Publishing many secret documents about hero Pham Tuan’s space flight

Celebrating the 40th year flight into space of hero Pham Tuan, the State Archives and Records Department cooperated with the Russian Center for Science and Culture to launch the book ‘Historical space travel’. In it, many confidential documents are decoded, which has been published for the first time.
The book is a collection of typical documents and images about the United Nations spacecraft – 37 bringing Soviet cosmonaut VV Gorbatko and the first Vietnamese astronaut, the hero. Pham Tuan flew into space.

These documents and images are selected from the archival and cultural institutions of the two countries: The National Russian Academy of Archives of Political and Social History, the National Archives Center III, the Bureau of Clerical and Archives. State of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency, Ho Chi Minh Museum. In particular, some documents and documents provided by astronaut Pham Tuan …

In the book, there are a number of documents that have just been declassified, published for the first time, introduced to readers, providing valuable information and documents not only for researchers on scientific and technical achievements. the above meaning, in terms of the history of international relations, is for all those who are interested in the history of relations between the two countries Vietnam – the Russian Federation.

The book “Historical Astronaut” contains many classified documents

The book’s content is arranged into 3 parts.

Part 1 “Collaborative space research. The pre-flight preparation and training process in 1980 ”introduces documents and photos about the preparation process of the two countries Vietnam – Soviet Union / Russian Federation and the selection of pilots for the flight, as well as the process of exercising effort.

Part 2 “Departure and Activities” introduces some documents and photos of astronauts in the outer-Earth’s cabin.

Part 3 “Return to Earth”, contains pictures of the astronauts’ activities after the end of the flight, thereby highlighting the value and meaning of flight. It opens a new era, belief, hope, pride and determination in human life, production, study, as well as conquering nature and the universe.

Mr. Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the State Records and Archives Department emphasized: “The book is also a testament to the effective cooperation of the archival agencies and cultural agencies of the two countries to contribute to the At the same time, this is also an opportunity for the two Archives agencies of Vietnam and the Russian Federation to share and promote the value of archives currently preserved in the archive of the two countries “.

On July 23, 1980, pilot Pham Tuan with Soviet astronaut Gorbatko was launched into space from Baikonur space airport aboard Soyuz-37. During 8 days in space, hero Pham Tuan performed 142 orbits around the earth, conducted many scientific experiments, and photographed Vietnam from earth orbit.

Viktor Gorbatko (left) and Pham Tuan. Photo: AFP.

In a time sharing with the students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, hero Pham Tuan said that it only took him one year and three months to prepare, including studying engineering and physical training, for the flight. This time is shortened compared to pilots from other countries, because before that he was a pilot of a military fighter plane.

When the ship was just launched, people lost the attraction of the earth so the blood did not circulate normally, but put more head on the head. At that time, his face was swollen from the blood rushing to his head. Three days later, the face was pressed down so a layer of skin was removed. He lost sleep for several days, his mind was always in a state of tension.

Moving and working on a spaceship is very difficult. Eating and drinking is also miserable when they only have dry food prepared like toothpaste to eat and drink two liters of water a day.

Talking about the feeling of seeing the earth from outer space, hero Pham Tuan said it was a rare and unforgettable feeling.

“At that time, it was not Vietnam, the Soviet Union or any other country, but the earth was the home of the pilots. The happiest of pilots was that after working hours, there was a few minutes of rest and thinking. about the earth, family, relatives, “he said.