Artifact: Yuri Gagarin signed photograph
Artifact Category: Photograph, autograph
Dimensions: 8.9 x 11.9 cm.

Description: Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet Air Force pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space. On April 12, 1961, Gagarin orbited the Earth aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft, completing a single orbit in 108 minutes.

Born in the village of Klushino in Russia in 1934, Gagarin trained as a foundryman before enrolling in a vocational school for metalworking. He later attended the Saratov Industrial Technical School, where he joined a flying club and became interested in aviation. In 1955, Gagarin entered military flight training and became a lieutenant in the Soviet Air Force.

Gagarin was selected to be a cosmonaut in 1960 and underwent intense physical and psychological training. On April 12, 1961, he was launched into space aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft, becoming the first human to travel into space. The mission made Gagarin an international hero and a symbol of Soviet technological superiority during the Cold War.

Despite his fame, Gagarin remained modest and focused on his work as a cosmonaut. He continued to train for future space missions and worked on developing new spacecraft technology. Tragically, Gagarin died in 1968 while piloting a training jet in a routine flight exercise.

This signed picture comes with a Letter of Authenticity from Steve Zarelli.

Artifact: Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission patch.
Manufacturer: AB Emblem.
Dimensions: 12.1 cm.
Program: Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
Flown Status: unflown.

Description:

This is the regular AB Emblem patch which can be distinguished from the 'crew' version by the absence of a gap between the blue and red thread blocks surrounding the stars and the outer red border. Vintage versions of these patches with bare cloth backs are quite rare to find, as the ASTP flight occurred in 1975, and AB Emblem transitioned to coated backs just a few years later in the late 70s.

It is important to note that there are noticeable variations in certain embroidery details of AB's vintage Apollo-Soyuz patches. Some feature an orange-thread sun with a gold center, while others have the reverse color scheme. Additionally, the color fill areas on the front of the command module may vary, with some patches using dark blue thread above pale blue and others following the opposite arrangement. These differences likely stem from variations between production runs, as the patches are otherwise too similar to be attributed to different manufacturers.

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) was a joint space mission conducted by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1975. It marked the first time that American and Soviet spacecraft docked in space. The mission aimed to test the compatibility and procedures for future international space missions.

More information:

Crew Patch Reference Guide: ASTP

Artifact: Apollo-Soyuz Test Project patch.
Manufacturer: AB Emblem.
Dimensions: 8.6 cm.
Program: Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
Flown Status: unflown.

Description:

This is the AB Emblen for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project patch for the project, rathen than for the mission. This design only comes in the 3 3/8"  (86 mm) size version.

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) was a joint space mission conducted by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1975. It marked the first time that American and Soviet spacecraft docked in space. The mission aimed to test the compatibility and procedures for future international space missions.

More information:

Crew Patch Reference Guide: ASTP

Artifact: Andriyan Nikolayev signed photo
Artifact Category: photo, autograph.
Dimensions: 8.5 x 11.5 cm.

Description: Andriyan Nikolayev was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on three space missions during the early years of the Soviet space program. Born in 1929 in the Chuvash Autonomous Republic, Nikolayev was a military pilot before being selected as a cosmonaut in 1960.

His first space flight was aboard Vostok 3 in 1962, during which he orbited the Earth for four days and set a new record for the longest time a human had spent in space. His second flight, on Soyuz 9 in 1970, lasted almost 18 days and was a test of the endurance of the human body in space.

Nikolayev's third and final mission was on Soyuz 19 in 1975, which was the first joint space mission between the Soviet Union and the United States. Nikolayev and his American counterpart, Thomas P. Stafford, docked their spacecraft together in orbit and conducted joint experiments.

This signed picture comes with a Letter of Authenticity from Steve Zarelli.

For more information see Nikolayev's signed postcard in my collection.

Artifact: Pavel Popovich signed photo
Artifact Category: photo, autograph.
Dimensions: 8.8. 11.9 cm.

Description: Pavel Popovich was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on two space missions during the early years of the Soviet space program. Born in 1930 in Ukraine, Popovich was a fighter pilot before being selected as a cosmonaut in 1960.

His first space flight was aboard Vostok 4 in 1962, during which he orbited the Earth for almost two days and conducted scientific experiments. He also communicated with fellow cosmonaut Andriyan Nikolayev, who was orbiting the Earth aboard Vostok 3 at the same time, making it the first time two manned spacecraft had been in space at the same time.

Popovich's second flight was on Soyuz 14 in 1974, which was a test of the Soyuz spacecraft's capabilities as a platform for scientific research. Popovich and his fellow cosmonaut conducted a variety of experiments during their two-week mission, including testing the effects of weightlessness on the human body.

In addition to his space flights, Popovich was also involved in the development of the Soviet space program, working on the design and testing of new spacecraft and equipment. He retired from the cosmonaut corps in 1982 with the rank of colonel.

This signed picture comes with a Letter of Authenticity from Steve Zarelli.

Artifact: Gherman Titov signed photograph
Artifact Category: photograph, autograph.
Dimensions: 8.6 x 12 cm.

Description: Gherman Titov was a Soviet Air Force pilot and cosmonaut who became the second human to orbit the Earth, after Yuri Gagarin. On August 6, 1961, Titov completed 17 orbits around the Earth aboard the Vostok 2 spacecraft, spending more than 25 hours in space.

Born in the Altai Krai region of Russia in 1935, Titov joined the Soviet Air Force in 1953 and trained as a fighter pilot. He was selected to be a cosmonaut in 1960 and underwent extensive training for his space mission.

Titov's historic flight made him the youngest person ever to travel into space, at the age of 25. During his time in orbit, he conducted scientific experiments and became the first person to suffer from space sickness, a condition that affects many astronauts and cosmonauts.

After returning to Earth, Titov continued to work in the Soviet space program, participating in the development of new spacecraft technology and training future cosmonauts. He retired from the Air Force in 1987 with the rank of major general.

This signed picture comes with a Letter of Authenticity from Steve Zarelli.

Item: Andriyan Nikolayev handsigned Russian postcard
Size: 10.9 x 14.3 cm.

Description: Andriyan Grigoryevich Nikolayev was a Soviet cosmonaut and military pilot who was born on September 5, 1929, in Shorshely, Russia.

In 1962, Nikolayev was selected as one of the six cosmonauts for the Vostok 3 mission, which was launched on August 11, 1962. This was the first time that two spacecraft had been in orbit at the same time, with Nikolayev and fellow cosmonaut Pavel Popovich aboard Vostok 3 and Andrian Nikolayev aboard Vostok 4. The two spacecraft came within a few kilometers of each other, but the cosmonauts did not actually make contact.

Nikolayev's second spaceflight was on Soyuz 9, which launched on June 1, 1970. This mission set a new endurance record, with Nikolayev and fellow cosmonaut Vitali Sevastyanov spending 17 days in orbit. They conducted various experiments and medical tests, and Nikolayev even married his wife Valentina Tereshkova, who was also a cosmonaut, while in orbit.

Nikolayev's third and final spaceflight was on Soyuz 22, which launched on September 15, 1976. This mission was notable for being the first time that a Soviet spacecraft had landed on German territory. Nikolayev and fellow cosmonaut Vladimir Kovalyonok spent almost eight days in orbit, conducting experiments and taking photographs of the Earth.

In addition to his spaceflights, Nikolayev was also a member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and a deputy in the Soviet parliament. He retired from the Soviet Air Force in 1982 and became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Andriyan Nikolayev passed away on July 3, 2004, at the age of 74.

Item: Apollo-Soyuz Test Project cover.
Size: 9.5x16.5 cm.

Description: Apollo–Soyuz was the first crewed international space mission, carried out jointly by the United States and the Soviet Union in July 1975. Millions of people around the world watched on television as a United States Apollo spacecraft docked with a Soviet Soyuz capsule. The project, and its handshake in space, was a symbol of détente between the two superpowers during the Cold War.

Item: Soyuz 31 patch.
Size: 7.2 x 9.3 cm.

Description: Soyuz 31 was a 1978 Soviet crewed space flight to the Salyut 6 space station. It was the seventh mission to and sixth successful docking at the orbiting facility. The Soyuz 31 crew were the second to visit the long-duration Soyuz 29 resident crew.

Soyuz 31 carried Valery Bykovsky and Sigmund Jähn, the first German cosmonaut, into space. They swapped Soyuz craft with the long-duration crew and returned to Earth in Soyuz 29, the resident crew returned to Earth in Soyuz 31.

Item: Luna 24 flown fragment.
Size: 7.2 x 10.8 cm.
Weight: 112 gr.
Description: It comes with a certificate of authenticity from Superior Stamp & and Coin.

It also includes a letter written by Cosmonaut Valery Rozhdestvensky and translated into English:

June 30, 1971 on board of Soyuz II.

Captain of the ship Dobrovsskiy G.T., Volkov V.N., and Pazaev V.I..

Accomplished a connection with space station Salyut I, the first space station of long duration taken to the orbit. I had to learn how to operate that station, and that is why after the accident, which happened because the valve for the pressure balance opened and all the vaccum had flowed out and I took part in an investigation of the causes of this accident. I still have burned layiag of the opened hatch from that flight from the escape pod.

During the landing of the escape pad of Soyuz II, a group discovered an opened hatch, and tape of pink color with laying of transparent material.

According to the report of the investigation that was the cause of the depressuring.

In the box, there are also fragments of the "Luna 24" spacecraft, inside layering. Launched on 8/9/76 - 8/22/76, after the scheduled landing on the surface of the Moon on the area of the Crisis Sea, where after the drilling of the Moon surface a sample was taken on the depth of 2 meters and this sample was delivered to earth on a container.

The weight of the sample was 170 grams.

Detail of the fragment (front and back sides)

Item: Sputnik signal recording

Size: 80,5x3,5 cm
Date: 1957-10

Origin: Institut für Fernmeldetechnik der TH Darmstadt, Germany.

Description: Acquired through the son of an engineer who worked at the Institut für Fernmeldetechnik der TH Darmstadt (Institute of Telecommunications Technology of the Technical University of Darmstadt). 20 Mhz signal, tape speed: 5 cm / sec. (approx). Ribbon break, restored.

Above: image of the entire tape.

Item: Lunokhod press picture
Size: 22,7x13,8 cm

Description: Black and white image used by the press. Lunokhod (Russian: Луноход, "Moonwalker") was a series of Soviet robotic lunar rovers designed to land on the Moon between 1969 and 1977. Obtained through ArtifactCloud. Unknown date of release.

Item: Apollo-Soyuz - Flown kapton foil on cover
Size: 9.5x16.5 cm.

Description: ASTP double postmarked cover for launch Moscow and Cape Canaveral with attached flown Kapton foil from the US Command Module. It includes copy from certificate signed by Kenneth L. Havekotte.

Item: Apollo-Soyuz First Day of Issue Cover signed by Alexei Leonov
Size: 16.5x9.2 cm.

Description: On 18 March 1965, Alexei Leonov became the first person to conduct a spacewalk, exiting the capsule during the Voskhod 2 mission for 12 minutes and 9 seconds. He was also selected to be the first Soviet person to land on the Moon although the project was cancelled.

In July 1975, Leonov commanded the Soyuz capsule in the Soyuz–Apollo mission, which docked in space for two days with an American Apollo capsule.

Item: Bild Zeitung cover of Yuri Gagarin's flight
Size: 41 x 57 cm.
Date: 1961-04-13
Description: Title of the cover in German "Weltraum-Flug geglückt - ..Ich war 106 Minuten im All!" - Sowjet-Major ist der erste" (Successful space flight - ... I was in space for 106 minutes! "- Soviet major is the first).

Item: Der erste Deutsche im Kosmos - Ein Bürger der DDR - Postcard

Size: 14.8 x 10.4 cm.
Publisher: Verlag für Agitations- und Anchauungsmittel Berlin

Description: Image of Valery Bykovsky and Sigmund Jähn. It has the printed signature of Jähn. Berlin stamp dated 09-14-1978 "Der erste Deutche im Kosmos ein Bürger der DDR" (the first German in cosmos, a citizen of the GDR) and stamp on the front. Unused front.

Item: Sigmund Jähn Postcard
Size: 14.8 x 10.4 cm.
Publisher: Verlag für Agitations- und Anchauungsmittel Berlin

Description: It includes the printed signature. On the obverse, 2 Berlin stamps dated 09-14-1978 "Der erste Deutche im Kosmos ein Bürger der DDR" (the first German in Cosmos, a citizen of the GDR).

Item: Sigmund Jähn signed postcard with inscribed date.
Size: 14.9 x 10.5 cm.

Date: 1983-10-08.
Publisher: Bild und Heimat - Reichenbauch (Vogtl).

Item: Neues Deutschland - Landing of Sigmund Jähn and Waleri Bykowski.
Size: 42.5 x 59 cm.
Date: 1978-09-04

Description: Title in German: Waleri Bykowski und Sigmund Jähn sind auf der Erde glücklich gelandet (Valery Bykowski and Sigmund Jähn landed successfully on earth).

Item: Neues Deutschland - Reception of Sigmund Jähn and Waleri Bykowski in Berlin
Size: 42.5 x 59 cm.
Date: 1978-09-22

Description: Title in German: Stürmischer Empfang in Berlin für Sigmund Jähn und Waleri Bykowski (Stormy reception in Berlin for Sigmund Jähn and Waleri Bykowski).