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Pokorenie Kosmosa 1969 Depiction of Zond circumlunar craft

"Pokorenie Kosmosa," [The Subjugation (Conquering) of Space] was published by Mashionstroenye Press on September 5, 1969, and issued only in 15,200 copies. The persons that it was released to were members of TsKBEM, the cosmonauts, as well as "pilot-testers." There is a gate fold-out of Soviet achievement in lunar exploration, that is described as having been current as of 21 July 1969. For the first time, decently accurate portrayals of the Zond circumlunar series were published here. There is also an illustration of Luna 15, but the artist made it partly hidden by the Moon, and so it can't be examined closely to determine anything. Additionally, the graphic shows that Luna 12 was intended to photograph swaths of the lunar surface, similar to the US lunar orbiters. Comments by retired American intelligence personnel indicate that the illustrations in this book helped the US intelligence community get corroboratory data of their own acquired information that the Zond circumlunar spacecraft and the Soyuz manned craft were "kissing cousins."

CREDIT: P. Pesavento collection.