Leonov Interviewed on Soviet Manned Lunar Program, Current Issues

This document is a transcript of an interview with Major General Aleksey Arkhipovich Leonov, a Soviet cosmonaut, regarding the history and failure of the Soviet manned lunar program. Leonov explains that the program was divided into two phases: a flight around the moon and a landing on the moon. He details the technical challenges, including the failure of the N-1 booster and the L-3 vehicle, and notes that the program was ultimately cancelled after the Americans successfully completed the Apollo 8 mission. Leonov discusses the training of cosmonauts, the use of simulators, and the specific technical requirements for lunar landing and return. He also addresses the differences between the Soviet and American programs, noting that while the Soviet Union had similar plans, they lacked the necessary funding and economic support. Leonov dismisses claims by 'UFO watchers' regarding extraterrestrial sightings during the Apollo missions, characterizing them as sensationalism taken out of context. He further discusses the current state of the Soviet space program, advocating for the continued use of the Buran shuttle and criticizing the lack of economic mechanisms to utilize space-based data for national benefit, such as monitoring farm lands. He concludes that no Soviet lunar landing program is envisaged before the year 2000.