{"product_id":"kniga-3-4-5-crewsigned-covers-11141","title":"Soyuz 3+4+5 - KNIGA official crewsigned covers + COA","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSOYUZ 3, SOYUZ 4 \u0026amp; SOYUZ 5 COMPLETE COSMONAUT-SIGNED COVER SET\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo Official KNIGA Covers • Signed by All Five Cosmonauts • Two Separate KNIGA Certificates of Authenticity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn important set of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003etwo officially produced KNIGA commemorative covers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e honoring the pioneering \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz 3, Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 missions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, hand-signed by all five cosmonauts who flew aboard these historic spacecraft:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeorgi Beregovoy — Soyuz 3\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVladimir Shatalov — Soyuz 4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBoris Volynov — Soyuz 5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAleksei Yeliseyev — Soyuz 5 \/ transferred to Soyuz 4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYevgeny Khrunov — Soyuz 5 \/ transferred to Soyuz 4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe two covers are accompanied by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003etwo separate original KNIGA Certificates of Authenticity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, one for each cover. KNIGA-produced covers are well established within Soviet space-philately collecting and were issued to commemorate the achievements of the Soviet crewed space program. Comparable early KNIGA groups have been described by major auction houses as official Soviet philatelic covers issued for the country’s early human-spaceflight missions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz 3 — The Return to Crewed Soyuz Flight\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz 3\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e launched on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e26 October 1968\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, carrying veteran military pilot and cosmonaut \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeorgi Beregovoy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on a solo mission.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe flight was the Soviet Union’s first crewed space mission following the fatal Soyuz 1 accident in April 1967 and therefore represented a crucial step in restoring confidence in the redesigned Soyuz spacecraft. Beregovoy approached the uncrewed \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz 2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which had been launched as a rendezvous and docking target. Although the two spacecraft came within close range, the planned docking was not completed. Nevertheless, the mission successfully tested the modified Soyuz and cleared the way for the more ambitious Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 joint flight only a few months later.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 — A Landmark in Spaceflight History\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz 4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e launched on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e14 January 1969\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVladimir Shatalov\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e flying alone. The following day, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz 5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e launched carrying \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBoris Volynov, Aleksei Yeliseyev and Yevgeny Khrunov\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e16 January 1969\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the two spacecraft successfully rendezvoused and docked in Earth orbit. This was the first docking between two crewed Soviet spacecraft and created what the Soviet press described as an experimental orbital station.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe early Soyuz docking mechanism did not contain an internal passageway, so the crews could not simply move through a connecting tunnel. Instead, Yeliseyev and Khrunov put on their Yastreb spacesuits, depressurized the Soyuz 5 orbital module and performed an extravehicular transfer through open space to Soyuz 4.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe transfer marked the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003efirst occasion on which space travelers launched aboard one spacecraft and returned to Earth aboard another\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. After entering Soyuz 4, Yeliseyev and Khrunov joined Shatalov for the return to Earth, while Volynov remained alone aboard Soyuz 5.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Five Cosmonauts Represented\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeorgi Timofeyevich Beregovoy — Soyuz 3\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeregovoy piloted the first crewed Soyuz mission after the Soyuz 1 tragedy. His flight tested the redesigned spacecraft and attempted a rendezvous and docking with the uncrewed Soyuz 2, providing valuable operational experience for the missions that followed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVladimir Aleksandrovich Shatalov — Soyuz 4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShatalov flew Soyuz 4 alone, performed the active rendezvous and docking maneuver with Soyuz 5 and welcomed Yeliseyev and Khrunov aboard after their spacewalk transfer. He returned to Earth with a three-man crew.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBoris Valentinovich Volynov — Soyuz 5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVolynov commanded Soyuz 5 and assisted Yeliseyev and Khrunov as they prepared for their historic transfer. He remained aboard Soyuz 5 after their departure and experienced an extremely dangerous return when the spacecraft’s service module initially failed to separate correctly. The capsule eventually righted itself, but a hard landing reportedly injured Volynov. Despite the ordeal, he later returned to space aboard Soyuz 21.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAleksei Stanislavovich Yeliseyev — Soyuz 5 and Soyuz 4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYeliseyev launched aboard Soyuz 5, transferred through open space to Soyuz 4 and landed with Shatalov and Khrunov. His flight demonstrated the type of orbital crew transfer envisioned for elements of the Soviet lunar-landing program.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYevgeny Vasilyevich Khrunov — Soyuz 5 and Soyuz 4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKhrunov accompanied Yeliseyev during the extravehicular transfer. The two cosmonauts crossed between the docked spacecraft in Yastreb spacesuits because the docking system lacked an internal tunnel. Their transfer remains one of the defining achievements of the early Soyuz era.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe three missions represented by this set document the rapid development of the Soyuz system:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz 3\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e restored Soviet crewed operations and tested rendezvous procedures.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz 4 and Soyuz 5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e achieved a crewed docking and the first transfer of crew members between separate spacecraft in orbit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Soyuz 4–5 flight also rehearsed techniques considered necessary for the Soviet lunar program. Under the proposed lunar-flight architecture, a cosmonaut would have needed to spacewalk between docked vehicles because the spacecraft design did not provide a pressurized internal transfer tunnel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollecting Significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a particularly desirable ensemble because it combines:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo officially produced KNIGA commemorative covers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe signatures of all five cosmonauts from Soyuz 3, 4 and 5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo separate KNIGA Certificates of Authenticity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDirect association with the recovery of the Soyuz program after Soyuz 1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe first crew exchange between separate spacecraft in orbit\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of the earliest and most consequential dockings in human-spaceflight history\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTogether, these covers form an unusually complete signed record of a defining chapter in the Soviet space program and the development of the Soyuz spacecraft—a design lineage that would become one of the longest-serving and most influential human-spaceflight systems ever created.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Excellent -the set is supplied with two individual KNIGA Certificates of Authenticity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Been in Space","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58254419951880,"sku":"11141","price":175.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1490\/3832\/files\/11141.jpg?v=1784304475","url":"https:\/\/www.beeninspace.com\/products\/kniga-3-4-5-crewsigned-covers-11141","provider":"BEEN IN SPACE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}