Two Scarce NASA Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Manuals - Many Were Destroyed

A pair of NASA Apollo Soyuz Test Project manuals, both measuring 8" x 10.5", prepared by the Procedures Branch, Crew Training & Procedures Division at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The first, No. JSC-09141 is entitled "ASTP Final Revision A Launch Checklist" and is dated June 6, 1975. Prepared by Dennis L. Bentley, Book Manager, and Approved by Dickie K. Warren, Chief of the Flight Procedures Section, the manual provides in-depth information on Liftoff Configuration, Boost-Post Insertion, System Checks, Transposition, Docking & Extraction, Aborts, and Emergency Procedures. With multiple Altitude graphs throughout. On the back page is a Checklist Distribution List, noting that only 95 copies of this manual were ever produced.

The second, No. JSC-09151 is entitled "ASTP Reference Systems Data" and is dated February 12, 1975. Prepared by William A. Chanis, Book Manager, and Approved by John A. Wegener, Chief Systems Procedures Section. The manual contains multiple fold-out schematics, diagrams and charts. With an unattached fold-out schematic of two modules. On the back page is a Checklist Distribution List, noting that only 112 copies of this manual were ever produced. Both manuals have light edge toning with hole punches at the left edge. Minor edge and corner wear in places. Overall, very fine. Manuals such as these have become rare, both because so few of them were produced and because many were destroyed by the Soviet Space Program following the mission. Provenance: From the collection of Anatole Forostenko, Chief Russian Language Instructor-Interpreter for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission.

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was a joint U.S./Soviet space mission that launched in mid-July 1975. The joint mission, comprised of two Soviet cosmonauts (Commander Alexey Leonov and Flight Engineer Valeri Kubasov) and three American astronauts (Commander Thomas P. Stafford, Command Module Pilot Vance D. Brand, and Docking Module Pilot Donald "Deke" Slayton), entailed docking an Apollo spacecraft to the Soyuz 19. The mixed crew conducted several scientific experiments together, including blocking the Sun with one spacecraft while the other photographed the solar corona. The extremely successful mission would set the stage for future collaboration, including today's International Space Station.

Dr. Anatole Forostenko (b. 1939) was born in the Soviet Union and moved to the U.S. in 1949. He studied at Rutgers University and Indiana University before gaining his Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr. From 1970 to 1973, Forostenko was an Assistant Professor of Russian Language and Literature at the University of California. He then joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1974 and became involved in the Apollo-Soyuz test project. He became the Chief Russian Language Instructor for the NASA astronauts, preparing them to communicate with cosmonauts during the mission, and he worked closely with both crews as instructor-interpreter. Often, he worked in one-on-one situations with General Thomas P. Stafford and Vance Brand. During the Apollo-Soyuz mission, Forostenko served as one of three U.S. Air-to-Ground interpreters at the Johnson Space Center Mission Control Center. Upon completion of the mission, he traveled with the crew members and their families on the post-flight Soviet Good Will Tour and has remained in close contact with those involved.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!