24
Partly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 23
Clear
Min: 1 | Max: 20
Partly Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 24
Clear
Min: 3 | Max: 23
Clear
Min: 2 | Max: 21
Clear
Min: -1 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 20
Clear
Min: 0 | Max: 22
Clear
Min: 1 | Max: 20
Clear
Min: 1 | Max: 23
Clear
Min: -1 | Max: 21
Clear
Min: 0 | Max: 23
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Polish businesses want new highways and bridges to connect Bulgaria with Romania

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev discussed ways to boost trade and investment between Bulgaria and Poland during a meeting with representatives of..

published on 4/29/25 9:31 AM

For 12 months after the introduction of the euro, prices will be in both levs and euro

A month after Bulgaria receives the green light to join the eurozone, all traders are obliged to have their prices in both Bulgarian..

published on 4/28/25 10:28 AM

Bulgaria meets price stability criterion for eurozone entry

Since the beginning of the year, Bulgaria has also met the price stability criterion for eurozone membership, Minister of Finance..

published on 4/28/25 11:59 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"