This strange story began for me in deep childhood. I remember now - I am sitting in a room, reading a novel by A. P. Kazantsev's "Faeties" (Alexander Petrovich Kazantsev - Soviet science fiction writer, romantic, great master of words). In the book, in particular, there is one interesting episode. In high near-earth orbit, cosmonauts (of course, Soviet ones! The novel itself was written in 1972-1974, and, of course, the Faetians more than once emphasized the fact of our primacy in space) are exploring some mysterious celestial body - an object called the Black Prince "(" PE "). After his external examination, the astronaut gets inside and removes several artifacts of regular geometric shape. As it later turns out, alien.
I remember that then I was literally bewitched by this "Faetian" moment. But, as it turned out, the author's imagination was minimal here.
Something is circling above the Earth
Much, much later, already in modern, post-Soviet Russia, I learned that, most likely, the "Black Prince" actually existed!
So, what was reliably known about him (from unofficial sources)?
In 1955, astronomers recorded a strange object in Earth's orbit - a maximum diameter of about 10 meters, ovoid (ovoid) in shape, with a coating, presumably of graphite - that is, almost completely black. The object was clearly visible only against the background of the moon or stars. Since the ovoid (he, as in the novel, was named "Black Prince") was discovered two years before the launch of the first artificial satellite, a logical assumption immediately arose about its alien origin. According to calculations, the object was orbiting with an altitude of 26 thousand to 80 thousand kilometers. But the most interesting thing is that the "Prince" flew against the Earth's rotation (usually all launch vehicles take off in the direction of rotation. This gives a good increase in speed - for example, launching from the equator - more than 450 meters per second)! This meant that the "state of emergency" was launched by the most powerful rocket,for which 450 meters per second is a trifle and a trifle. Or - that the object came FROM OUTSIDE. From deep, outer space.
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Rendezvous with a secret
On November 9, 1967, a spacecraft with three astronauts on board was launched in the United States. The names of the crew members are still unknown. Let's call them, say, "One," Two "and" Three ". The ship changed its orbit twice before entering the rendezvous trajectory with the Black Prince. On November 12, the spacecraft hovered, having equalized orbital speeds, 55 meters from the "emergency". The orbital "aristocrat" was completely black, and its volume was approximately 1820 cubic meters. Naturally, there was no question of delivering the entire artifact to Earth. Too big … Astronauts "Two" and "Three" went out into outer space and, using the jetpacks of their spacesuits, slowly circled the "Black Prince". No TV footage was taken to avoid radio interception by the USSR or any other country. “Two” and “Three” were taking photographs and filming with special devices. The "PE" did not have engines and portholes (or maybe they could not find it), but upon closer examination, a hatch was found, covered with an impenetrable shell like a turtle. Somehow they managed to open it. Astronaut Two crept in carefully. The truth of what he saw there is not known for certain. But several small items and … a mummy were delivered to the ship. All this was successfully brought to Earth.
Apparently, American astronauts, on orders from Earth, mined the Black Prince with a small atomic charge, because in 1970 this object was blown up in orbit, probably so that no one else (in those years, only Soviet cosmonauts) would be on board the PE.
Using a radiological method, scientists have determined the age of the space mummy - about 10 thousand years. The artifacts studied in laboratories on Earth turned out to be very similar to the products of the masters of Ancient Egypt, but made at a higher technological level.
What was the "Black Prince"? The tomb of the great pharaoh, launched into a very high orbit millennia ago? Then the absence of windows is understandable. But what is the hatch for? It is clear that at first it was necessary to place the mummy inside, but later the entrance was not walled up for some reason. Was there a visit to the heavenly grave? Interesting - by whom?
Just an entertaining tale?
Fiction? Let's try to figure out where is reality in this story, and where is fiction. So, on November 9, 1967, the automatic ship Apollo-4 (A-4) was launched in the USA. The development of an apparatus designed for a flight to the moon was carried out, at a distance of up to 400 thousand kilometers from the Earth. It turns out that "A-4" could easily "visit" the "Black Prince". And the crew … also, apparently, could have been on board, however, for conspiracy, the astronauts would have to fly in complete silence (not among themselves, of course, but without radio communication with the Earth). It is difficult, but also doable, especially since a special radio code could be used in dialogues with the Earth. Apollo was actively increasing the height of its orbit and making maneuvers. Prior to this, the Americans had already used jet engines for space walks.
It is not known what and it is not clear how
One more nuance - it turns out that "A-4" became the first ship of a new series (of the "Apollo" type), on which astronauts flew - a full crew, three people. And immediately with an unusual, difficult task - to catch up in space, it is not known what and to explore it is not clear how. Boldly? Certainly. But here's a stubborn fact: on December 21, 1968, the United States, in order to get ahead of the USSR, launched the Apollo-8 spacecraft to fly around the Moon, according to the official version - only the second ship of the “lunar” series with a crew. In addition to small orientation and maneuvering engines, the A-8 has a single sustainer engine (the power of which allows the ship to return to Earth). If the engine failed, the three astronauts would forever remain in the orbit of the moon or be lost in the depths of the universe. But if such an adventurous expedition was realized, it means, perhaps,a manned flight on Apollo 4 took place? Therefore, "Black Prince" - not fiction? Another mystery of space and astronautics.
Magazine "Secrets of the XX century" № 40. Vladimir Grakov
