Irina Magid

Meeting with Russian Cosmonaut Named Nikola Popovich

It was maybe in 1985. I worked at the secret Institute by name "Electron."

Our Director was informed by the Space Center about a visit from a cosmonaut named N.Popovich who was interested in some investigation in the field of transmission tubes for their use in the space ship.

Before he came to our Institute, there was a lot of preparation: the floors were washed carefully, and very beautiful rags were put on the stairs.

My boss warned me that I had to be ready to tell about my invention of a new transmission tube. However nobody called me until almost the end of the working day; but then the secretary of the director called to invite me to the meeting with N.Popovich in the Director's office.

When I came, I was very surprised by the look of the cosmonaut. He was very heavy and sat down on two chairs. His face was a red color and very aggressive. I was afraid of him and turned to the board and began to give my prepared speech.

When I finished it and turned back to the people, I didn't see N.Popovich; his chairs were empty. He was gone. The Director said to me: "The cosmonaut N.Popovich was very tired; he went to have a rest in the next room." Later I learned that before the meeting he and our bosses from the Institute and KGB drank too much vodka.

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