Soviet Early Cosmonauts: Large Original Press Photo, Eleven Pictured, Signed by All, with Certificate of Authenticity from PS...

Description

Soviet Early Cosmonauts: Large Original Press Photo, Eleven Pictured, Signed by All, with Certificate of Authenticity from PSA/DNA. A 9.25" x 9.5" glossy B&W photo showing eleven decorated Soviet cosmonauts gathered in formal uniforms with Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, seated at center. The group includes an historical assemblage with several early Vostok and Voskhod program fliers, each wearing Hero of the Soviet Union medals prominently on their jackets. The image appears to have been taken during a ceremonial or commemorative event, judging from the uniforms and visible insignia, including the early-era cosmonaut badges. The backdrop, featuring a stylized rocket motif, suggests the setting of a Soviet space program celebration or awards presentation.

Signed at wide lower margin in various colored felt tips (Cyrillic, signatures left to right): Andrian Nikolayev, Viktor Gorbatko, Pavel Belyayev, Yevgeny Khrunov, Valentina Tereshkova, Georgi Beregovoi, Vladimir Shatalov, Valery Bykovsky, Alexei Yeliseyev, Alexei Leonov, and Pavel Popovich. An awesome piece for display. A tiny smear on Leonov's signature, otherwise excellent. Present on the verso is a Novosti Press Agency stamp. PSA/DNA COA included.

This ensemble represents the formative era of Soviet space exploration, from the earliest Vostok solo flights to the complex Soyuz and Salyut programs that defined long-duration orbital operations. Together, these cosmonauts were responsible for many of the Soviet Union's most historic "firsts" in space. On our website is a record of each individual's flown missions, reflecting their collective contribution to the USSR's pioneering years in human spaceflight. From an important collection of Soviet-era Space history

More Information: Andrian Nikolayev
Vostok 3 — August 11–15, 1962. Performed the first simultaneous group flight with Vostok 4 (Pavel Popovich).
Soyuz 9 — June 1–19, 1970. Endurance record of nearly 18 days, paving the way for long-duration orbital missions.

Viktor Gorbatko
Soyuz 7 — October 12–17, 1969. Participated in the first multi-ship coordinated mission (Soyuz 6–8).
Soyuz 24 — February 7–25, 1977. Commanded the final mission to the Salyut 5 space station.
Soyuz 37 — July 23–August 11, 1980. Interkosmos flight with Vietnamese cosmonaut Phạm Tuân, marking international cooperation in space.

Pavel Belyayev
Voskhod 2 — March 18–19, 1965. Commander of the historic flight during which Alexei Leonov conducted the world's first spacewalk.

Yevgeny Khrunov
Soyuz 5 — January 15–18, 1969. Conducted the first crew transfer in space, moving via EVA to Soyuz 4 and returning with Shatalov.

Valentina Tereshkova
Vostok 6 — June 16–19, 1963. The first woman to travel in space; conducted solo orbital operations during the concurrent Vostok 5 mission.

Georgi Beregovoi
Soyuz 3 — October 26–30, 1968. Commanded a solo mission testing docking systems and space station approach procedures.

Vladimir Shatalov
Soyuz 4 — January 14–17, 1969. Docked with Soyuz 5 and returned two transferred cosmonauts safely to Earth.
Soyuz 8 — October 13–18, 1969. Flew in the three-ship coordinated flight with Soyuz 6 and 7.
Soyuz 10 — April 22–24, 1971. Attempted the first crewed docking with the Salyut 1 space station.

Valery Bykovsky
Vostok 5 — June 14–19, 1963. Companion mission to Tereshkova's Vostok 6, marking the first dual flight with a woman in space.
Soyuz 22 — September 15–23, 1976. Earth-observation flight utilizing modified East German camera systems.
Soyuz 31 — August 26–September 3, 1978. Interkosmos flight with East German cosmonaut Sigmund Jähn, the first German in space.

Alexei Yeliseyev
Soyuz 5 — January 15–18, 1969. Transferred via spacewalk to Soyuz 4, a first in human spaceflight.
Soyuz 8 — October 13–18, 1969. Participated in the coordinated triple mission.
Soyuz 10 — April 22–24, 1971. Flew on the attempted docking with Salyut 1.

Alexei Leonov
Voskhod 2 — March 18–19, 1965. Performed the first extravehicular activity (spacewalk) in history.
Soyuz 19 (Apollo–Soyuz Test Project) — July 15–21, 1975. Commanded the Soviet craft in the first joint US–USSR space mission.

Pavel Popovich
Vostok 4 — August 12–15, 1962. Companion flight with Vostok 3, achieving the first orbital rendezvous between crewed spacecraft.
Soyuz 14 — July 3–19, 1974. Manned the Salyut 3 military orbital station, conducting reconnaissance and observation tasks.