As usual, the Russians said not a word about the mission. But last month, when the Soviet tracking ships Gagarin and Komarov sailed out of the Black Sea, passed through the Mediterranean and headed full steam into the Atlantic, Western observers knew that something was up. The vessels are known to carry elaborate electronic gear and serve as communications links between Soviet spacecraft and ground controllers. Last week these suspicions were dramatically confirmed when the Soviets orbited Salyut 2, a 17¾-ton space lab. At week's end, they were expected to launch a smaller...
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