Cosmic dust

“Earth is the cradle of humanity, but one cannot live in the cradle forever.” Konstantin Tsiolkovsky Hi, I’m Jacob. I’m interested in geography, astronomy, and the history of the space race, as well as the space industry in general. In my free time, I write short sci-fi stories , take nature photographs and collect post stamps. I created this blog to share my passion and explore interesting facts about space and the new race to the Moon.

[mrpowder04]

First published April 12, 1977; part of a 7-stamp commemorative set.

This particular one is from April 20, 1977.

This Cuban stamp is commemorating the 20th anniversary of the first artificial satellite (“XX Aniversario del Satélite Artificial 1957–1977”).

I’d appreciate it if someone could write in the comments a theory about what kind of satellite this is. Thanks 😊

The smaller inset image is a reproduction of a Polish stamp (“POLSKA- międzynarodowy rok geofizyczny 1957–1958 ”) from 1957–1958 about the International Geophysical Year.

[mrpowder04]

1962

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[mrpowder04]

The first stage of New Glenn rocket is powered by seven BE-4 engine engines. In my opinion, they produce one of the most beautiful rocket plumes I’ve ever seen.

Absolutely breathtaking view and a perfect shot.

Source https://www.blueorigin.com/new-glenn

[mrpowder04]

Description:

Touch-down of "Venera-7" on Venus

Date of Issue:15/09/1972

Issued:5,3 mill

Design:A. Leonov and A. Sokolov

Height/Width:37.0 X 52.0 mm

Venera 7 blogs to a long line of Soviet space probes targeting Venus. When it landed on the Venusian surface on 15 December 1970, it became the first spacecraft to execute a successful soft landing on another planet and the first to transmit data from there back to Earth.

The probe appeared to go silent on impact, but recording tapes kept rolling. A few weeks later, upon review of the tapes by radio astronomer Oleg Rzhiga, another 23 minutes of very weak signals were found on them. The spacecraft had landed on Venus, and probably bounced onto its side, leaving the medium gain antenna aimed incorrectly for proper signal transmission to Earth.

The probe provided information about the surface of Venus that could not be seen through its thick atmospheric veil. The spacecraft confirmed that humans cannot survive on the surface of Venus. It excluded the possibility that there is any liquid water on the planet.

[mrpowder04]

Description:

"Mars-3" module on Mars

Date of Issue: 15/09/1972

Issued: 5,6 mill

Design: A. Leonov and A. Sokolov

Height/Width: 37.0 X 52.0 mm

Mars 3 was a robotic space probe of the Soviet Mars program, launched May 28, 1971, nine days after its twin spacecraft Mars 2.After the Mars 2 lander crashed on the Martian surface, the Mars 3 lander became the first spacecraft to attain a soft landing on Mars, on December 2, 1971. However, it failed 110 seconds after landing, having transmitted only a gray image with no details.

The Mars 2 orbiter and Mars 3 orbiter continued to circle Mars and transmit images back to Earth for another eight months.

Mars 3 Lander model at the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow. Scale 1:1

Mars 3 lander had a small 4.5 kg Mars rover on board, which would move across the surface on skis while connected to the lander with a 15-meter umbilical. Two small metal rods were used for autonomous obstacle avoidance, as radio signals from Earth would take too long to drive the rovers using remote control.

The only result received from the camera on Mars 3 lander.

[mrpowder04]

Description:

"Vostok-1"

Date of Issue: 15/09/1972

Issued: 5 mill

Design: A. Leonov and A. Sokolov

Height/Width: 37.0 X 52.0 mm

From the collection " The 15th Anniversary of 'Cosmic Era'"

The Vostok spacecraft, which carried the first human into space, utilized a unique emergency escape and landing system based on a pilot ejection seat similar to ejection seats found in military planes.

If that sounds dangerous, it’s worth noting that the next generation of Soviet spacecraft, Voskhod spacecraft, had no escape system at all.

Because of it's spherical shape Vostok descent module landed too roughly for a human to survive inside, all Vostok cosmonauts (including Yuri Gagarin) ejected from the capsule at an altitude of approximately 7,000 meters.

[mrpowder04]

Soviet Union post stamp " Sputnik-1 " 1972 Height: 37 mm Width 52 mm Date of Issue : 15/09/1972

Design: A.Leonov and A.Sokolov

Issued: 5,3 mil

From the collection " The 15th Anniversary of 'Cosmic Era'"

[mrpowder04]

The first post is always the most stressful. Today I’d like to present an interesting artwork by Alexei Leonov “Over the Black Sea.”

It is a self-portrait created in 1973 by the cosmonaut himself. The painting depicts the first spacewalk in history, performed by Leonov. On 18 March 1965, he spent 12 minutes and 9 seconds outside the spacecraft, connected to it by a 4.8-meter tether.

Leonov was also passionate about painting. Until his death in 2019, he created around 200 artworks, many of them in collaboration with Andrei Sokolov.

Interestingly, some of their joint works have also appeared on postage stamps, something worth exploring if you’re into collecting.

Source:

Alexei Leonov - Linda Hall Library https://share.google/57wVDeuzfaX5Ryif7