Transcript for January 16th and 17th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for January 16th and 17th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
In order for American astronauts to go to the moon, the United States had to learn how to dock two spacecraft.

PAUL
Surprisingly though, this feat was first accomplished by the Soviet Union on January 16th, 1969.

RACHEL
Or six months before the first moon landing.

PAUL
This was the third docking attempt by the Soviet Union.

RACHEL
The previous missions all failed to dock and one cosmonaut’s life was lost.

PAUL
On January 16th, Russian cosmonaut Vladimir Shatalov was launched into Earth orbit onboard the spacecraft Soyuz 4.

RACHEL
Cosmonauts Aleksei and Yevgeny rode Soyuz 5 into orbit and rendezvoused with Soyuz 4.

PAUL
The cosmonauts spent an hour transferring from Soyuz 5 to Soyuz 4.

RACHEL
Why did it take so long?

PAUL
Because there was no tunnel between the docked Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 spacecraft.

RACHEL
In other words, the cosmonauts spent an hour performing a spacewalk to transfer from Soyuz 5 to Soyuz 4.

PAUL
Two months later, a Saturn V would carry Apollo 9 and its lunar lander into Earth orbit.

RACHEL
American astronauts McDivitt and Schweikart tested the lunar lander in Earth orbit.

PAUL
And then docked with astronaut Scott in the Apollo 9 spacecraft.

RACHEL
They were able to transfer back again to Apollo 9, but used a tunnel connecting the two spacecraft.

PAUL
In January 1969, the Soviets were still planning to send cosmonauts to the moon.

RACHEL
But they would have to perform an EVA to transfer from the lunar lander back to their spacecraft.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 16th and 17th of January.

RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.