Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

45 years since the flight of Bulgaria’s first astronaut Georgi Ivanov

Georgi Ivanov
Photo: Lovech municipality

Three airplanes will overfly Lovech today at around 5.30 PM, as an air salute on the occasion of the 45th anniversary since the flight in space of the first Bulgarian astronaut Georgi Ivanov. The planes will take off from Donla Mitropoliya air base. They will be flown by experienced pilots in wedge formation.

On this date in 1979, the first joint Soviet-Bulgarian flight on board the space ship Soyuz 33 took place, with Russian astronaut Nikolai Rukavishnikov and Bulgarian astronaut Georgi Ivanov. The ship was launched from Baikonur cosmodrome. As it approached the Salyut 6 orbital station, however the ship’s main engine failed. The crew was unable to slow down and maneuver for docking with the orbital station as planned, and decided to use the backup engine to fly back to Earth. The crew of the Soyuz 33 spent 1 day, 23 hours and 1 minute in space. Bulgaria is the 6th country to have sent an astronaut into space.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Stanislav Balabanov

Bulgarian Parliament to issue declaration against sending Bulgarian soldiers to Ukraine

Over 70% of Bulgarians are categorically against sending a military contingent to Ukraine. This was stated by Dimitar Ganev from the sociological agency “Trend” in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio. President Radev opposes sending..

published on 2/20/25 1:14 PM

No one has requested Bulgaria's participation in a peacekeeping operation in Ukraine

Nowhere and in no way has anyone discussed the issue of sending troops to Ukraine to participate in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev told MPs in parliament. Foreign Minister Georgiev..

published on 2/20/25 11:34 AM
Photo: Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles

Beverly Hills declares March 3 as Bulgarian–American Friendship Day

On February 19th, the day when Bulgarians worldwide commemorate 152 years since the passing of the Apostle of Freedom, Vasil Levski, Bulgaria’s National Liberation Day, March 3rd, received special recognition in Beverly Hills.  Mayor Lester Friedman..

published on 2/20/25 10:09 AM