A Soviet aerogram envelope celebrating the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, signed by 38th U.S. President Gerald Ford (1913-2006) and the two participating cosmonauts, Alexei Leonov (1934-2019) and Valery Kubasov (1935-2014). The trio's signatures appear, from top to bottom, at center: Alexei Leonov in Cyrillic, Valery Kubasov in Cyrillic, and Gerald Ford as "Gerald Ford." Leonov's signature in thick black felt tip pen is especially prominent, measuring 3.5" x 2" alone. Postmarked on July 15, 1975. Both the colorful envelope cachet and the canceled 16 kopek stamp depict the Soyuz 19 rocket blasting off from the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expected light surface wear to the envelope including a few wrinkles, else near fine. 6.375" x 4.5."

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was a joint U.S./Soviet space mission which launched in mid-July 1975. The collaborative mission, comprised of two Soviet cosmonauts (Commander Alexey Leonov and Flight Engineer Valeri Kubasov) and three American astronauts (Commander Thomas P. Stafford, Command Module Pilot Vance D. Brand, and Docking Module Pilot Donald "Deke" Slayton) entailed docking an Apollo spacecraft to the Soyuz 19. The mixed crews conducted scientific experiments together, like blocking the Sun with one spacecraft while the other photographed the solar corona. The extremely successful Apollo-Soyuz Test Project set the stage for future collaboration, including today's International Space Station. It also signaled a remarkable warming of relations between two hardened Cold War enemies.

Gerald R. Ford served as president from August 1974 (the resignation of his predecessor, 37th U.S. President Richard M. Nixon), to January 1977.

Alexei Leonov had served as the pilot of the March 1965 Voskhod 2 mission, famous for achieving the first human "spacewalk." After his work on the Apollo-Soyuz Project, Leonov served as the Soviet Space Program's Chief Cosmonaut, and as the Deputy Director of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Valery Kubasov participated in the Soyuz 6, Soyuz 19, and Soyuz 36/356 space missions in October 1969, July 1975, and May 1980 respectively. Kubasov apparently raved about the "good space food" consumed during the Apollo-Soyuz Project in a phone call to President Ford!

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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