RUSSIAN BUTTON FOR SOYUZ 1 ASTRONAUT INCINERATED IN 1967 FALL TO EARTH.
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Winning Bid:
$115.00
(Includes 15% Buyer's Premium)
Bidding Ended:
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 10:00:00 PM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Tuesday, March 15, 2016 10:00:00 PM)
Item Description
1.25" Russian made real photo celluloid button. On the reverse celluloid edge wraps around a white cardboard center with a vertical stickpin coming from the top. All text on the button is in Russian which reads roughly "Pilot-Cosmonaut USSR Twice Hero Of Soviet Union Engineer/Colonel V.M. Komarov." Although not indicated as such this is most likely a memorial button. It has a fascinating and tragic back story. The Soyuz I prime and backup pilots were Komarov and Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into outer space back in April, 1961. Communist party leader Brezhnev wanted the launch on May 1, 1967, the national day of worker solidarity. However, there were known flaws in the space craft but the warnings of the engineers in a report were ignored as the message went up the chain of command. A few days before the launch Komarov predicted to a KGB officer "I'm Not Going To Make It Back From This Flight." Komarov explained his hands were tied as if he refused the flight he would be stripped of his military honors and his friend Gagarin would be sent in his place. He couldn't send a close friend and national hero to his death. Sure enough, once in orbit, only one of two solar panels deployed leading to the decision to bring Soyuz I back as soon as possible. But things went from bad to worse. As the capsule hit the atmosphere it was unbalanced and started spinning. Unable to control his altitude the space ship tumbled straight down completely out of control. Soyuz I hit the ground with a force of a 2.8 ton meteorite. Komarov's charred remains were uncovered and displayed during his funeral. The largest recognizable part of his body was his heel bone. Rare and NM displaying Mint.
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