Scenario: United States of America participates in the Interkosmos program?

[Astmonaut]

I'm sort of an alternate history geek so I decided to start up this thread.

So, just like the real world, the Space Shuttle's first mission is delayed from 1978 to the first quarter of 1981. During the delay, NASA decides to ask the Soviet Union to have one of their astronauts "hitch a ride" on the Soyuz to one of the many Salyut space stations.

I don't know which astronaut would participate in the program, but I think that they could replace Sigmund Jahn, the Interkosmos astronaut for Soyuz 31 and replace him with the American astronaut while he is moved to Soyuz 32, which is reclassified as an Interkosmos mission featuring the East German astronaut.

Anyway, let's expand this scenario.

Was also inspired by this thread on alternatehistory.com: http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=306462

 

[Star Voyager]

I heard Story Musgrave had a strong interest in flying on Soyuz to Mir during the Phase One program, so I wouldn't be surprised if he would have done it. I'll tell you who wouldn't: Bo Bobko. Rumor has it that he was the astronaut most feared bey the Soviets.

 

[Urwumpe]

I heard Story Musgrave had a strong interest in flying on Soyuz to Mir during the Phase One program, so I wouldn't be surprised if he would have done it. I'll tell you who wouldn't: Bo Bobko. Rumor has it that he was the astronaut most feared bey the Soviets.

No idea why. He wasn't deeper in the US military than others and his biography shows little reason to be scared of him. Maybe there had been a problem with a communist party official named Bobkovich.

 

[Astmonaut]

I heard Story Musgrave had a strong interest in flying on Soyuz to Mir during the Phase One program, so I wouldn't be surprised if he would have done it. I'll tell you who wouldn't: Bo Bobko. Rumor has it that he was the astronaut most feared bey the Soviets.

Wait, what's Mir's Phase One about? Is it from Core and Kvant-1 to Kristell?

 

[Star Voyager]

Phase One was the the Shuttle-Mir program of the 1990's. It started with STS-60 and ended with STS-91.