# M12231 - 2016 $12 Honoring Russian Cosmonauts, Mint Sheet of 4 Stamps, Solomon Islands

Mint Sheet Honors Pioneering Cosmonauts –
Heroes of the Soviet Union

Each of the men pictured on this mint stamp sheet flew aboard some of the Soviet Union’s earliest space flights.  For their accomplishments, each received the title Hero of the Soviet Union, the highest honor awarded by that nation.

Andriyan Nikolayev flew into space on two missions – Vostok 3, during which he became the third Soviet in space, and Soyuz 9.  During these trips, he set endurance records for the longest time a human remained in orbit.  He also set the record for the longest time in isolation in space, four days, which earned him the nickname Iron Man. 

Pavel Popovich was the fourth cosmonaut in space, the sixth person in orbit, and eighth person in space.  He completed two space missions – Vostok 4 and Soyuz 14

Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space, entering earth’s orbit on April 12, 1961.  He was nicknamed the Columbus of the Cosmos and the Russians so feared losing him in an accident, they wouldn’t let him travel into space again. 

Gherman Titov became the second person to orbit the earth when he piloted the Vostok 2 in 1961.  A month shy of his 26^th birthday, he was and still is the youngest person to fly in space. 

Add the history and accomplishments of these Soviet cosmonauts to your collection – order yours today.