Cosmonauts Pham Tuan and Victor Gorbatko successfully conducted a spaceflight on the Soyuz-37 spaceship on July 23 in 1980. During the 8-day mission, they conducted 30 pieces of scientific research, among which the famous innovation of water hyacinth plants has been widely applied in several space technologies. Many other findings and materials have also proved helpful in Vietnam.
Nguyen Minh Tam, Head of Centre for Information, Library and Material Resources, People’s Police Academy, said: "It was the first time that Vietnam had such reliable satellite images. It also played important role in both economy and military sectors, such as oil prospecting and exploitation in Bach Ho oil fields".
The space flight was organised under Intercosmos, the first programme to include nationals who were not from either the US or Soviet Union. Pham Tuan was the first Asian cosmonaut to take part in the programme.
Celebrating the special event, Pham Tuan and Victor Vasilevich Gorbatko shared their memories and feelings during a meeting in Hanoi on July 22.
Pham Tuan, Vietnamese Cosmonaut, said: "We are representatives of the two countries. Gorbatko and I have become good friends. It’s our honour to bring the traditional relationship between the two countries from Earth to space".
Viktor Gorbatko, Soviet Cosmonaut, said: "I hope that future generations will try their best to carry out their most important duty, which is to serve their motherland, to study and do their best to contribute to their country’s development".
The joint space flight opened a new door for Vietnam in terms of space science research. 1980 also saw Vietnam establish a Committee on Space Research, with the Vietnam Space technology institute launched in 2006. The prime Minister later approved the establishment of the Vietnam Space Committee in 2010, hoping to further contribute to space technology.
