Author
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Topic: Signing experience: Russian cosmonauts
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jiffyq58 Member Posts: 218 From: Durham, NC, USA Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 04-18-2014 08:38 AM
quote: Originally posted by SpaceyInMN: I'm preparing to send a photo to Alexey Leonov requesting his autograph.
Did you send your request to Leonov? If so, where did you find Russian stamps to send for the return shipment? I've still not had any success in finding a source. |
SpaceyInMN Member Posts: 355 From: Andover, MN Registered: Dec 2013
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posted 04-18-2014 09:46 AM
After talking with a couple co-workers who have mailed packages to Russia and heard about some of the problems they've encountered, I gave up for the time being. I think I may just try to find a decent signed Leonov photo for sale at some point, but mailing him something is on hold for the time being. |
jiffyq58 Member Posts: 218 From: Durham, NC, USA Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 04-18-2014 01:47 PM
I've had good luck in getting signed photos returned from both Valentina Tereshkova and Valery Bykovsky (both inscribed to my son) in the past six months, so I'm inclined to give it a go with Leonov. If I can find a way to get some Russian stamps, that is. |
Torsten Member Posts: 35 From: Oberhausen, Germany Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 09-24-2014 12:02 PM
Where do you get good quality pictures of the cosmonauts? I've done some research on the web and also in this board, but can't find a good source.Right now I need a good pictures of Toktar Aubakirov (Soyuz TM-13). Can anybody please help me out? |
jiffyq58 Member Posts: 218 From: Durham, NC, USA Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 09-24-2014 08:47 PM
Sometimes Wikipedia has some good high res photos if you look up a cosmonaut or astronaut by name or mission. You can also try SpaceFacts.de. I've found a few good photos that I couldn't find in high enough resolution elsewhere. And sometimes I just Google search for "high resolution photos" of whatever person or mission I'm looking for. Most of what comes up is not high res, but sometimes you get lucky. |
Tykeanaut Member Posts: 2212 From: Worcestershire, England, UK. Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 04-05-2015 01:01 PM
Is the address still valid? I'm thinking of trying to get Yelena Serova's autograph. |
RichieB16 Member Posts: 552 From: Oregon Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 03-07-2016 04:38 PM
A little over a decade ago, I wrote to a handful of cosmonauts using the Star City address with some success. I would like to try and write to a few more but I am finding it difficult to fully understand the amount of postage to get it there. I understand that flown cosmonauts receive postage for such material so return postage is not needed. I just need to understand how much postage I need to use to get the letter there.My plan is to use a 9x12 mailing envelope and to send a letter, return envelope, 5x7 photo or cover and probably a thin piece of cardboard for stiffness. Probably 2 ounces or so (but I will weigh it to be sure). Can someone help me with the amount of postage I need? Thanks. |
Dave_Johnson Member Posts: 106 From: Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 03-07-2016 06:08 PM
The US Postal Service has an online calculator to help determine the cost of postage. |
RichieB16 Member Posts: 552 From: Oregon Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 03-07-2016 07:03 PM
Thank you for the link. That is a big help. One more question, it looks like if I use a 6x9 envelope I can send it as a first class letter and it would cost $2.43. That is totally worth it to me. Now, do I need to get special international stamps or can I just use normal $0.49 forever stamps... just use 5 of them? |
eurospace Member Posts: 2610 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 03-08-2016 04:52 AM
For current cosmonauts involved in the International Space Station, you easily find portrait photos with NASA on their Flickr site. For earlier MIR cosmonauts involved in the Shuttle-MIR programme, the former Human Space Flight site also has plenty of stuff. NASA's GRIN site has a number of veteran cosmonauts of the early years. Hope this helps. |
RichieB16 Member Posts: 552 From: Oregon Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 03-08-2016 01:27 PM
quote: Originally posted by RichieB16: Now, do I need to get special international stamps or can I just use normal $0.49 forever stamps...
Does anyone know the answer to this? I assume I can just use normal stamps but I wanted to make sure. |
Dave_Johnson Member Posts: 106 From: Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 03-08-2016 01:45 PM
Yes, you can use however many regular postage stamps it takes to cover the cost of the international postage. |
RichieB16 Member Posts: 552 From: Oregon Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 03-08-2016 07:13 PM
Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! |
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 03-08-2016 11:28 PM
To be more precise, you don't need to get the Global Forever airmail stamps - all US postage issued, with the exception of specifically marked ones like "pre-sort" or "postage due," are valid for postage. I had a teacher who used to send us cards with numerous old and numerous one cent stamps to cover the current postage.And there's at least one cS member who uses various space stamps including the 4 cent Mercury ones to send mail.... |
RichieB16 Member Posts: 552 From: Oregon Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 03-17-2016 10:15 AM
I was in the process of sending a letter to Valeri Ryumin via Zvezdny Gordok and thought I might include an item on the off chance his wife Yelena Kondakova might be willing to sign something. Would it be improper to write to Mr. Ryumin and request an autograph and include a request for his wife to sign something as well?I don't want to seem rude or anything and I have no idea if either tend to sign or not. Do you think including an item for Kondakova to sign would alter my chances of a response? |
Neil DC Member Posts: 140 From: Middletown, NJ, USA Registered: May 2010
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posted 04-16-2016 08:21 PM
For those willing to take a chance and enclose a dollar bill instead of stamps to Russia, in return for autographs, it worth noting that Russians prefer clean unmarked notes. As someone who has been many time to Moscow, I can say that if you pay for something in dollars, there they much prefer new notes. If they try and take old and marked bills to exchange or bank, it is likely that they will be refused. One or two dollar bills are worth the risk. Much more is not and one should make sure that any currency is not easily discernible through a letter. Perhaps include a piece of card too. |
hinkler Member Posts: 573 From: Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-15-2017 02:13 PM
I have noticed that cosmonauts now appear to sign before they fly. Signatures appear to be authentic and are sold on eBay by a number of sellers from Russia. Can anyone confirm that signing practices have changed and/or why? Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-15-2017 02:19 PM
This obviously doesn't apply to all, but in discussions with numerous recent cosmonauts who have made their first flights to the International Space Station, many have said that they do not assign the same importance to the traditions that were set or followed by their predecessors in the Russian space program. They still take part in some customs, in part because the activities are on camera, and some are genuinely desired (for example, I have never heard a cosmonaut say s/he did not desire to sign the book in Gagarin's office or plant a tree at Baikonur), but I don't think the autograph prohibition holds true for most of them today. |
Neil DC Member Posts: 140 From: Middletown, NJ, USA Registered: May 2010
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posted 01-15-2017 10:14 PM
In general the rookie cosmonauts still follow the tradition of refusing to sign for collectors before flying. However on occasion when not in the company of other cosmonauts they may choose to sign. It is notable that closer to their first flight some have chosen to sign a limited number of items. Cosmonauts like Ovchinin and Ryzhikov have signed with their names in capitals, almost printed in cyrillic. This is an autograph, but perhaps not their proper signature. That will become more apparent after their flights, when they sign freely. One might be tempted to think that some rookie astronauts also follow this policy. |
hinkler Member Posts: 573 From: Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-16-2017 02:36 PM
I have seen photos signed by Serova, Ovchinin and Ryzhikov for sale on eBay and a few sites that were signed before the cosmonauts flew. The signature appears to be the same preflight as those offered postflight. They were full signatures rather than printed in capitals. I would certainly appreciate other comments as it seems to me the tradition of not signing before flight has changed. |
Neil DC Member Posts: 140 From: Middletown, NJ, USA Registered: May 2010
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posted 01-16-2017 08:38 PM
With regards to Ovchinin. On eBay (322379011149) is an example before his flight. Another presumably after his flight (122303298447).There are currently more examples of each on eBay. |
hinkler Member Posts: 573 From: Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-16-2017 09:36 PM
I have seen the second example (right hand side photo) sold before his flight. Same with Serova and Ryzhikov. There are and were normal signatures sold before they flew. I don't know why some were printed signatures from Ovchinin or anyone else. But it certainly hasn't been my experience that the majority of preflight signatures were printed. Perhaps some of our friends in Russia could explain. |
Dirk Member Posts: 933 From: Belgium Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 01-17-2017 03:33 PM
Before their flight some only write their name, after the flight they put a signature.
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Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 02-06-2017 09:59 PM
Valentina Tereshkova, sent a 4x6 photo November 2016, received today, 6 Feb. 2017. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 04-06-2017 11:56 AM
Sergei Krikalev, in-person. |
soviet space Member Posts: 301 From: Registered: Jan 2015
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posted 04-14-2017 01:47 AM
Before the first flight it is considered bad to put the autograph and put — a surname, there are three types of the signature when put both a surname, and reduction and the autograph. Attention to eBay there were counterfeit signatures which are followed by so-called certificates. I won't write who sells fakes, a part of sellers aren't aware that sell a fake, in Russia any person calling himself the businessman can make the certificate. |
soviet space Member Posts: 301 From: Registered: Jan 2015
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posted 05-13-2017 11:14 AM
Soon Sergey Ryzhikov signed cover and you see his real autograph. |
Apollo-Soyuz Member Posts: 1205 From: Shady Side, Md Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 05-13-2017 04:26 PM
in all my years about 30 years sending for signatures of the cosmonauts, the best tip I can give to someone who is going to delve into this cosmonaut autograph collecting is to have patience. If the cosmonauts get mail through Star City, it will be eventually be mailed back to you. I've waited 5 years for some returns to come back. |
soviet space Member Posts: 301 From: Registered: Jan 2015
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posted 06-07-2017 06:41 AM
quote: Originally posted by soviet space: Soon Sergey Ryzhikov signed cover and you see his real autograph.
See who interested: |
mrspacehead Member Posts: 43 From: Registered: Jun 2017
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posted 06-25-2017 07:02 PM
I'm about to send my first cosmonaut request so I'm not entirely sure how this works and there's something that confuses me. If I intend to send two 8x10s, a return envelope and a piece of cardboard as backing, do I need to fill out a customs form? And if so, how does the cosmonaut send it back (I'm aware of the fact that cosmonauts get free postage)? I'm sending it first class mail international. Can anyone shed some light on this? |
eurospace Member Posts: 2610 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 06-29-2017 02:56 PM
Ask your post office whether the little green customs sticker is required. It won't do any harm, I am sure.Star City sends yours stuff back in an envelope, stamped with Russian stamps, applied by them. Who is the target of your first letter to Russia?
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mrspacehead Member Posts: 43 From: Registered: Jun 2017
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posted 06-29-2017 03:04 PM
Boris Volynov.This may be a stupid question but - Does Star City need to apply a customs form coming back to the US?
- If so will they do it?
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eurospace Member Posts: 2610 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 06-30-2017 12:01 PM
I really wouldn't worry about that. That is their business. I have never seen one on their shipment.Good luck with Volynov!
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soviet space Member Posts: 301 From: Registered: Jan 2015
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posted 07-01-2017 02:22 AM
Up to 500 grams is considered a letter, no CN22 is not required.I can read what the astronauts are now living in Star City, Leonov lives, but it happens very rarely, always traveling. Volynov and Shatalov and Bykovskiy in with the main house. |
mrspacehead Member Posts: 43 From: Registered: Jun 2017
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posted 10-13-2017 09:44 AM
I'm looking to send requests to a few cosmonauts. Does anybody know if you can send multiple requests in one envelope? |
eurospace Member Posts: 2610 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 10-13-2017 10:58 PM
Only if you want your requests end up in a central garbage bin. If you want to see your requests delivered one by one to the cosmonauts' homes of offices you are targeting, then you'd be wise to send an envelope and request to each of them. They are not a collective, you know, they are individual people who have individual desks. "Open space" is not something they do to their heroes. |
Dirk Member Posts: 933 From: Belgium Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 10-02-2018 03:47 PM
Received a signed photo of Valentina Tereshkova through the mail. Her signature is changing caused by her age I suppose. |
Dirk Member Posts: 933 From: Belgium Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 10-09-2018 04:28 PM
Pyotr Kolodin signatures also has significant differences. Received today several signed photos, signature is changed since the received photos some years ago. This is his actual signature. |
Neil DC Member Posts: 140 From: Middletown, NJ, USA Registered: May 2010
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posted 10-10-2018 10:16 AM
I discovered the negatives for these Soyuz 11 back-up photos in Star City in the late nineties, along with Rex Hall. It was a great scoop and we published a Spaceflight article on them at the time, which is never cited when these photos appear in subsequent publications. I have the whole series of photos signed by all three of them. Kolodin's autograph has indeed changed. |
Dirk Member Posts: 933 From: Belgium Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 10-10-2018 03:22 PM
It is the Soyuz-10 back up crew. I also have the photo signed by all three. Signature Kolodin is significantly changed. |