The Soyuz spacecraft played a major role in Russia's plans for a manned landing on the Moon and several test models were flown at the height of the 'space race'. Originally designed for circumlunar flight, Soyuz has been the mainstay of Russia's space program.
An excellent history and detailed description of the Soyuz spacecraft, an unsung hero of the humanity's adventure in space and a truly magnificent piece of engineering. The book begins with a history of Soviet/Russian space program, the origins of the Soyuz project following the early Vostok / Voskhod vehicles; and continues with a highly technical but very readable analysis of major Soyuz subsystems and its operational history. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of spaceflight.