Soviets launch space capsule with propaganda weapon aboard

September 22, 1980

The Soviets are trumpeting a special space success: their sending up of a Latin American cosmonaut (a black Cuban) Sept. 18. This follows the Soviet space shot of another third worlder, an Asian (Vietnamese). Some analysts see the Soviets using "old-fashioned" space equipment to strengthen their global appeal when the US has yet to get its reusable space shuttle operating.