Astronauts and cosmonauts have been sharing time in orbit for three decades. But their first mission together began much earlier, with the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. An Apollo spacecraft linked up with a Soviet Soyuz capsule in 1975.

The craft had launched on July 15th. First up were two cosmonauts aboard the Soyuz, followed by three astronauts aboard the final Apollo.

And 50 years ago today, the two spacecraft came together. Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov congratulated astronaut Tom Stafford, who’d flown the docking.

LEONOV: Well done, Tom. It was a good show!

The space travelers stayed together for two days. They shook hands, conducted some maneuvers, did some experiments, and took part in a lot of ceremonies, including a phone call from President Gerald Ford.

FORD: Your flight is a momentous event and a very great achievement, not only for the five of you, but also for the thousands of American and Soviet scientists and technicians who have worked together to ensure the success of this very historic and very successful experiment in international cooperation.

It took years to get the next joint mission off the ground. But today, despite wars, upheavals, and political chaos, American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts continue to meet in space.

Script by Damond Benningfield