Apr 2 1972
From The Space Library
Interview of Boris N. Petrov, Chairman of Soviet Academy of Sciences' Council for International Cooperation in Investigation and Utilization of Outer Space, on U.S.-U.S.S.R. joint space mission was published in New York Times. Interview, described as "first full public discussion of the negotiations from the Soviet point of view," had been obtained in Moscow by Times science writer John N. Wilford. Petrov had emphasized that "tangible progress" had been achieved and he was "optimistic" about prospects of joint space flight, technically feasible in "the middle of the nineteen-seventies." Government approval would "depend much" on April meetings in Moscow between NASA and Soviet Academy officials and May meeting in Moscow of Working Groups on rendezvous and docking. Petrov said compatible docking system would allow "docking of spaceships of our countries with the humane aim of rendering help to crews of spaceships and space stations in distress. These systems would also allow joint experiments during the flights in space." Petrov said negotiations had occurred in "atmosphere of mutual understanding and business-like discussion" that "gives us the hope that all the difficulties connected with ... such a sophisticated scientific and technological undertaking could be overcome." (NYT, 4/2/72)
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