Cosmonauts Promised Great Welcome

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29903, 17 August 1962, Page 11

Cosmonauts Promised Great Welcome

(A.Z. Press Association —Copyright) MOSCOW, August 16.

Russia’s two spacemen underwent medical tests today while the people of Moscow prepared a great welcome for them.

The “space twins” were given tests at a house where they were taken after landing within six minutes of each other near Karaganda, in Kazakhstan, yesterday, the British United Press reported.

It is not known yet when they will arrive in Moscow for the welcoming ceremony and parade in Red Square. It is thought possible they will arrive tomorrow, but their return may be put off until Monday. The Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev) yesterday telephoned from Yalta to congratulate the two cosmonauts —Major Andrian Nikolayev and Lieutenant-Colonel Pavel Popovich. Mr Khrushchev told them he would welcome them in Moscow with members of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the Russian Government, and representatives of the people. "We will give you a worthy reception,” Mr Khrushchev told the two cosmonauts.

Major Nikolayev made more than 64 orbits of the earth and covered 1,615,800 miles in space. LieutenantColonel Popovich made more than 48 orbits and covered about 1.243.000 miles. Major Nikolayev was up for 94 hours 25 minutes, and Lieu-tenant-Colonel Popovich for 70 hours 59 minutes.

Tass said that both felt well and their physical state on landing was good. National Enthusiasm Russians all over the country greeted the safe return of the two cosmonauts with enthusiasm. There were demonstrations of congratulations in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral, in Moscow. A group of about 100 young Russians waved larger-than-life portraits of the two spacemen and carried banners saying "Happy Return, Dear Friends.” A Tass correspondent who interviewed the two men said they “looked brisk and cheerful. They made jokes, laughed and gladly answered questions.” he said. The Tass correspondent interviewed the spacemen in the house where they were resting after the flight. The room was hot, and Lieuten-ant-Colonel Popovich commented: “My word—in space it was so much more com-

fortable.” Major Nikolayev added: “Yes, and there were fewer people and less noise." Lieutenant-Colonel Popovich said: “The main result of our flight is that everything ended well, and that the programme has been fulfilled and that we’ are the first in the world to achieve a paired flight. . . In one word, everything is fine." Major Nikolayev said: ‘‘l am proud that the task was entrusted to us.” Tass said that to reach the house the two spacemen drove from the airfield "along an uninterrupted human corridor. A spontaneous meeting was held in front of the house. A table was brought, on which they stood, their arms round each other, smiling." After the noise died down. Major Nikolayev said quietly: “Thank you. for your warm welcome, look at us. the flight, as you see. went off well. We feel fine, even wonderful."

Lieutenant-Colonel Popovich confirmed this and thanked “our designer, our scientists and our working class who built first-class laboratories.” Stormy applause broke out. The space-

men waved and then went off to rest. Tass said. Roman Popovich, a 57-year-old stoker with a huge handlebar moustache, sobbed happily in his village cottage at Uzin, on the river Dnieper, when he heard his son had come back safely.

A television broadcast showed him rushing into the street. Villagers mobbed him and his wife while little girls gave them flowers. Talking to LieutenantColonel Popovich, Mr Khrushchev said: "I am told that the whole of the Ukraine is triumphant and that your old dad has twirled his mustachios to look tike Taras Bulba." (Taras Bulba is a Cossack chief in a novel by Gogol.) Earlier Major Nikolayev told Mr Khrushchev: “I was probably less nervous than you. Nikita Sergeyevich."

Mr Khrushchev said “Perhaps you were less worried You were in space, thoroughly prepared for this flight, whereas I was on earth When I learned that you were feeling well, fine, that the machines were working faultlessly. I calmed down a bit.”