- published: 17 Sep 2011
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Soyuz 18a (Russian: Союз 18a, Union 18a) (also called Soyuz 18-1 and the April 5 Anomaly) was a manned Soyuz spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union in 1975, intended to dock with the orbiting Salyut 4 space station, but which failed to achieve orbit due to a serious malfunction during launch. The crew consisted of commander Vasili Lazarev, an Air Force major, and flight engineer Oleg Makarov, a civilian.
The accident was disclosed by the normally secretive Soviets as it occurred during preparations for their joint Apollo-Soyuz Test Project with the United States which flew three months later. The crew, who feared initially they had landed in China, were successfully recovered.
Soyuz 18a was intended to be the second mission to take cosmonauts to the Soviet Salyut 4 space station for a 60-day mission. Both cosmonauts were on their second mission and had flown their first mission together, Soyuz 12, in September 1973 to test a new type of Soyuz spacecraft after the fatal accident of Soyuz 11.
I cried out to God for help. I cried out to God to hear me. When I was
distressed, I sought theLord. At night I stretched out my and, but I cannot
be comforted.
I remembered you God and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew
faint. You kept my eys from closing. I was too troubled to speak. I thought
about the former days the years long ago. I remember my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired.. Will the Lord reflect forever?. Will
He never show his favor again. Has this unfailing love vanished forever. Has
his promise failed for all time. Has God forgotten to be merciful. Has the
anger withheld his compassion. Then I thought, 'To this I will appeal-the
years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the deeds of the
Lord. Yes I remember Your deedsof long ago. I will meditate on all Your
works, and consider all Your mighty deeds. Your ways oh God are holy. What
God is so great as our God!'