{"product_id":"soyuz-tm-17-mir-flown-telegram-11437","title":"Soyuz TM-17 MIR FLOWN telegram from Xmas day 24.12.1993","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSOYUZ TM-17 \/ MIR FLOWN CHRISTMAS TELEGRAM STRIP\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDated 24 December 1993 • Signed in Orbit by Vasili Tsibliyev and Aleksandr Serebrov\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA rare \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eflown ca 3x16''telegram strip from the Mir space station\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, dated \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e24 December 1993\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and hand-signed in orbit by veteran Russian cosmonauts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVasili Tsibliyev\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAleksandr Serebrov\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe date represents \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChristmas Eve\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, celebrated while the two cosmonauts were nearing the end of an extraordinary six-and-a-half-month expedition aboard Mir. As a personal piece of onboard correspondence connected to the holiday period, the telegram offers an evocative glimpse into daily life aboard one of history’s most important orbital stations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz TM-17 Crew\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz TM-17 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1 July 1993\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e carrying the complete three-member crew:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVasili Tsibliyev — Commander\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAleksandr Serebrov — Flight Engineer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJean-Pierre Haigneré — French CNES Research Cosmonaut\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe spacecraft docked with Mir on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3 July 1993\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Tsibliyev and Serebrov remained aboard as the station’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e14th principal expedition crew\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, while Jean-Pierre Haigneré conducted the French \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAltaïr mission\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a 21-day program of scientific and medical research.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHaigneré returned to Earth on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e22 July 1993\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e aboard Soyuz TM-16 with outgoing Mir cosmonauts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGennadi Manakov\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAleksandr Poleshchuk\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Consequently, only Tsibliyev and Serebrov remained aboard Mir on 24 December 1993, which explains why this Christmas telegram is signed by those two long-duration crew members rather than by all three members of the original Soyuz TM-17 launch crew. NASA’s Mir history confirms that Tsibliyev and Serebrov replaced Manakov and Poleshchuk, while Haigneré returned with the outgoing crew.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLife and Work Aboard Mir\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuring their expedition, Tsibliyev and Serebrov conducted scientific research, maintained the orbital complex and completed several extravehicular activities. Their work included preparations and inspections connected with Mir’s exterior systems and the future use of the Kristall module’s APAS-89 docking mechanism—an important element in preparations for the forthcoming Shuttle–Mir program.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe mission took place during a pivotal period in spaceflight history. Russia’s space program was adapting to the political and economic changes following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, while cooperation with France, the United States and other international partners was steadily increasing. Soyuz TM-17 and the Altaïr mission therefore formed part of the transition from primarily national space-station operations toward the multinational cooperation that would eventually define the International Space Station.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDramatic Conclusion of Soyuz TM-17\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoyuz TM-17 undocked from Mir on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e14 January 1994\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with Tsibliyev and Serebrov aboard. During a photographic fly-around of the station, a control-selection error caused the Soyuz orbital module to make two glancing contacts with Mir’s Kristall module.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCommunications were temporarily interrupted, but inspection showed that neither the spacecraft nor the station had suffered serious damage. Tsibliyev and Serebrov subsequently completed a safe return to Earth after approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e196 days in space\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The incident remains one of the notable close calls in Mir’s operational history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original flown telegram strip showing expected handling and age consistent with its use aboard Mir. Please examine the accompanying photographs for the exact wording, markings, signature placement, dimensions and overall condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Been in Space","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58254418805000,"sku":"11437","price":245.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1490\/3832\/files\/11437.jpg?v=1784304461","url":"https:\/\/www.beeninspace.com\/products\/soyuz-tm-17-mir-flown-telegram-11437","provider":"BEEN IN SPACE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}