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

Spring sun in the forecast for Wednesday, the rain stops

On Wednesday minimum temperatures in the country will range from 7 to 12° C., for Sofia 9° C. During the day there will be sun, with clouds over the mountains in the afternoon and occasional rain in some parts. Maximum temperatures 19-24° C., for..

published on 4/23/24 6:00 PM

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Miroslav Marinov (left) at the opening of the 20th edition of the exhibition

Nearly 100 companies participate at "Technomebel" trade fair

Bulgarian timber, rather than imported wood, is the primary raw material for the wood processing and furniture industry in Bulgaria, caretaker Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Miroslav Marinov said at the official opening of the 20 th..

published on 4/23/24 5:46 PM

Bulgaria is in the top 3 EU countries with the highest ratios in ICT services: Eurostat

In 2021, the value added of the EU’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector was equivalent to 5.5% of the EU’s gross value added: 4.7% from ICT services and 0.8% from ICT manufacturing, Eurostat data show. Bulgaria is among the 3 EU..

published on 4/23/24 5:01 PM