{"product_id":"ariane-5-space-shuttle-soyuz-tma-16-flown-cover","title":"Ariane 5 - Space Shuttle + Soyuz TMA-16 FLOWN cover","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWorld Rarity — Triple-Flown ATV, Space Shuttle and Soyuz Cover from the Jacques Bracke Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn astonishing artifact with an almost certainly unique flight history: a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecover flown into space on three separate missions aboard three fundamentally different spacecraft systems—Europe’s Ariane 5\/ATV, an American Space Shuttle and a Russian Soyuz\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginating from the personal collection of renowned astrophilatelist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJacques Bracke\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this remarkable cover travelled to the International Space Station twice and returned to Earth aboard the Space Shuttle before being launched into orbit again.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts extraordinary journey connected three of the world’s great space programs:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAriane 5 and ATV-1 Jules Verne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpace Shuttle Endeavour, STS-126\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz TMA-16\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cover is also hand-signed by eight astronauts, cosmonauts and spaceflight participants associated with its later ISS visit, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuy Laliberté, Nicole Stott, Frank De Winne, Gennady Padalka, Robert Thirsk and Michael Barratt\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst flight: Ariane 5 and ATV Jules Verne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cover began its journey aboard \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eATV-1 Jules Verne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Europe’s first Automated Transfer Vehicle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJules Verne launched from the Guiana Space Centre on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMarch 9, 2008\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, mounted atop a specially adapted \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAriane 5 ES rocket\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. After an extensive series of orbital tests and demonstration manoeuvres, it docked with the International Space Station on April 3.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pioneering spacecraft delivered supplies, water, oxygen and propellant while also demonstrating Europe’s ability to perform fully automated rendezvous and docking operations with a crewed orbital station. ATV-1 remained attached to the ISS for approximately five months before departing for its planned destructive re-entry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnlike the ATV itself, this cover was removed from the spacecraft while it was docked and preserved aboard the ISS—allowing its extraordinary journey to continue.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSecond flight: returned aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cover was subsequently carried back to Earth aboard Space Shuttle \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEndeavour\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e during \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSTS-126\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in November 2008.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSTS-126 was an important ISS assembly and servicing mission that delivered equipment needed to support a permanent six-person station crew. It also exchanged resident astronauts, delivering Sandra Magnus and returning Gregory Chamitoff to Earth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis leg transformed the cover into a rare transatlantic artifact: launched aboard a European Ariane 5 and returned aboard an American Space Shuttle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMost ATV-carried material remained aboard the cargo vehicle and was destroyed during re-entry. An item transferred to the ISS and deliberately returned aboard the Shuttle represents a fundamentally different and much rarer category of flown artifact.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThird flight: Soyuz TMA-16\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn September 2009, the cover travelled into space for a third time—now aboard the Russian spacecraft \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz TMA-16\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz TMA-16 launched on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeptember 30, 2009\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, carrying:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaxim Suraev\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Roscosmos cosmonaut and Soyuz commander\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJeffrey Williams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — NASA astronaut and flight engineer\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuy Laliberté\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Canadian spaceflight participant\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe spacecraft delivered Suraev and Williams to the ISS for Expedition 21, while Laliberté completed a privately funded visit to the station before returning aboard Soyuz TMA-14.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis third launch completed an unparalleled sequence:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAriane 5 to the ISS — Space Shuttle back to Earth — Soyuz to the ISS again.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuy Laliberté and the first social-artistic mission in space\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of the cover’s most prominent signatures is that of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuy Laliberté\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, founder of Cirque du Soleil and the One Drop Foundation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLaliberté travelled aboard Soyuz TMA-16 as a privately funded spaceflight participant. During his stay, he used the ISS as the focal point of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMoving Stars and Earth for Water\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a global artistic event intended to raise awareness of access to clean water.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHis signature gives the cover an important association not only with commercial spaceflight, but also with the worlds of performing arts, philanthropy and environmental advocacy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSigned by an exceptional international group\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe known signatures include:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuy Laliberté\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Canadian spaceflight participant and founder of Cirque du Soleil\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNicole Stott\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — NASA astronaut and Expedition 20\/21 flight engineer\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrank De Winne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — ESA astronaut and the first European commander of the ISS\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGennady Padalka\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Roscosmos cosmonaut and Expedition 20 commander\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRobert “Bob” Thirsk\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Canadian Space Agency astronaut\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMichael Barratt\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — NASA astronaut and Expedition 19\/20 flight engineer\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese individuals were part of the remarkable international gathering aboard the station around the arrival of Soyuz TMA-16. Expedition 20 represented the beginning of permanent six-person ISS operations, while the transition to Expedition 21 brought Frank De Winne’s historic appointment as the first European station commander.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe remaining two signatures should be identified directly from the cover or its accompanying documentation and added to the final catalogue description.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProvenance from the Jacques Bracke collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis extraordinary artifact comes from the personal collection of renowned astrophilatelist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJacques Bracke\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBracke’s collection has included significant flown covers, onboard postal material and crew-signed artifacts from the Soviet, Russian, European and American space programs. Its association with his collection adds an important level of specialist provenance to a cover whose complex flight history would otherwise be almost impossible to reconstruct.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe combination of documented multi-flight history and established astrophilatelic provenance makes this far more than a collection of signatures. It is a physical record of international space transportation across two separate years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThree launches, three space systems, two visits to the ISS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis cover’s journey can be summarized as follows:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLaunched aboard Ariane 5 with ATV-1 Jules Verne in March 2008\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTransferred from ATV to the International Space Station\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReturned to Earth aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-126\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLaunched again aboard Soyuz TMA-16 in September 2009\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarried to the International Space Station for a second time\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSigned by an international group of astronauts, cosmonauts and a private spaceflight participant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector highlights\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom the personal collection of Jacques Bracke\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlown into space on three separate missions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLaunched aboard three different spacecraft and rocket systems\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst launched atop an Ariane 5 aboard ATV-1 Jules Verne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlown to the ISS aboard Europe’s first Automated Transfer Vehicle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReturned to Earth aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-126\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLaunched into space again aboard Soyuz TMA-16\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlown to the International Space Station twice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHand-signed by eight astronauts, cosmonauts and spaceflight participants\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIncludes Guy Laliberté of Cirque du Soleil\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIncludes ISS commander Frank De Winne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIncludes Nicole Stott, Gennady Padalka, Robert Thirsk and Michael Barratt\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eConnects the European, American, Russian and Canadian space programs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRepresents the Ariane, ATV, Space Shuttle, Soyuz and ISS programs in one artifact\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn extraordinary candidate for a centerpiece in an advanced astrophilatelic collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn absolute world rarity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrdinary flown covers document one mission. Exceptional examples may have travelled aboard two spacecraft.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis cover records \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethree separate launches involving Europe’s Ariane 5 and ATV, NASA’s Space Shuttle and Russia’s Soyuz—while also making two journeys to the International Space Station\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith its remarkable multi-vehicle history, extensive international signature group and provenance from the Jacques Bracke collection, this is a genuine world-class rarity and one of the most compelling modern flown covers that an advanced collector could hope to acquire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Been in Space","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58254418149640,"sku":"11374","price":495.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1490\/3832\/files\/11374.jpg?v=1784304449","url":"https:\/\/www.beeninspace.com\/products\/ariane-5-space-shuttle-soyuz-tma-16-flown-cover","provider":"BEEN IN SPACE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}