posted 06-18-2017 11:38 AM               

Space Cover #422: ISS – the beginning

It all started with the launch of ZARYA module on Nov 20, 1998 by Proton-K launch vehicle. Zarya (Dawn, Заря), also known as the Functional Cargo Block or FGB, was the first module of the International Space Station to be launched. The FGB provided electrical power, storage, propulsion, and guidance to the ISS during the initial stage of assembly. The module was funded by the US while designed and built in 1990s and belongs to NASA although it remains a part of Russian segment. The cover is simple Oleg Urusov cachet used by a well-known servicer Karl Petrov to get a Korolev town (Russian mission control center location) postmark on the date of launch.

The next step was Unity module that was carried into orbit as the primary cargo of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-88, the first Space Shuttle mission dedicated to assembly of the station. On December 6, 1998, the STS-88 crew mated the aft berthing port of Unity with the forward hatch of the already orbiting Zarya module. This was the first connection made between two station modules. The simple STS-88 cover shows all the US crewmembers signatures postmarked in KSC on the launch and landing dates (I call it "mission summary" cover). Need to add Sergey Krikalev signature.

Above is the ISS flown cover to commemorate 15th anniversary of the event. The cover has special ISS postmark and signed by ISS 38 crew: Oleg Kotov, Koichi Wakata, Richard Mastracchio, Sergey Ryazansky, Mikhail Tyurin and Michael Hopkins.

The last in my list is a cover that has an ISS inspiration (probably for me only) and I developed a sort of a story. Having a special Apollo 11 25th anniversary special postmark applied in 1994 and it shows the future station and a statement – A SMALL STEP… THE NEXT STEPS... The point is that in March 1994, the total ISS structure and development schedule, including elements provided by Russia, were finalized. Note, while USA ISS program got a green light in 1984 with Europe, Canada and Japan signed for it in 1985, Russia has joined only in December 1993.

More of the ISS astrophilatelic story I have on my website.

posted 06-18-2017 05:09 PM               

During STS-88 Endeavour Mission Sergey Krikalev wrote 7 letters.

posted 06-19-2017 02:17 PM               

Another example for the Zarya module.

Different cachet in a cover postmarked in Korolev Baikonur launch site.