US-USSR VLBI Observations

In October 1969 during the depths of the Cold War, after more than a year of scientific, diplomatic, and bureaucratic planning (and reams of paperwork), and followed by innumerable technical and logistical problems, the first US-USSR VLBI observations were made between the NRAO's 140 Foot Telescope in Green Bank and the Lebedev Physical Institute's 22 meter radio telescope in Crimea. Teams of NRAO and Soviet observers were on site for the hands-on observations. As described by Ken Kellermann in his series of articles in The Observer, a party was planned to follow the end of observing, "but as the last hour approached the observing room began to fill with spectators. When the last tape started the Russians produced, in their usual efficient manner, a round of glasses and several bottles of Cognac, and with toasts of Soviet-American friendship and cooperation, the first Green Bank-Crimea VLBI experiment was declared a success on the basis of having analyzed less than one half of one percent of the data." Celebrating in this photo are, standing left to right, Ivan Moiseyev (Director of the Crimean radio telescope), John Payne (NRAO), Victor Efanov (telescope staff). Seated is an unnamed member of the Crimean telescope staff.

Records of the NRAO

NRAO/AUI/NSF

Still Image

B&W negative

1969-10

NRAO/AUI/NSF

GB70-06609

1970-02-16

VLBI Series

VLBI Photographs Unit

2A