First Cosmic Duet

4.9

(As told by pilot-cosmonaut Pavel Popovich)

In space things are quite different from on the Earth, and we took our bearings mainly by the continents. Each continent, each ocean had its own color. Africa’s basic color. was yellow, South America’s was green. The Atlantic Ocean was darker than the Pacific.. By the lights of the big cities at night we could make out their shape.

We got a very clear picture of thunder-storms. We could see lightning very distinctly, especially over North America. It was even possible to see the charged cloud during a storm.

It was full moon during our flight, and the Earth did not look black but ash-grey, and against this background I could clearly see the illuminated cities at night.

The Earth had a wonderfully beautiful halo.

The Earth’s beauty made me feel like singing. I wasn’t at all shy, and began to sing:

“My friends, I am sure there will soon come a day

When trains of our rockets will speed to each star...”

I think Andrian was feeling the same. Without hesitation he joined in the song, and I heard his voice over the loudspeaker:

“On new worlds our footsteps will trace out a way

Through star-dust that lies there on far.”

That was how the first cosmic duet was born—it was not included in any plans or tasks. The cosmos itself made us remember that good companion of our life on Earth, the song.