Every eclipse has different logistic obstacles and the 1981 event had plenty. As the track ran through the Soviet Union even getting weather data was not simple (are you spies..?) and when it was clear the best place was going to be in a closed region in Kazakhstan, the negotiations had to kick in early. All travel had to be set up through Intourist, the only outfit allowed to bring in foreigners so there was a mountain of paperwork and weeks of delays waiting for permission
