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This seed box is a replica of the one given to the Soviet cosmonauts during the Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission in July 1975. After launch from their respective countries, an American Apollo and Soviet Soyuz spacecraft docked in orbit. This mission was the culmination of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project that had joined the Cold War opponents in cooperation. This mission was the first international human spaceflight mission. After years or negotiations and testing, three Apollo astronauts from the United States and two Soviet cosmonauts performed joint experiments while their spacecraft were docked in orbit. Among their missions were experiments on the effects of micro-gravity on life. The U.S. Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture designed and built a box similar to this one containing American Spruce Hybrid seeds as part of a gift package for the cosmonauts. Upon their return, the cosmonauts planted the seeds in the USSR.

The USDA Forest Service prepared this duplicate box, which also contains seeds, and transferred it to the Museum in 1975.

 Long Description

This seed box is a replica of the one given to the Soviet cosmonauts during the Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission in July 1975. After launch from their respective countries, an American Apollo and Soviet Soyuz spacecraft docked in orbit. This mission was the culmination of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project that had joined the Cold War opponents in cooperation. This mission was the first international human spaceflight mission. After years or negotiations and testing, three Apollo astronauts from the United States and two Soviet cosmonauts performed joint experiments while their spacecraft were docked in orbit. Among their missions were experiments on the effects of micro-gravity on life. The U.S. Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture designed and built a box similar to this one containing American Spruce Hybrid seeds as part of a gift package for the cosmonauts. Upon their return, the cosmonauts planted the seeds in the USSR.

The USDA Forest Service prepared a duplicate box that also contains seeds and transferred it to the Museum in 1975.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type MEMORABILIA-Events Manufacturer Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
 Dimensions 3-D (Seeds): 10.2 × 3.7 × 2.9cm (4 × 1 7/16 × 1 1/8 in.)
Storage: 15.2 × 8.9 × 6.4cm (6 × 3 1/2 × 2 1/2 in.)
 Materials Wood
Copper Alloy
Nickel Plating
Paint
White Spruce Seeds
Plastic
 Inventory Number A19760797000 Credit Line Transferred from USDA Forest Service Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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