STS-60 crew – Russian KSC launch cover

Russian Launch Cover – Hand-Signed by the Entire STS-60 Crew (Historic First Russian on a U.S. Spacecraft)

Description:
Uncommon Russian philatelic cover postmarked February 3, 1994, to commemorate the launch of STS-60 Discovery — the first joint U.S.–Russian crewed space mission of the Shuttle era and the historic flight of Sergey Krikalev, the first Russian cosmonaut to fly aboard an American spacecraft. Personally autographed by all six crew members:

• Commander: Charles F. Bolden Jr.

• Pilot: Kenneth S. Reightler Jr.

• Mission Specialist: N. Jan Davis

• Mission Specialist: Ronald M. Sega

• Mission Specialist: Franklin R. Chang-Díaz

• Mission Specialist / Cosmonaut: Sergey K. Krikalev (Russia)

Mission Significance:
STS-60 marked the first flight of the Shuttle–Mir cooperation program, paving the way for long-duration joint missions and the eventual International Space Station partnership. The crew conducted microgravity experiments aboard the SPACEHAB module and operated the Wake Shield Facility, a free-flying platform for materials science research.

Condition:
Excellent — clear KSC launch postmark, clean design, and bold, well-placed autographs from the full crew.

Collector’s Note:
Russian-issued covers for STS-60 are unusual, and examples bearing the complete crew’s authentic signatures — including Sergey Krikalev’s — are scarce. This is a standout collectible bridging U.S. and Russian space history.