Orbit issue 103 (October 2014)

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Editorial

ISSN 0953 1599 THE JOURNAL OF THE ASTRO SPACE STAMP SOCIETY

Soyuz : Soviet Star-ship

Issue No 103 October 2014 Patron:

Over a quarter of this edition features the achievements of cosmonauts and astronauts who have gone into space via this veteran space ferry, the first version of which appeared in April 1967 with the fatal flight of Vladimir Komarov.

Cosmonaut Georgi Grechko, Hero of the Soviet Union

COMMITTEE Chairman Ian Ridpath, 48 Otho Court, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8PY (E-mail : ian@ianridpath.com)

Since then through various incarnations this modest but faithful ferry has carried scores of men and women from many countries into space and safely home again.

Chairman Emeritus : Margaret Morris, 30 Hilltree Court, Fenwick Rd, Giffnock, Glasgow G46 6AA (E-mail: m382morris@btinternet.com)

As we go to print three astronauts of the Expedition 40 crew—a Russian, an American and a German—work on the ISS, having arrived via the 122nd mission to use a Soyuz variant, launched in late May and they are likely to be there.

Hon. Secretary: Brian J.Lockyer, 21, Exford Close,Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset BS23 4RE (E-mail : b.lockyer365@btinternet.com)

Hon .Treasurer: Eve Archer, Glebe Cottage, Speymouth, Fochabers, Moray.

Scotland IV32 7LE (E-mail: orbitmag@aol.com)

However by the time you get this issue a new crew including a female Russian cosmonaut Yelena Serova ought to have arrived as the Expedition 41 crew via Soyuz TMA –12M.

Orbit : Editor Jeff Dugdale, Glebe Cottage, Speymouth, Fochabers, Moray.

Scotland IV32 7LE (E-mail: jefforbited@aol.com)

Webmaster Derek Clarke, 36 Cherryfield Road, Walkinstown, Dublin 12 (E-mail: dclarke36@gmail.com)

Postal Auction Organiser: David Saunders, 42 Burnet Road, Bradwell, Great Yarmouth. NR31 8SL. (E-mail davidsaunders1@hotmail.co.uk)

Overseas Representatives:

Soyuz was designed by the Korolev Bureau to replace the Vostok (Voskhod) craft and was also intended to be part of the Soviet Moon Exploration programme.

Although the craft was associated with four fatalities the craft is “widely considered the world's safest, most cost-effective human spaceflight system established by its unparalleled length of operational history” (wiki).

With NASA having now shown its hand with regard to smart new manned vehicles to be readied for flying to space stations from 2017, perhaps after 50 years Soyuz will be seem very unglamorous and dated, but with the European political situation being so uncertain, a new Cold war a possibility, and Russia’s economy therefore in some difficulties who can say that the old lady will not be on the scene for quite some time to come.

Australia: Charles Bromser, 37 Bridport Street, Melbourne 3205.

Belgium : Jűrgen P. Esders, Rue Paul Devigne 21-27, Boite 6, 1030 Bruxelles Eire:Derek Clarke, 36 Cherryfield Rd, Walkinstown. Dublin 12.

France: Jean-Louis Lafon, 23 Rue de Mercantour, 78310 Maurepas Russia: Mikhail Vorobyov, 31-12 Krupskaya Str, Kostroma United States: Dr Ben Ramkissoon, Linda Valley Villa #236 11075 Benton Street Loma Linda CA 92354-3182

Life Members: UK - George Spiteri, Ian Ridpath, Margaret Morris, Michael Packham, Jillian Wood. Derek Clarke (Eire,) Charles Bromser (Australia.) Tom Baughn (U.S.A.,) Ross Smith (Australia,) Vincent Leung Wing Sing (Hong Kong.)

Салют Сою́ з !!

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Soyuz Flights to the ISS—John Macco Part Two*

been applied in error. The old style Baikonur Registered Mail imprint is used on this cover.

The first manned Soyuz TMA flight for 2008 was the Mission16S/Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft launched on April 8, 2008 with the Expedition-17 crew of Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko and Spaceflight Participant, So Yeon Yi, a female Korean astronaut. Yi So-yeon flew as a guest of the Russian government through the Korean Astronaut Programme after the Korean government paid the Russian government 25 million dollars in agreement to support the first Korean astronaut in space. Fellow Korean astronaut Ko San was originally scheduled to fly but in March of 2008, it was announced that Ko had breached regulations surrounding removal of books from the Star City training centre, and therefore would not be allowed to fly. During her mission, Yi So-yeon carried out eighteen science experiments for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.

The last manned Soyuz TMA flight for 2008 was the Mission-17S/Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft launched on October 12, 2008 with two of the Expedition- 18 crew members Michael Fincke and Yuri Lonchakov and Spaceflight Participant Richard Garriott, a video game developer and the son of astronaut Owen Garriott who flew with Skylab 3 and STS-9. By some counts, Soyuz TMA13 was the one-hundredth Soyuz spacecraft to be manned.

Salizhan Sharipov had originally been assigned to command this Soyuz flight and participate in Expedition 18, but was replaced by Yuri Lonchakov.

The Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft with two of the Expedition17 crew, Volkov and Kononenko, along with Spaceflight Participant Garriott landed safely in Kazakhstan on October 24, 2008, resuming the Soyuz TMA’s standard of reliability after the two previous ballistic descents.

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft undocked from the ISS on April 19, 2008, with two of the Expedition-16 crew members Commander Peggy Whitson (USA) and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko (Russia), along with Yi So-yeon (Korea) and was the first time two women flew together on board a Soyuz.

Although the vehicle landed safely, it suffered a partial separation failure which caused a ballistic re-entry that in turn caused it to land 475 kilometres west of the intended landing point. Later, Anatoly Perminov, the head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, speculated that the ballistic reentry was connected to a Russian nautical superstition that having more women than men on a craft was unlucky.

A new postmark, an official International Space Station cancel from the Russia Post makes an appearance on the Soyuz 13 launch cover (top of column) along with the Soyuz pictorial and the Baikonur/Soyuz variety, all dated on October 12, 2008. The ISS version ties the two Baikonur 50th Anniversary stamps to the cover. The cachet features the Soyuz launch rocket lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the three crew members Richard Garriott, Yuri Lonchakov, and Michael Fincke walking towards the rocket, and a small Soyuz TMA-13 mission patch. The second cover (top left page 4) has the same three cancels as above, with the ISS version over a Kazakhstan stamp (s.

261). The cachet is also similar, but with the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft approaching the ISS. The covers featured in this article are produced by two collectors/dealers in Russia and Kazakhstan, and sold for 7.5 to 10 Euros through dealers, collectors and clubs in Europe. Attempts to send your own covers to Russia to have them serviced would, unfortunately, result in a loss of covers and money.

Russia Post processed this cover and cancelled ten rubles worth of postage, including the R-7 missile version of the Baikonur 50th Anniversary set (s. 6874a), with each variety of stamps getting their own postmark, including the Soyuz pictorial and the Soyuz/Baikonur versions as seen on previous covers, plus a new variety at the bottom, which reads, [State Unitary Enterprise] “Baikonur Communications” which usually applies to communication satellites and may have * Part One appeared in our January 2013 issue (#96)

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The first flight of 2009 was Mission-18S/Soyuz TMA-14 launched on March 26, 2009 with the Expedition-19 crew of Gennady Padalka and Mike Barratt and Spaceflight Participant, Charles Simonyi. The Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft docked with the Zvezda service module on March 28, 2009.

Simonyi and the Expedition-18 crew landed in the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft on April 18, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft and Expedition-19 crew landed on October 11, 2009 after 198 days, 16 hours and 42 minutes.

The last flight of 2009 was Mission-21S/Soyuz TMA-17 launched on December 21, 2009 with the Expedition-22 crew of Oleg Kotov, Timothy Creamer and Soichi Noguchi.

The Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft docked with the Zarya module on December 23, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft and Expedition-22 crew landed on June 2, 2010 after 163 days, 5 hours and 32 minutes.

The next flight, Mission-19S/Soyuz TMA-15 was launched on May 27, 2009 with the Expedition-20 crew of Roman Romanenko, Frank DeWinne and Robert Thirsk. The Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft docked with the Zarya module on May 29, 2009 increasing crew size to 6. The Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft and Expedition-20 crew landed on December 1, 2009 after 187 days, 20 hours, 42 minutes.

The next flight Mission-20S/Soyuz TMA-16 was launched on September 30, 2009 with Expedition-21/22 crew of Maxim Suraev and Jeff Williams and Spaceflight Participant, Guy Laliberte. Spaceflight Participant. The Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft docked with the Zvezda service module onOctober 2, 2009. Laliberte and Expedition-19 crew returned in the SoyuzTMA-14 spacecraft on October 11, 2009 after a flight of 10 days, 21 hours and 16 minutes. The Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft and Expedition-21 crew landed on March 18, 2010 after 169 days, 4 hours and 8 minutes.

The first flight of 2010 was Mission-22S/Soyuz TMA-18 launched on April 2, 2010 with the Expedition-23 crew of Aleksander Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko and Tracy Caldwell Dyson. The Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft docked at the Poisk module on April 4, 2010. The Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft and 4

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Expedition-23 crew landed on September 25, 2010 after 176 days, 1 hour and 19 minutes.

after159 days, 8 hours and 17 minutes.

The first flight of 2011 Mission-26S/Soyuz TMA-21 was launched on April 5, 2011 with Expedition-27 crew of Alexander Samokutyayev, Andrei Borisenko and Ron Garan.

The Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft docked with the Poisk module on April 7, 2011. The Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft and Expedition-27 crew landed on September 16, 2001 after 164 days, 5 hours and 50 minutes.

The next flight Mission-23S/Soyuz TMA-19 was launched on June 16, 2010 with the Expedition-24 crew of Fyodr Yurchikhin, Shannon Walker and Doug Wheelock. The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft docked with the Rassvet module on June 18, 2010. The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft and Expedition- 24 crew landed on November 26, 2010 after 163 days, 7 hours and 12 minutes.

The next flight Mission-24S/Soyuz TMA-01M was launched on October 8, 2010 with Expedition-25 crew of Alexander Kaleri, Oleg Skripochka and Scott Kelly.

This was the first flight of the advanced Soyuz TMA spacecraft.

The Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft docked with the Poisk module on October 10, 2010. The Soyuz TMA-01M and Expedition-25 crew landed on March 16, 2011 after 159 days, 8 hours and 43 minutes.

The last flight of 2010 Mission-25S/Soyuz TMA-20 (see cover right) was launched on December 15, 2010 with Expedition26 crew of Dmitriy Kondratiev, Paolo Nespoli and Catherine Coleman. The Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft docked with the Rassvet module on December 17, 2010. The Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft and Expedition-26 crew landed on May 24, 2011 5

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Next flight Mission-27S/Soyuz TMA-02M was launched on June 8, 2011 with Expedition-28 crew of Sergei Volkov, Mike Fossum and Satoshi Furakawa. The Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft docked with the Rassvet module on June 10, 2010. The Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft and Expedition-28 crew landed on November 22, 2011 after 167 days, 6 hours and 12 minutes.

The last flight of 2011 Mission-29S/Soyuz TMA-03M was launched on December 21, 2011 with Expedition-30 crew of Oleg Kononenko, Andre Kuipers and Don Petitt. The Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft docked with the Rassvet module on December 23, 2011. The Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft and the Expedition-30 crew landed on July 1, 2012 after 192 days, 18 hours and 59 minutes. landed on November 19, 2012 after 126 days, 23 hours and 13minutes.

Next flight Mission-32S/Soyuz TMA-06M was launched on October 23, 2012 with the Expedition-33 crew of Oleg Novitsky, Evegeny Tarelkin and Kevin Ford. The Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft docked with the Poisk module on October 25, 2012. The Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft with the Expedition- 33 crew landed on March 16, 2013 after 143 days, 16 hours and 14 minutes.

The first Flight of 2012 Mission-30S/Soyuz TMA-04M was launched on May 15, 2012 with the Expedition-31 crew of Gennady Padalka, Sergei Revin and Joe Acaba. The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft docked with the Poisk module on May 17, 2012. The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft with the Expedition-31 crew landed on September 17, 2012 after 124 days, 23 hours and 51 minutes.

Next Flight Mission-31S/Soyuz TMA-05M was launched July 15, 2012 with the Expedition-32 crew of Yuri Malenchenko, Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide. The Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft docked with the Rassvet module on July 17, 2012.

The Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft and Expedition- 32 crew 6

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after launch. The Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft with the Expedition-37 crew landed on March 11, 2014 after 166 days, 6 hours and 25 minutes.

The last flight of 2012 was Mission-33S/Soyuz TMA-07M was launched on December 19, 2012 with Expedition-34 crew of Roman Romanenko, Chris Hadfield and Tom Marshburn. The Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft docked with the Rassvet module on December 21, 2012. The Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft with the Expedition-34 crew landed on May 14, 2013 after 145 days, 14 hours and 18 minutes.

First flight of 2013 Mission-34S/Soyuz TMA-08M was launched on March 28, 2013 with Expedition-35 crew of Pavel Vinogradov, Alexander Misurkin and Chris Cassidy. The Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft docked with the Poisk module 5 hours 44 minutes after launch. The Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft with the Expedition-35 crew landed on September 11, 2013 after 166 days, 6 hours and 15 minutes.

To be continued…..

Death of Pioneer Spacefarers Henry Hartsfield, who flew shuttles Columbia (STS 4 in 1982, shown on the left of this Malawi issue) and Discovery (being commander of her maiden voyage STS 41D) Challenger (STS 61 A, 1985) died on July 17th 2014, at the age of 80.

Next flight Mission-35S/Soyuz TMA-09M was launched on May 29, 2013 with Expedition-36 crew of Fyodr Yurchikhin, Luca Parmitano and Karen Nyberg. The Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft docked with the Rassvet module 5 hours 39 minutes after launch. The Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft with the Expedition-36 crew landed on November 11, 2013 after 166 days, 6 hours and 17 minutes.

Valeri N. Kubasov who flew three Soyuz missions—#6, #19 and #36 and who appears on literally scores of stamps on account of his part in the Apollo Soyuz Test Project in 1975, died on 19th February, also in his 80th year. He is shown in the right of this Liberia issue.

Next flight Mission-36S/Soyuz TMA-10M was launched on Sept 25, 2013 with the Expedition-37 crew of Oleg Kotov, Sergei Razansky and Michael Hopkins. The Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft docked with the Poisk module 5 hours 47 minutes 7

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A Thing of Stamps and Patches However the Soviet/Russian missions have not had the same treatment and in this new series we’ll look at the mission patches across the 130 or so flights and show what kind of exposure they have had on stamps (and covers).

NASA mission patches have had very good exposure in these pages in recent years, particularly with the long running series on the history of the shuttle which illustrated launch and landing covers (and a few stamps) bearing them.

The Vostok / Voskhod series The first ever Soviet mission patch, in blue, red and yellow is a simple design compared with what was to follow.

Its design concept is a simple reflection of launch Orbit and landing and bears a clear relationship to the Monument to the Conquerors of Space erected in Moscow in 1964 to celebrate achievements of the Soviet people in space exploration which depicts a launched rocket rising on its contrail.

Your editor’s albums on Gagarin contain a fairly comprehensive range of stamps celebrating the Soviet hero from 1961 to date but until the item below left issued in 2013 he can find no stamp showing Gagarin wearing the patch or associated with the patch. And there is a good reason for that !

The Vostok 2 patch would appear to be from the same designer/stable and is in the same three colours.

Again this patch is not shown on any stamps in your editor’s collection, although the rectangular design of the metal pin (right) is similar to some stamp designs then issued by Soviet and satellite countries with its fanciful rocket shape.

Patch and pin (below)

The mission patch for the joint Vostok 3 and 4 flights looks to have a different designer and again appears on no stamp until the Mali 2013 series partly shown left beside an image of Popovich, pilot of Vostok 4.

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This mission patch is by the same designer as the Vostok 2 patch— though it is grey and red—and again shows fanciful rockets flying in close parallel orbit, symbolically of course !

Again this does not appear on any stamps, until the item left last year.

The patches for the two Voskhod missions shown right and left bear similarities to designs for earlier flights. The Voskhod mission patch is in yellow, red and blue like the V and V2 patches whilst the V2 patch has the same colours as the V3/4 patch.

Again these do not appear on patches and none of the images of the flown cosmonauts show them wearing these patches on their space suits.

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Early Soyuz Patches By now it’s clear that these patches do not appear on the spacesuits of early cosmonauts depicted on stamps—see explanation from Nik Steggall below so let’s see when the practice does begin.

Georgy Bergovoi’s mission patch clearly references his great experience as a WWII pilot, flying the Ilyushin Il-2 "Shturmovik" in which he flew some 185 combat sorties.

He was twice awarded the Red Star as Hero of the Soviet Union—in 1944 and 1968.

Soyuz 1

Soyuz 3 The Soyuz 6 patch below left references the crew - made up of Georgi Shonin and Valeri Kubasov—who carried out important experiments in space welding.

The Soyuz 8 patch symbolically represents the orbit rendezvous but not docking of the three craft, launched on consecutive days in October 1969

Nik writes in response to my query…..”There were no patches made for the Vostok spaceflights at the time of the flights. The patches now issued for the Vostok flights are taken from pin badges that were produced. They are recent souvenir items produced by Worldhobby based in St Petersburg in the Russian Federation. They can be quite expensive but fun additions.

“It is no surprise that there were no patches thought of for Vostok. Yuri Gagarin was already spacesuited when the idea of painting the letters CCCP on his helmet occured.

Zvezda engineer Victor Davidyants painted the red letters on Gagarin`s helmet. As no one knew that the spaceflight was taking place and given the fact that Gary Powers had been shot down in his U-2 spy plane it was thought a good idea to prove that Gagarin was a Soviet cosmonaut. (Russian Specsuits by Isaak Abramov and Ingemar Skoog) “I gather that the first patch worn on the spacesuits were with the Voskhod 2 crew. This was the Zvezda Rocket patch on Leonov`s Berkut suit in March 1965. It was subsequently used up to and including the Soyuz 11 spaceflight. It was on the Yastreb spacesuits used

by Yeliseyev and Khrunov during their spacewalk transfer from Soyuz 5 to Soyuz 4.”

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Nik Steggall comments further on these Patches Soyuz 7 A commemorative patch with the spelling of Soyuz in the form of the spacecraft shape. The 3 stars represented the 3 Soyuz 7 cosmonauts and also the 3 spacecraft in orbit together.

Soyuz 1 The first Soyuz spaceflight has only a commemorative patch Soyuz 3 The patch most frequently shown is a commemorative patch designed by Vadim Molchanov.

A red Soyuz 3 patch (left) was printed on textile and it was intended to be used during the spaceflight but was not. Only one example of this patch is known to exist.

(Soyuz 2 This was an unmanned spaceflight and target for Soyuz 3.

Docking was not achieved after a number of attempts left Soyuz 3 with only 8 kg of maneuvering fuel).

Soyuz 4 The commemorative patch shows the Soyuz 4 spacecraft over the Crimea Peninsula.

Soyuz 8 Commemorative patch showing the 3 spacecraft meeting in space. The first time 3 spacecraft and seven cosmonauts were in orbit simultaneously.

Soyuz 9 Russian commemorative patch from lapel pin A patch was worn on the left shoulder of the Trenirovochnyi-Nagruzochnogo Kostuma 1, the Training Load Costume TNK-1 or exercise suit. The Vimpel diamond patch (right) was worn for the first time on Soyuz 9.

Soyuz 10 Soviet commemorative patch from lapel pin

Soyuz 5 This commemorative patch shows the 30 minute EVA transfer from Soyuz 5 to Soyuz 4.

The only patch work during the spaceflight was the Zvezda rocket patch (left) worn on the Yestreb spacesuit during the EVA transfer.

Soyuz 11 Commemorative patch not flown. Zvezda rocket patch (far left) worn on launch / landing suits.

Soyuz 12 Independent flight to test new Soyuz upgrades. No commemorative patch but an orange version of the Zvezda rocket patch was attached to the crew’s sleeping bags.

Soyuz 6 Commemorative patch shows the Vulcan welding device used during experiment welding in space with the possibility of constructing large permanently manned orbital complexes.

Card (right) showing the Soyuz 6 commemorative patch autographed by Valery Kubasov. When asked about the patch in 1992, Kubasov smiled at the patch and he told us that the Shonin name in Russian was wrongly spelt. He also said that early Soyuz cosmonauts were not wearing any patches.

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Soyuz 13 Second test flight of Soyuz spacecraft after Soyuz 11. No patch

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“Zvezda is the company that makes to Soviet spacesuits.

(Nik’s Vostok 3, 4 cloth patch shown right Photo of the Zvezda rocket patch shown left.”

The patches for Soyuz 9 ,10 and 11 look to have come from the same stable as those for Vostok 1 and 2 on page 8 and use the same colour palette

There appear to be no patches for Soyuz missions thereafter until Soyuz 16 (a December 1974 test flight for ASTP manned by Filipchenko and Rukavishnikov) shown below left .

Soyuz – Apollo style patch in red with dove of peace at the centre.

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One mission insignia which does appear on stamps of course is that for Soyuz 19 which flew in the 1975 ASTP project and it does so on a welter of stamps, being the second most popular topic (after Apollo XI) in manned spaceflight treated internationally on stamps with many of the 250+ stamps issued bearing the logo...

There are no further mission patches until the Intercosmos programme begins in 1978 and then there is a complete series with the generic Intercosmos insignia incorporated into a standard design for each flight in addition to a distinct cloth patch‌..

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Soviet cover bearing the lowest value of three stamps for the joint Polish mission launched on 27.6.78 employing both the Intercosmos logo and the mission insignia in its indicia.

Although there is a mission patch for the record breaking Soyuz 32 mission, there does not appear to be one for the Soyuz 35 mission which extended the long-duration stay record to 185 days.

To be continued‌..

Soyuz 32 patch showing a stylised version of Salyut end on, and the names of record breaking cosmonauts Lyakov and Ryumin who stayed on board for 175 days.

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Nik Steggall comments further on these Patches Soyuz 14 and Soyuz 15 No crew patch only early Salyut patch associated with the flight, Salyut 3 being a military space station.

Soyuz 16 A full rehearsal flight for ASTP Soyuz – Apollo style patch in red with dove of peace at the centre.

Soyuz 17 Mission to Salyut 4, no crew patch.

Soyuz 21 No crew patch only early Salyut and USSR flag patch Soyuz 22 Using a surplus ASTP Soyuz craft made a solo Earth observation mission with the East German Multispectural Camera (MKF-6). No crew patch. Soviet crest and flag patches.

Soyuz 23 No crew patch, early Salyut and USSR flag patches.

Left : early Salyut patch Soyuz 18a Launch abort, the second – third stage separation failed. Intended to go to Salyut 4—No patch

A failed docking to Salyut 5 subsequently landed in a blizzard on frozen Lake Tengiz at night. The ice broke with the weight of the descent module and the landing parachute became wet so pulling the escape hatch under the water. A helicopter then retrieved the module by dragging it 5 km across the lake. The crew were then recovered after a very cold night.

Soyuz 24 and Soyuz 25 No crew patch

Soyuz 18 Occupying mission to the Salyut 4 station. Commemorative patch made from pin showing Soyuz at Salyut.

Soyuz 19 (ASTP) The first highly branded Soviet spaceflight could be called the Apollo Soyuz Test Project. A number of patches were designed for this mission. Firstly was the project patch showing the docking of the 2 spacecraft.

There was a joint crew patch which showed the approach of the spacecraft with the names of the 2 crews. Finally there was the Soviet patch, with the words Soyuz – Apollo and VII 1975.

Cosmonaut Valery Kubasov can be seen (right) wearing a number of patches during the flight. The Soviet patch, the joint crew patch, the Union flag patch and the seal of the USSR patch Soyuz 20 Unmanned long duration test flight. No patch 15

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MILANOFIL 2014 From Igor Rodin On March 22, within the context of the "Milanofil 2014" exhibition, AS.IT.AF. (the Italian equivalent of the ASSS) and the FIP Section on Astrophilately organized a Seminar on Astrophilately. Photo report about the "Milanofil 2014" and Astro Seminar can be seen here: http://astrophilatelist.com/index/milanofil_2014/0-1070 From March 21 till March 23, 2014 the "MILANOFIL 2014� philatelic exhibition took place at Fiera Milano City, Italy.

The General Meeting of the FSFI (Italian Federation of Philatelic Societies) took place—photo below:

A number of Postal administrations from European countries presented at the exhibitions and prepared their own postal cancellations devoted to the event.

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On March 22, the Seminar on Astrophilately was organized by AS.IT.AF. and the FIP Section for Astrophilately.

The participants of the Seminar were welcomed by Mr. Paolo Guglielminetti, Board member of Federazione fra le Società Filateliche Italiane.

Speakers: Igor Rodin, Chairman of the FIP Section for Astrophilately, (right) Umberto Cavallaro, Italian Delegate to the FIP Section for Astrophilately (far right) The programme of the Seminar included: How to put together an astrophilatelic collection; understanding the peculiarities of astrophilatelic material; criteria in preparing an astrophilatelic exhibit, and their applications; how to build a page; how to describe an item; best practices; FIP Regulations and Guidelines for Astrophilately

Cf http://astrophilatelist.com/ index/milanofil_2014/0-1070 for more in full colour

Mr. Pietro Pantanella, an Italian astrophilatelic-veteran, told about his exhibition activity—right

VI National Exhibit Aviación y Espacio 2014 From 27th June to 6th July the VI National Exhibit Aviación y Espacio 2014 commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Spanish Air Force was celebrated in Madrid at Air Force Headquarters (Cuartel General del Ejército del Aire) .

The philatelic exhibition, national and non-competitive, gathered in the lobby of the building, 182 collections of classes Aerophilately and Astrophilately from Spanish collectors belonging to sixteen different groups and/or philatelic associations.

A commemorative stamp was issued by CORREOS (Spanish post) in commemoration of 75th anniversary of the Spanish Rigo, Antoni “Investigation’s balloons” (1 frame) Air Force. The stamp illustrates the emblem of Spanish Air Force over some airplanes in background but no astro Dekker, Jacob Pieter “History of rockets in space” (5 frames) references were shown.

Moreno, Alvaro (Youth) “Space missions USSR-Russia (2 However in reference to astro-collectors the list is as follows frames) (with the title of translated into English for Orbit) EDIFIL, S.A. (Literature) “The history of Cuban postal rocket Grandela, José Manuel “From stratosphere to space 1939-1964” conquest” (5 frames) Antoni RIGO Esteban, José Miguel “Spacelab 1983-1998” (5 frames) Spanish Astrophilately Chairman July 2014 Rigo, Antoni “Animals in Space” (1 frame) 17

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Wubbo Ockels (1946-2014) has Left this Earth Bert van Eijck pays tribute....

Wubbo Ockels, first Dutch astronaut, has passed away. On the morning of Sunday May 18, 2014 at 11.08 A.M. he left Earth finally from the familiy room on the fourth floor of the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek hospital in Amsterdam, which specialises in treating cancer sufferers. He was 68 years of age and "flew away"with his wife, son and daughter at his beside.

Wubbo Ockels predicted his death September last year in the media as reported in Orbit No. 99. His aggressive form of kidney cancer with a metastasis in his lungs proved to be incurable, despite treatment in a world famous cancer hospital in Houston, USA. Wubbo Ockels was a national figure in The Netherlands, not only for his first spaceflight in October 1985 on the Challenger shuttle but in the last years far more as a devoted and enthusiastic Man With A Mission on Earth.

"The Netherlands not only lost his first astronaut in space, but a pioneer too in innovation and durable thinking", said Prime Minister Mark Rutte on television. "Wubbo Ockels thought in possibilities. “Can not” did not exist for him."

A full-time professor of Aerospace for Sustainable Engineering and Technology at Delft University of Technology, he was dealing with the exploitation of alternative sources of energy. Ockels' team won the World Solar Challenge five(!) times with their Nuna solar-powered car, racing over 3000 kilometers across Australia.

Wubbo continued to champion sustainable projects such as his Ecolution ship, crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean island of Aruba only on wind and solar power.

In 1994 Wubbo Ockels gave me, a newspaper journalist, a scoop for my front page (Nieuwsblad van het Noorden May 5, 1994) telling me about his new and still secret ESA-study "Back to the Moon", he was to promote the following month before the board in Switzerland. I interviewed him at the national first-day ceremony for the Dutch stamp "25 Years Moon Landing."

Born 28 March 1946 in the town of Almelo, Wubbo gained a degree in physics and mathematics from the University of Groningen in 1973, and completed his PhD in nuclear physics in 1978. In the same year Wubbo was selected by ESA as one of three science astronauts to train for the Spacelab Missions, together with Ulf Merbold and Claude Nicolier.

During his first Spacelab Mission he served as a groundcommunicator and liaison-scientist for the crew on STS-9. During the STS-61A Spacelab-D1 mission, Wubbo orbited Earth 110 times in the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Delightful Indonesian Moon Myth Issue Your editor has been extending his interest in myths and legends on stamps towards the Far East and has recently come across these lovely stamps issued by Indonesia in 2005 which illustrate the myth of “Moon and Sago in Ibuanari”.

The myth concerns the ancient people of Ibuanari who loved sago which is the staple food of Papuans, but they did not grow it themselves and instead relied on stealing it from passing strangers.

One night when there was a full Moon and the appetizing yellow thing looked so close the people wondered if they could also steal it and eat some of it with sago ! So their chief ordered men to cut down trees and build a tower up to the Moon. Each man climbing the tower was supplied with a long pole and a sago-filled bamboo tube, but the tower was not strong enough and collapsed showering sago all over the island and killing many men. The result was that today Ibuanari is abundantly covered with sago trees which grew from the seeds that fell to earth !

Ater his flight Wubbo was based at ESA's technology centre ESTEC in Noordwijk, where he supported human spaceflight activities.

During this time he also held a part-time professorship, later he became a full-time professor.

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Special Postmark for International Museum Day : May 18th From Haruki Ikuro, Japan The postmark illustrates a cute Martian girl whose hobby, believe it or not is collecting stamps !

Haruki has used 1992 Japanese stamps showing satellites and the ISS in order to make the strike more appropriate and as an indicia a Paraguayan issue showing cute aliens to complement the theme of the cancel.

Shen Zhou 5 Crew Signed Cover

via Nik Steggall

Commemorative items for manned spaceflight take many forms from stamps to badges. The oldest form can be said to be autographs.

When Yuri Gagarin made his spaceflight in April 1961, he had not signed an autograph before his spaceflight on Vostok 1, but therafter he made many.

Autographs from the Chinese manned space programme are now being made available. This card franked and signed on the flight day of the Shenzhou 5 spaceflight has been signed by the Taikonaut team.

Liwei Lang`s autograph is at the top. The first reserve Taikonaut, Zhiang Zhai is at right and the second reserve Haisheng Nie at the left.

The card is from the Beijing Aerospace Command and control Center with the picture showing China`s Taikonaut Training Center.

The triangular stamp depicts the Shenzhou spacecraft in Earth

orbit. It is one of 2 commemorating the 4 unmanned Shenzhou flight tests. Shenzhou 1 to 4 flights were conducted between November 1999 and December 2003.

The 2 stamps were issued

by China in January 2000.

Card courtesy of Fugen Ling

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Endeavour on Display : Eleanor Coker reports from California Eleanor, a good friend of the Society, who regularly translated articles from Dutch into English for us, reports from her recent visit to see an iconic space craft….

Endeavour was the fifth and final spaceworthy NASA space shuttle to be built, and first flew in May 1992 on mission STS49 with its last mission being STS-134 in May 2011. The STS134 mission was originally planned as the final mission of the Space Shuttle programme but with authorization of the STS135 mission, Atlantis became the last Space Shuttle to fly.

“25 Missions, One Final Resting Place” Thus runs the text on the banners flying proudly around Los Angeles to announce that the Space Shuttle Endeavour has come home to California where she can now be seen at the ScienCenter, one of those marvellous larger than life American museums with ample free parking and free entry.

The Center can easily take up a whole day to visit as it is filled with all manner of hands-on exhibits over three floors, including a spectacular aquarium; even though it is extremely popular with school parties, it is so spacious that you never feel under pressure. However, the Shuttle is the undoubted highlight.

To begin with, there is a display called The California Story, showing the Shuttles under construction, some actual used, worn, Shuttle tyres, various artefacts that have been into space and a mock-up of the Rocketdyne Operations Support Center that monitored every launch, complete with an audio countdown through an actual launch sequence. There is a very enjoyable short film showing Endeavour’s final journey across LA, which brought the city traffic to a standstill even more than usual – our son took a photo with the immortal quote “It’s not every day you see the Space Shuttle at the end

of your road” and all this is very well put together and really interesting, but – what you really want is to get to see the Shuttle itself for real and for that, you have to wait just a little while longer.

So, you leave the main building, strolling cross a small, sunlit courtyard to enter the next building through a very ordinary set of doors – and wow, there she is in all her glory.

It is a privilege to be able to get so close to such an American icon. You can see just how hard she worked on her 25 missions into space, as she does look rather battered and weary, the tiles look ready to drop off at any moment, but she inspires great pride. Unusually for Americans, the visitors were all talking in somewhat hushed tones, as if in awe of being in her presence. The lighting is subdued, which adds to the reverential atmosphere. Details of all 135 Shuttle missions are posted on notice boards around the large hall, with many photos, and volunteer staff are readily on hand to answer any questions you may have. There is also one of the main engines on display. Apparently there are plans to have a building tall enough to display her upright, as if ready for launch, but I feel that would be a mistake. She has served her time and has come in to land safely and we can appreciate her all the better like this.

I was fortunate enough to see Challenger launch on Easter Monday, 4 April 1983 (STS-6) and now I have come full circle seeing Endeavour “back home”.

Marshall Islands 2005 Togo 2011 (Garan did not fly on Endeavour !)

USA 1995

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Some of Eleanor’s photographs taken on the day.

Opposite a postcard showing the shuttle being flown over LA en route to the Science Center and far left a photo taken by Eleanor’s son Gareth showing the shuttle’s nocturnal crawl through MLK (Martin Luther King) Boulevard LA streets on its way to the museum.

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Are Signatures on Astrophilatelic Covers Just Ornamentation?

Spanish member Antoni Rigo who is the Spanish Astrophilately Chairman and FIP Astrophilately Delegate for Spain discusses the issue in an article first published in the September 2013 issue of AdAstra our Italian sister journal Signatures don’t add points to our participations in competitive exhibits. However, I think that in the hypothetical case where two identical exhibits were displayed, the first one with all signed covers and the second without, the former would get some additional points and not for the signatures in themselves but because signed covers are more difficult to buy, so they are rarer, and under the concept of rarity they would get these extra features.

In any case, astrophilatelists prefer the acquisition of signed covers and in the development of our hobby we are constantly looking for signatures from astronauts, cosmonauts and personnel involved in space programmes for which we have astrophilatelic covers, cancelled with the exact date and location appropriate to where the space events happened.

sign such space flown covers. In consequence, its presence (as in Fig 2) legitimizes the cover itself.

Fig.1 - 14.11.69 KSC. Apollo Type Insurance Cover

Fig 2 - 13.09.91 Zvezdny Gorodok 04.10.91 Soyuz TM13 docking with MIR 01.01.92 New Year 25.03.92 Soyuz TM12 Return.

So the issue is— do signed covers add points – or not ?

In the beginning the signatures (treated independently) can NOT or must NOT add points because they are not a philatelic element. The origin of the signature, its authenticity, the autopen issue, and the forgeries – all stand as additional difficulties for the Jury. For this reason, signatures are not taken in consideration in an isolated way but rather are integrated in the astrophilatelic cover, after Jury has validated it as such.

However, there is one kind of cover where the presence of the signatures determines what sort of cover it is.

Specifically I would like to refer to Apollo Insurance Covers.

In Fig 1 an Apollo Type Insurance Cover for the launch of Apollo 12 is shown. This kind of cover, signed by crew, was delivered to each family of astronauts for collecting funds for their children in case the astronauts did not return safe home. As this cover herein shown is NOT signed, it is not really an Apollo Insurance Cover but an Apollo Type Insurance Cover, i.e., the kind of cover used.

Another kind of cover where the signatures determine in any way its legitimacy are in space flown covers to different space stations. When astrophilatelists find space flown covers with exclusive space postmarks but not signed, we doubt about their authenticity and regard these covers as suspects. It is a tradition in Soviet (now Russian) crews to

This seems evidence then that signatures in astrophilatelic covers serve for something else than a simple ornament.

Furthermore, there are some aspects in the signatures that should be taken in account.

Sometimes, the presence of a signature allows us to know the professional identity of any person involved in the space programmes. In Fig 3 are shown two signed covers for same person, Daniel S. Hunter, who was Director of Tracking Station in Fresnedillas, Madrid (Spain) from 1968 to 1970 and then Director of Tracking Station in Bermuda.

This kind of cover signed by same person but developing responsibilities in different destinations is quite common with regard to a military career path. So, as another example, in Fig 4 are shown two covers signed by Captain of US Navy R.W.Broom from two different tracking ships for two tracking STS missions.

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Fig 3 - 03.03.69 Madrid. Apollo 9 launch and 31.01.71 Bermuda. Apollo 14 launch. Covers signed by Daniel S. Hunter.

The signatures also provide an incentive for astrophilatelists, who frequently look for the info in the missions in order to identify a signature not previously known. In Fig 5 is shown a signed cover from which the name is not easily readable.

Fig 5 - 04.04.83 Greenbelt. STS-6 launch. Cover signed by GAS Project Manager of GFSC James S. Barrowman.

Thanks to the info available through different sources it is possible to identify most of signatures of astrophilatelic covers. In this specific case, in the Press Kit page 43 of the mission STS-6 appears the name of the signer.

Fig 4 - 27.06.82 CC. USNS Vandenberg, tracking ship for STS4 and 27.08.85 CC. USNS Redstone, tracking ship for STS51I. Covers signed by Capt. R.W. Broom

But signatures can be much more. Though rare, sometimes signatures confirm data not known before as even today some people who participated directly in space programmes have remained hidden to our knowledge.

The cover in Fig 6 is a good example of how a signature can supply us data unknown until the date.

Fig 6 - 19.01.65 USS Lake Champlain. Splashdown GT-2.

Cover signed by Captain James Longino Jr.

There were known covers signed by James Longino Jr as Captain of USS Lake Champlain on 29th Aug 1965 for the recovery of Gemini 5 astronauts but for the Gemini 2 mission it was uncertain who was the captain, until this cover was discovered (this was the only specimen known until recently, when a second signed cover appeared in the philatelic market).

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It’s possible then that the cover shown as Fig 6 above could have been signed by error (as on some occasions all kind of covers are presented for signature and the signer does not pay much attention to what he is signing). Illustrated is the front of return cover (Fig 7) received by the collector and this is dated before the dates of mission Gemini 5.

Nowadays, in order to avoid sensitive situations resulting from personal opinions of participants in space programmes, NASA has regularised the signatures reflected at the end of all NASA members’ emails and has added the following disclaimer, “ The opinions expressed herein do not represent those of NASA”…

A Smattering of recent New Issues of Possible Interest. A full retrospect will appear in January 2015 issue GB 2014 Kubrick’s 1968 seminal film 2001: A Space Odyssey

Fig 7 - 17.06.65 USS Lake Champlain. Front of cover addressed to collector.

Just to finish, an oddity concerning to the signatures.

Usually, signers put their names, sometimes their positions and even a brief dedication to the person who signed.

However, these often do not reflect personal opinions or specific aspects of space mission. In Fig 8 and Fig 9 are shown a cover with an exception to this unwritten rule.

Guatemala 2012 Expiration of the 13th Ba’kt’un of the Mayan Calendar

Fig 8 - 20.08.75 Greenbelt. Launch of Viking 1. Cover signed

by Dr. Rudolf A.Hanel, scientist of GSFC. Fig 9 Reverse of the cover. Personal opinion of Rudolf Hanel.

However, his opinion still stands correct.

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Bulgaria 2012 Grand Parade of the Planets (Ed note : allegedly !)

Bulgaria 2013 50th anniv of Tereshkova (with Ride and Li Ying)

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Andrei K. Sokolov 1931 – 2007 Nik Steggall writes about this famous Russian artist briefly touched in John Beenen’s article on space art in our last edition.

Andrei Sokolov was an accomplished science fiction artist who exhibited his paintings not only in the Soviet Union but worldwide. He started out studying at the Moscow Architectural Institute and became a member of the USSR Artist Union. He became the chairman of the cosmic group.

His work has been on many stamps commemorating spaceflight.

He turned his hand at Soviet spaceflight.

Sokolov had direct access to the cosmonauts and could draw upon their experiences for his work. He would ask the cosmonauts to compare his work with the real scene as it had passed below.

With the art work being on a light cloth that could be rolled and folded, they could write comments on the margin with regard to the light and colour.

Sokolov painting `Luna 3 In Flight` 1985 stamp from Cuba of the painting `On Way To Mars (near space station)`

Sokolov eventually teamed up with pilot cosmonaut of the USSR and artist Alexei Leonov. They collaborated on many works. It has been said that their works gave the feeling of technological discoveries with the rationality of beauty of the spaceships and lunar vehicles.

Sokolov was once called the “Dean of Russian space artists”.

Sadly he died on 17th March 2007.

A 1972 stamp depicting Sputnik 1.

A collaboration the cosmonaut Alexei Leonov and signed by both artists.

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Spotlight on Europe’s Astronauts : 2 Jean-Loup Jacques Marie Chrétien (born August 20, 1938) is a French retired Général de Brigade (brigadier general) in the Armée de l'Air (French air force), and a former CNES spationaute. He flew on two Franco-Soviet space missions and a NASA Space Shuttle mission.

Chrétien was the first Frenchman and the first western European in space.

Then a Colonel, Chrétien’s first mission representing France’s Space Authority CNES was on Soyuz T-6 (launched 24th June 1982) in the company of Vladimir Dzhanibekov and Alexander Ivanchenko (who is ignored in the issues below) which continued the long series of Intercosmos flights, which up to this point had included guest cosmonauts only from Soviet satellite states.

According to reports in Spaceflight magazine at the time the mission had had a controversial background, being agreed some three years earlier but suffering from waning enthusiasm because of Russian military involvement in Afghanistan and Poland. Some French scientists were also unhappy because “home-ground” experiments were devised for the mission only after the agreement to go ahead was sealed and not because there was an urgent need to perform such in space.

Veteran Dzhanibekov had replaced slated commander Yuri Malyshev who had developed a significant health problem earlier in the year.

Although the day and half ascent to the new Salyut 7 complex had been confirmed by Dzhanibekov as “polyot normalyo” (flight normal) several times, the on board BTsVK computer would not permit the planned automatic docking and the commander had to stop the ferry spinning before achieving a manual dock.

Chrétien brought some French culinary treats with him including crab pâté and hare and lobster ragout (but no wine !) and no garlic as Salyut’s air purifiers could not cope with the persistent aroma. During his eight days on board he complained of a heavy workload, needing to reduce his sleep periods to get everything (including medical, biological, material technology and astronomy tasks, as referenced in the Soviet issue shown left) done.

Chrétien also remarked that the hard landing was rather more “dramatic” than he had expected !

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A recent photo showing Chretien with French film star and comedienne Catherine Alric

EVA Made History on Second Flight Chrétien made his second space flight as a Research Cosmonaut on board Soyuz TM-7, which launched on 26 November 1988. Together with Volkov and Krikalev, he linked up with Mir and joined the crew of Titov, Manarov and Polyakov already on board. They spent 22 days carrying out a programme of joint Soviet-French experiments, including a 5 hour and 57 minute EVA by Volkov and Chrétien during which the two men installed the French ERA experimental deployable structure and a panel of material samples. In making the EVA, he became the first non-American and non-Soviet to walk in space. In addition, he was the first non-Soviet cosmonaut to make a second space flight aboard a Soviet spacecraft. The mission lasted 24 days, 18 hours, 7 minutes.

This flight was commemorated by single stamps from the USSR (on cover opposite) and France (in 1989) which did not identify the personality involved, using the mission patch design in the left foreground.

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Left, Moscow cancelled fdc for SG MS 5247 which complemented the typical pattern for an Intercosmos set of three stamps issued between 24th June and 2nd July. Right postal stationery launch day cover cancelled at Zvezdny Gorodok, Moscow.

In 1994, Chrétien was selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 15 to officially become an International Mission Specialist with NASA. He attended ASCAN Training at the Johnson Space Center during 1995 and was initially assigned to work technical issues for the Operations Planning Branch of the Astronaut Office. He served on the crew of STS-86 Atlantis (25 September to 6 October 1997) the seventh mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. Highlights included the delivery of a Mir attitude control computer, the exchange of U.S. crew members Mike Foale and David Wolf, a spacewalk by Scott Parazynski and Vladimir Titov to retrieve four experiments first deployed on Mir during the STS-76 docking mission, the transfer to Mir of 10,400 pounds of science and logistics, and the return of experiment hardware and results to Earth. Mission duration was 10 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes.

In September 2000, while visiting a Home Depot store in Webster, Texas, he was hit by a 68-pound (31 kg) drill press that fell from a shelf more than 10 feet (3.0 m) above him.

The injuries to his neck, head and shoulders were severe enough that a NASA flight surgeon determined that Chrétien couldn't fly anymore. He was forced to retire from the space programme in 2001. He filed a $15 million lawsuit against Home Depot several months after the accident. The company settled the suit in 2002. The terms of the settlement are protected by a confidentiality agreement.

Chrétien is currently working for Tietronix Software as the vice president of Research and Development in Houston, Texas.

The mission patch on the launch and landing cover below makes clever use of the US, Russian and French flag colours and of course though not included as an item in the patch design there was a British born astronaut in Michael Foale.

Chrétien can be seen (back left) in the crew photograph for STS-86 in this 2010 Mali issue.

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Classical Constellations

Exploiting his interest in stamps about space and those depicting classical mythology your editor continues a series referencing all the stamps we believe to exist in relation to the best known constellations and the classical legends related to them—using extracts and illustrations from the DK publication Universe (2005), the text of which was written by our Chairman.

On Australia 2009

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See panel listing Constellation sets on p29 of Orbit 102 for year of issue

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Virgo and Libra The Greeks (and Romans) associated these constellations with their goddess of the harvest Demeter (Ceres), mother of Proserpina (Persephone). However Virgo is sometimes identified as the virgin goddess Dike Astraea (Iustitia) holding the scales of justice in her hand as the constellation Libra. The symbol for Libra being the scales make it the only zodiac sign which does not feature a living creature.

USA 1953 depicting from left Wisdom, Justice and Divine Inspiration and Truth

Issues from Cyprus 1973, Greece 1961 & 1988 and Grenada 1973 depicting Demeter and right from Italy 1977 and W. Germany 1974 showing Iustitia

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France 1977 and 2014

Czechoslovakia 1978 “PRAHA 1978”

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After successfully completing his first labour in defeating the Nemean lion shown on these issues left and above Hercules, (Heracles to the Greeks) is typically depicted wearing that lion’s skin or pelt, it becoming one of his essential attributes as shown in this stamp for his seventh labour right, The Cretan Bull

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North Korea’s Constellations New Issue Below is an image of new stamps issued by North Korea on 20 April 2014 showing constellations Bootes, Ursa Major, Virgo & Cygnus on the 30, 50, 70 and 90 won square stamps and on the long vertical 110 won stamp are asterisms of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Thanks to Orbit reader Alan Tunnicliffe, Editor of New Zealand Airmail News who drew out attention to this item 34

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Zodiac Constellations in Rose Window of Lausanne Cathedral The rose window at Lausanne [1231–35] in the south facade is considered to be one of the most important roses in Europe, together with those at Notre Dame in Paris and at Chartres. The Lausanne South Rose was made by a wandering artist from Picardy, Pierre d’Arras, and is related in style and iconography to that of the Laon workshop.

In medieval times, a rose window was round like the universe. This Imago Mundi, summing up all human knowledge, is seen in the spectacular early rose window in Lausanne cathedral. The stone tracery was built in about 1205, while the glass was placed in about 1230.

The diagram right shows the present-day arrangement of the enormous Lausanne rose, which has a diameter of eight metres, or twenty-six feet.

The window is arranged in concentric ‘circles’.

In the middle diamond, the central panel is surrounded by four allegories of the creation.

Next, reading outwards, come four semicircular lobes containing the four seasons accompanied by the appropriate months.

Next at the compass points, come four circles. Each circle contains two panels referring to the four elements and, on the inner side, three signs of the zodiac panels (summing to twelve).

Towards the outside, at the X-points, the arcs illustrate the four rivers of paradise.

And flying around the outside are the eight winds.

Although the central panel now shows a creation scene, originally there was a personification of the Year, Annus.

Note that other than the replaced central panel, there is no Christian iconography in this rose.

The above text and line drawing are lifted from the following website where more detail can be found http://www.abelard.org/france/lausanne-cathedral-rose.php

Three of the zodiac panels are featured in the 1968 Pro Patria set from Switzerland which annually takes a different aspect of Swiss life or culture as its theme, sometimes in thematic groupings over a few years. In the late 1960’s the treatment featured stained glass windows and other church art.

The rose window itself appears in the 1f purple stamp within the 1973 definitive set issue shown right..

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Spotlight on Europe’s Astronauts : 3 Patrick Pierre Roger Baudry (born March 6, 1946 in Cameroon, then a French colony), is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the French Air Force and a former CNES astronaut. In 1985, he became the second French citizen in space, after Jean-Loup ChrÊtien, when he flew aboard NASA's Space Shuttle mission STS-51-G. Baudry became a CNES astronaut candidate in June 1980. For two years, he trained at CNES and at Star City near Moscow. He was a member of the back-up crew for the French-Soviet Soyuz T-6 Intercosmos mission and was trained for scientific experiments in the fields of physiology, biology, materials processing in space, and astronomy.

Baudry is a CNES expert for manned space flight activities and participates in the analysis of decisions and study of definition for the future "Hermes" space aircraft.

1993 cover below with pictorial cancel illustrating the then three French flown astronauts

Baudry flew as a payload specialist on STS-51-G Discovery (June 17-24, 1985). STS-51-G was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The international crew aboard Discovery deployed communications satellites for Mexico (Morelos), the Arab League (Arabsat), and the United States (AT&T Telstar). They deployed and later retrieved the SPARTAN satellite, which performed 17 hours of x-ray astronomy experiments while separated from the Space Shuttle. In completing this flight, Baudry travelled 2.5 million miles in 112 Earth orbits, logging over 169 hours in space. (Wikipedia)

Mali 2010 shows Baudry extreme right whilst C.A.R. 1986 features him beside shuttle.

Below left Baudry in middle age

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Apollo support vessel USS Alacrity (AM-520/MSO 520) With the retirement of the Space Shuttle, the era of recovery ships is returning, writes Nik Steggall. During Mercury, Gemini and Apollo spaceflights many ships supported the spaceflights. An unassuming cover has recently turned up of the commanding officer of the USS Alacrity. It has an impress mark although faint and date frank mark of Mar 73. Its legend reads `cacheted for Apollo mission and returned to Australia under cover` USS Alacrity was an Ability class minesweeper acquired by the United States navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships The USS Alacrity provided support for the Apollo missions. On 10th January, 1972, she departed Charleston, South Carolina, for an eight day cold weather, amphibious exercise off the shores of Main.

In February, Alacrity resumed normal operations before being interrupted in her schedule to provide support for the Apollo 16 mission. Alacrity returned to the vicinity of Port Canaveral, Florida to assist in gathering data during the Apollo 17 mission.

Hungarian Cosmonaut Candidates Nik also supplies this interesting and unusual item from Nandor Schuminszky— a photograph flown to the Soviet Salyut 6 space station by the Soviet/Hungarian joint crew of Soyuz 36 in 1980 showing the 7 candidate leet to be selected before the last 4 and ultimately the final two selection.

The photograph shows from the left. Imre Buczko, Bela Magyari, Gyorgy Neumann, Peter Gutyina, Laszlo Elek, Bertalan Farkas and Endre Weigel.

On the back of the photograph is a dedication to Gyorgy Neumann. “To Gyuri from the space”. Gyuri being Neumann`s nickname. It has the onboard stamp and is signed by Bertalan Farkas, Leonid Popov, Valery Ryumin, Valery Kubasov, Vladimir Dzhanibekov and Aleksei Yeliseyev.

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New Australia Issue Features Aurora

Data reprinted from Australia Post’s Stamp Bulletin # 329 for July-August 2014

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Shenzhou 6 Crew Autograph Material from Nik Steggall A recent addition to my collection came from Fugen Ling in China, with an autographed photograph of the crew of Shenzhou 6, China`s second manned spaceflight.

The crew for this flight were Nie Haisheng (left) and Fei Junlong (right). Both are from the first Chinese cosmonaut detachment and Haiseng later went on to command Shenzhou 10.

The Shenzhou 6 spaceflight went on from 12-10-2005 to 16-102005 lasting 4 days 19 hours and 32 seconds.

Shenzhou 6 stamps with labels

The patch worn by the cosmonauts during the Shenzhou 6 mission.

Crew with stamp presentation Commemorative cover

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Stunning New Stellar Series from Japan Begins

Japanese member Haruki Ikuro provides the images here for the next stunning astronomical issue by Japan—on 7.7.14 (or Year 26 in the current Emperor’s reign) called “Tales from the Stars” The new series is similar in style to the four stunning Constellations sheets issued between 2011 and 2013.

However the presentation sheet shown above contains only four different stamps not ten as a first glance might suggest

and these are as shown on the fdc below (l-r) Cancer The Crab, Leo The Lion, Virgo The Virgin and the star Vega. It is not clear if accompanying philatelic literature actually alludes to the tales. These issues are smaller in size than the Constellations stamps, similar to a British Machin.

Cancer, Leo and Virgo all appeared in the first of two sheets issued by Japan in 20131.

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