Article No.: 12072
STS-71 / Mir – Flown Cover with Handwritten Letter from Cosmonaut Gennady Strekalov
An exceptional artifact from the dawn of U.S.–Russian cooperation in space: a rare flown postal cover from the personal collection of cosmonaut Gennady Strekalov, carried aboard Atlantis during STS-71 and postmarked in orbit aboard Space Station Mir. The cover bears both a handwritten letter to and from Strekalov, adding remarkable personal context to this piece of flown history.
STS-71 (June–July 1995) marked the first docking of the U.S. Space Shuttle with the Russian space station Mir, a milestone event that ended decades of Cold War rivalry and initiated a new era of international partnership in human spaceflight. The mission also included the historic exchange of crew members—the first time a Shuttle delivered a cosmonaut to space and returned another to Earth. This operation laid crucial groundwork for later joint missions and the construction of the International Space Station.
What makes this cover extraordinary is its dual provenance:
Flown aboard Shuttle Atlantis (STS-71) and personally confirmed by Strekalov’s certification on the cover.
Postmarked aboard Mir itself, making it an officially documented piece of in-space postal history.
From Strekalov’s own collection, ensuring unimpeachable authenticity.
Accompanied by documentation and a full translation of the handwritten content, this is not only a scarce flown cover but also a tangible witness to the moment when former rivals became partners in space exploration. A centerpiece for any serious collection of space-flown memorabilia or artifacts of U.S.–Russian space cooperation.