{"product_id":"mir-flown-crossword-puzzle-handmade","title":"Soyuz TM-22 MIR FLOWN crossword puzzle sent to MIR – handmade !","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom the celebrated astrophilatelic collection of Jacques Bracke\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA wonderfully intimate and highly unusual \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMir space station–flown personal artifact\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, offering a rare glimpse into the everyday family life of cosmonauts during the mid-1990s—long before smartphones, email, video calls, or the constant digital contact of today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis charming handwritten \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecrossword puzzle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was prepared by a child connected with the Mir crew, believed to be from the family of cosmonaut \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYuri Gidzenko\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSergei Avdeyev\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. It was sent to the Mir space station and later carried aboard the orbiting complex, where it received an authentic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ein-space postmark dated 15 November 1995\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, together with both official onboard Mir cachets.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFar more personal than a conventional flown cover, the sheet preserves the warmth of communication between home and orbit. Along the right-hand side are handwritten clues for each crossword row, while a delightful note across the top asks: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Which fur coat should I buy for my mother?”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The spontaneous comment captures the ordinary concerns of family life continuing thousands of kilometres below the spacecraft.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the time, Mir crews often spent many months in orbit, relying on letters, personal notes, photographs, and small handmade items to maintain a connection with loved ones on Earth. This piece is a poignant reminder that behind the technical achievements of long-duration spaceflight were families, children, and everyday conversations shared across extraordinary distance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith its genuine Mir flight, November 1995 in-space cancellation, dual onboard postmarks, handwritten content, likely direct family connection to Gidzenko or Avdeyev, and the distinguished provenance of Jacques Bracke, this is a truly unique and emotionally engaging artifact of human spaceflight history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA superb addition to any advanced collection of Mir memorabilia, cosmonaut family correspondence, space-flown postal history, or personal artifacts from the early era of long-duration international spaceflight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Been in Space","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58134223814920,"sku":"13311","price":395.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1490\/3832\/files\/13311.jpg?v=1782999204","url":"https:\/\/www.beeninspace.com\/products\/mir-flown-crossword-puzzle-handmade","provider":"BEEN IN SPACE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}