Science: .. . And a Link-Up in Space

• Share

Echoing Glenn Seaborg's anticipation of U.S.-Soviet collaboration in atomic research, NASA officials announced that the two nations were planning a joint space mission that could come as early as 1974. The most likely first step, Americans and Soviet planners decided, will be to dock an Apollo spacecraft with a Russian space station similar to the Salyut now in orbit. Following this, the space scientists envision a link-up between a Soyuz spacecraft and an American Skylab scheduled for launch in 1973.

The first general agreement to pool space age hardware and know-how came in Moscow last October. Since then, the two nations have agreed to adopt lighting systems and color codes used by the Americans, and have chosen the nitrogen-oxygen cabin atmosphere preferred by the Soviet Union. In addition, both sides have decided upon new docking hardware different from the kind now used by either.

The astronauts themselves seem happy with the idea of training with the Russians for a joint mission. Apollo 15 Commander David Scott recently told the National Press Club that he already knows six Russian cosmonauts, and that communication is never a problem among pilots. Said he: "I'd be glad to fly with them anywhere."