When the hatch opened a stream of sunlight burst in. I saw the Earth, the horizon and the black sky. I felt as I did during my first parachute jumps. I also felt like an athlete before the start. Soon the habits I have acquired in the course of my long training took hold of me, and I began to think only about my assignment.

I had no difficulty getting out of the spacecraft. As soon as I found myself in outer space, I looked around. The spacecraft Soyuz-4 and Soyuz-5 were a magnificent sight. I could make out details of their outer surfaces. They glittered brightly reflecting the sunlight.

But I had no time to pause and admire the wonderful sight of a spacecraft against the background of the Earth and the black sky. I soon started my walk in space. I approached the vicinity of the docking unit of Soyuz-5 where, on its outer surface, a camera following the rendezvous and docking was installed.

I'd like to say something about the expression "spacewalk". In zero-gravity conditions one cannot "walk" over the surface of the spacecraft in the usual sense of the word, as there is no firm base under one's feet, no force pressing one to the surface of the spacecraft.

We learned during our training on the ground that for movement in open space, for "walking" on a spacecraft from one place to another, it was most practicable to use our hands and hold on to the firm rails as a means of support. Moving along the rails in this way, I approached the camera. Then, gripping the rail with one hand, I removed the camera with the other from the bracket and disconnected it from the on-board electric mains.

Then "walking on hands" in the same manner I moved along the outer surface of the assembled space station and entered the compartment of Soyuz-4. Halfway

inside the hatch I carried out observations of the Earth's horizon and checked the operation of attitude control jets, while maintaining communication with the spacecraft commanders and with cosmonaut Yeliseyev. Then I took a "Salyut" camera from the orbital compartment and made several shots of the spacecraft.

As soon as the spacecraft entered the zone of effective operation of the ground tracking stations located on Soviet territory, I took the camera I had removed from the bracket of Soyuz-5, mounted it on a special bracket near the hatch of Soyuz-4 and switched on power supply. The camera was ready to follow the emergence of cosmonaut Alexei Yeliseyev from Soyuz-5 and his transfer through outer space to Soyuz-4.

The experiment showed that it was possible to perform in space such operations as assembly of equipment.

The choice of the method of transfer - through open space rather than by means of a tunnel - was not an accidental one. The experiment was of great importance for future assembly of heavy orbital stations, outer inspection and performance of various repair and mounting operations outside the space station.