16-07-2025
From The Hindu, July 17, 1975: Astronauts remove stuck docking mechanism
Space centre (Houston), July 16: The Soviet Soyuz spacecraft to-day shifted into position for a cosmic link-up with the American Apollo ship to-morrow while astronauts and cosmonauts used a screwdriver, pieces of tape and bandaids for repairs aboard their ships.
After removing a stuck docking mechanism from a tunnel which will connect the two spaceships when they hook up, the astronauts replayed televised pictures of the tunnel to Houston Mission Control as they inspected it and found it in good condition.
The cosmonauts repaired their balky TV camera and began transmitting clear pictures to earth.
Cosmonauts Alexei Leonov and Valeri Kubasov fired their spaceship engine for 21 seconds and reported the manoeuvre was performed perfectly.
The Moscow Mission Control Centre reported the burn placed Soyuz in a near-circular orbit of 220 km to 223 km above the earth, precisely where the cosmonauts want to receive the visiting Americans at 16 15 GMT (21 45 IST) over West Germany.
Apollo too conducted two orbital shifts and plans several more as it closes in on Soyuz, serving as the target vehicle in the celestial chase.
The docking probe problem was discovered aboard Apollo last night.