Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al publishes some archival documents extracted from the Central State Archive (fund of the former Central Committee of the ALP), where are some of the diaries of Enver Hoxha, where he from 1959 to 1976, results has regularly followed and commented in his notes on the race between the Americans and the Soviets for launching spaceships into orbit and dominating the cosmos, a race which was later joined by the Chinese. What does Enver write in his diaries about the space race and how did he comment on those great achievements and successes of world science ?!
“DURRËS, SUNDAY JULY 20, 1969. A COLOSAL SUCCESS OF SCIENCE.
Exciting moment. It is 21.17 minutes. The lunar cockpit (LEM) of the American spacecraft “Apollo-11” with two cosmonauts inside landed on the moon for the first time. We are watching her decrease on TV. It is a colossal success for world science. It is unfortunate that it is the American imperialists who are taking advantage of this great victory of humanity. We are waiting to see the first human appearance on the moon. This will be done tomorrow morning at 3.10 minutes with our clock. It was 3.10, we are waiting impatiently, but the television does not give anything, because, as the speaker says, the Houston channel was cut. We have to wait, they say, that the cabin pressure did not work well, etc. It was really exciting for the fate of the heroes of the moon. Finally, at 04.3 minutes, American Armstrong put his right foot on the surface of the moon. It was something fantastic. He began to walk carefully, “like a calamus” in darkness and light. “The place,” he said, “is stone, dust, porous, different from the earth.” After him his friend came down, hoisted the American flag, and began collecting materials from Monday. I did not see the return to the cabin, because I went to sleep, it was 5.30 minutes “. This is what Enver Hoxha wrote, among other things, in his diary dated July 21, 1969, while watching live on television, the landing of the American spaceship “Apollo-11”, with two cosmonauts on board, where Arsmtrong was also the first man to set foot on the surface of the moon. But since when did Enver start following the space race and what did he write in his diaries about those great achievements and successes of world science ?! In this regard, others know some parts of his diaries, which Memorie.al brings for the first time on the occasion of the anniversary of the landing of the first man on the moon, on July 20-21, 1969.
Enver Hoxha’s diary on the spatial race of “superpowers”
SUNDAY
4 OCTOBER 1959
THE NEW SUCCESS OF SOVIET SCIENCE
The third space rocket with an automatic interplanetary station was launched in the Soviet Union, which will pass near the Moon and fly around it. Scientific, radiotechnical and other devices are placed at the station. Great success of Soviet science.
KORÇA, FRIDAY
19 AUGUST 1960
Today it was announced that the Soviet Union launched the second spacecraft into Earth orbit with two dogs inside. This is a colossal victory for humanity. The glorious party of Lenin and Stalin has amazing forces! But how will the “dogs” in Moscow fare?
KORÇA, SATURDAY
AUGUST 20, 1960
The Sputnik spacecraft landed on Earth. The animals came back alive and well. The way of the Cosmos was opened for man.
WEDNESDAY
12 APRIL 1961
The Soviets threw the first man into space, Major Yuri Gagarin. Manned space rockets, at a minimum distance from the surface of the earth (on the periphery) 175 km. and at the maximum distance (at apogee) 302 km. after circling the earth, he sat down on the ground. Gagarin returned safe and sound. The miracle of the centuries and this was done by the country of the Great October Socialist Revolution.
FRIDAY
14 APRIL 1961
Neither yesterday nor today “Pravda” has published the official telegram of our congratulations for throwing Gagarin into space. In the Soviet press there is not even a single line for the manifestations of our people on this occasion. Everything is ignored and this is done in order to discredit us in front of Soviet opinion.
DURRES, SATURDAY
AUGUST 11, 1962
Today at 11 o’clock the Soviets launched into space orbit the Sputnik spacecraft “Vostok-3”. It is piloted by cosmonaut Adrian Nikolayev. Wonderful scientific success.
DURRES – TIRANA,
SUNDAY 12 AUGUST 1962
Cosmonaut Adrian Nikolayev continues to fly the Sputnik spacecraft, the Vostok 3. He has surpassed Titov’s record. Today at 11 02 the Soviets launched into space orbit another spacecraft, “Vostok-4”, with cosmonaut Popovic. The purpose of launching two spacecraft into orbit close to each other is to see the possibility of establishing a direct link between them, as well as coordinating the actions of the two cosmonaut pilots. Great! Congratulations to Soviet scientists and heroes astronauts! The Khrushchev Trotskyist will temporarily benefit from this as well, I know, but, in the end, he will break his head. Marxism-Leninism will win!
MONDAY
JUNE 17, 1963
The “Vostok-5” spacecraft with Valery Bikovski and the “Vostok-6” with Valentina Tereshkova are flying normally in space.
DURRËS, SUNDAY
JULY 20, 1969
A COLOSAL SUCCESS OF SCIENCE
Exciting moment. It is 21.17 minutes. The lunar cockpit (LEM) of the American spacecraft “Apollo-11” with two cosmonauts inside landed on the moon for the first time. We are watching her decrease on TV. It is a colossal success for world science. It is unfortunate that it is the American imperialists who are taking advantage of this great victory of humanity. We are waiting to see the first human appearance on the moon. This will be done tomorrow morning at 3.10pm our time.
DURRËS, YESTERDAY
JULY 21, 1969
THE FIRST MAN TRIED ON THE MOON
It was 3.10 am, we are waiting impatiently, but the television does not give anything, because, as the speaker says, the Houstonitl channel was cut. We have to wait, they say, that the cabin pressure did not work well, etc. It was really exciting for the fate of the heroes of the moon. Finally, at 04.3 minutes, American Armstrong put his right foot on the surface of the moon. It was something fantastic. He began to walk carefully, “like a calamus” in darkness and light. “The place,” he said, “is stone, dust, porous, different from the earth.” After him his friend came down, hoisted the American flag, and began collecting materials from Monday. I did not see the return to the cabin, because I went to sleep, it was 5.30 minutes.
FRIDAY
14 NENTOR 1969
AMERICA LAUNCHES A SPACE SHIP WITH THREE PEOPLE INSIDE THE MOON
Today at 17.22 ′ the Americans launched the Apollo-12 spacecraft in the direction of the Moon with three spaceships inside. They will arrive on the Moon on Tuesday, November 18 and will stay there 32 hours.
WEDNESDAY
19 NENTOR 1969
AMERICAN COSMONAUTES DISCOUNT ON THE MOON
This morning, at 8 o’clock without three minutes, two American cosmonauts landed on the Moon with the lunar cockpit of the Apollo-12 spacecraft. The spacecraft itself, with the third cosmonaut stood in orbit around the Moon.
TUESDAY
14 APRIL 1970
DEFECT IN THE SPACE SHIP “APOLLO-13”
The American spacecraft “Apollo-13” with three cosmonauts inside, which set off for the Moon, suffered a defect. Most of the main services were left without electricity, without oxygen, without water. The reason is unknown. It is said to have been hit by a meteorite, a short circuit is said to have occurred. The main part of the spacial train became unusable. As the radios are saying, the Moon will not go and the ship was ordered to return to Earth.
WEDNESDAY
15 APRIL 1970
“APOLLO-13” IS RETURNING TO EARTH
The Apollo-13 spacecraft is on its way back to Earth. There are many dangers for astronauts. The job is to get enough electricity, oxygen, water for drinks and engines, as well as food. Great alarm in world opinion about the lives of three astronauts. In case everything goes well, on Friday they should go down to the Pacific Ocean.
SATURDAY
25 APRIL 1970
CHINA LAUNCHED THE FIRST EARTH SATELLITE
China’s great victory, launched the first Earth satellite with a weight of over 170 kg.
TUESDAY
28 APRIL 1970
THE FIRST CHINESE SATELLITE DIIE ECHONE IN THE WORLD
The Chinese satellite launch echo is huge. The capitalist bourgeoisie and its press speak “with admiration” as if they discovered America, as if surprised and not surprised, but above all in these comments its great fear is shown. The capitalists are perverted and expect even more frightening surprises for them. Fear has entered their hearts of China’s empowerment.
FRIDAY
FEBRUARY 5, 1971
TWO AMERICAN COSMONAUTES DOWN TO THE MOON AGAIN
Today at 10.20, our time, the lunar cabin of the American spacecraft “Apollo-14”, with two people inside, landed on the Moon. The third astronaut stayed on Apollo and is orbiting the Moon, waiting for the other two to complete their mission on the Moon and board the spacecraft to return to Earth. This is also a great scientific success, although it benefits from American imperialism, which yesterday sent more than 40 thousand people to Cambodia and Laos, among them 10 thousand American soldiers.
DURRES – POGRADEC
TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1976
HISTORICAL EVENTS FOR WORLD SCIENCE
On the 20th of this month the Americans first landed a probe on Mars, which made a gentle landing. This is a truly historic event for world science. We also saw the first photos, very clear, broadcast by Italian television. According to American scientists, the temperature on this planet is very low, there is little oxygen, there is nitrogen and there does not seem to be water. The probe, of course, has just begun operations and data transmission. In the clear photos, the earth looked soft, without dust like that of the moon, small and large broken stones were visible, “rigola” that the probe legs had made when it landed, the sky and the horizon were seen without clouds. Scientists say that the planet Mars is cold, because there are changes in temperature at night and at lunch, with the hour of Mars. The most important issue is finding and verifying whether or not there is life on Mars. There is talk of microbial life, yes, if there is, how is this presented? Scientists say that there may be life even in the conditions of Mars, why compare this with some soil microbes that live in some artificial conditions, where life does not seem possible to exist. They say that nothing is known exactly and will be pronounced when they receive data. Now they have set in motion a pickaxe and a shovel, then passes it to a small laboratory of 40 cm. (which has cost, according to data, $ 50 million). This laboratory is formed with different compartments inside. A teaspoon of soil will be thrown into each shovel and it will be analyzed to see if there is life there, in what form it is presented and they will communicate it. Many other data will surely communicate as well. Too bad that these inventions and these data with historical values in cosmology, are in the hands of the American imperialists and will be exploited by them not in the interest of peoples and science, not in the service of humanity!/Memorie.al
