The 1975 Apollo Soyuz Test Project - by Shane Bell (RRFA)
Researchers interested in the 1975 Apollo Soyuz Test Project have several resources available to them within the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL handled much of the technical work of designing the docking module that linked the Apollo and Soyuz crafts. Documentation on this aspect of the flight can be found in the holdings of the National Archives at Atlanta. The link below is to a description of a series titled “Apollo Soyuz Test Project Files.” The series documents some of the technical aspects of ASTP hardware and engineering. If you wish to access these materials, contact that facility at atlanta.archives@nara.gov .
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/3431489
Records held by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library of NARA may be useful to researchers interested in diplomacy, public relations, and official ceremonies related to the flight. The first link below is to a memo from Deputy National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft to President Ford, outlining the basic timeline of the flight. The second link is to a letter from NASA Deputy Administrator George Low to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger regarding possible future space cooperation with the Soviet Union.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7347322
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7347324
In addition to NARA’s holdings, there is a wealth of information available from NASA on the ASTP. For a general pictorial overview of the mission, there is the Apollo Soyuz Test Project Image Gallery. This small collection, curated by NASA, contains images from before and during the flight.
https://history.nasa.gov/astp/kipp.html
The ASTP page on NASA’s website provides a wide ranging and informative introduction to the topic. It contains dozens of short articles and a variety of photographs.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo-soyuz/index.html
NASA’s Technical Reports Server (NTRS) provides an array of technical documentation spanning most of NASA’s history. It is a publicly available database with historical technical literature, conference papers, journal articles, research reports, and other information.
https://www.nasa.gov/open/nen-ntrs.html
For greater technical detail on the mission, researchers can access the “Apollo Soyuz Mission Evaluation Report” from December 1975. The report is available on the NTRS. This document provides a lengthy and detailed rundown on all aspects of the mission.