This launch, and the circumstances surrounding it, have been kept secret from the public, and an American launch from Nevada occurs at the same time. Both are destined for the joint Soviet-American space station, "Parity", currently orbiting the Earth. There were already two cosmonauts on board the "Parity" space station before the launch; however, they had mysteriously curtailed all contact with the aircraft carrier "Convention", afloat between San Francisco and Vladivostok, which serves as a base of operations for the Soviets and Americans.