Russian Cosmonauts

Soviet Cosmonauts Titov, Nikolayev, Popovich, Bykovsky, Gagarin Signed Photo

Black and White matt photo, 9.5" x 7", Circa early 1960's signed by five Soviet Cosmonauts (from left to right): Gherman Titov; Andriyan Nikolayev; Pavel Popovich; Valery Bykovsky; Yuri Gagarin as "Titov, Nikolayev, Popovich, Bykovsky, Gagarin". Signatures inscribed in Cyrillic appear along the bottom margin canted at a 45 degree angle. Several soft corner creases with a few tiny scant stains along the outer margins.

The Soviet Union launched its Vostok space program in 1961, conducting six missions -- and achieving many firsts -- during the next two years. Cold War anxieties fueled the simultaneous development of highly competitive space programs in the United States and the Soviet Union. The two ideologically opposed juggernauts flexed their muscle in many ways, from the nuclear arms race to the Space Race.

Selection and training of Soviet cosmonauts began in 1959. Its first candidates were male, between 25-30, within specific height and weight parameters, and physically fit. They endured a battery of tests that measured physical and psychological endurance as well as technical skills. Most of the cosmonauts had previously served in the Soviet Air Force. Of more than 200 candidates, 20 were chosen. Yuri Gagarin (last on right) was the first cosmonaut and first man in space. He manned the Vostok I space capsule on April 12, 1961, making a full orbit around Earth lasting 108 minutes before parachuting into the atmosphere at 23,000 feet.

Gherman Titov (first on left) led the Vostok II space mission on August 6, 1961, becoming the second cosmonaut and fourth man in space. On August 11, 1962, his colleague Andriyan Nikolayev (second from left), commander of Vostok III, became the third cosmonaut and seventh man in space. Pavel Popovich (third from left), pilot of the Vostok IV, became the fourth cosmonaut and eighth man in space on August 12, 1962. The next two Vostok missions occurred in a pair almost a year later, on June 14 and June 16, 1963, when Valery Bykovsky (second from right) became the fifth cosmonaut and eleventh man to reach outer space.

A remarkable photograph signed by 5 Soviet cosmonauts, from the earliest days of the space program!

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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