posted 12-06-2017 11:07 AM               

Space Cover #445: Testing and Space Tracking Center (Golitsyno-2) postmark

Not a long time ago I've got several covers with Alex Gorshkov cachets from Kazakhstan that have unusual machine cancellation lined over the other postmarks. After some research I figured that these covers were mailed via Baikonur field post 08814 conscript service (triangle stamp) and passed though Galitsyno-2 (fading postmark).

Galitsyno-2 (now Krasnoznamensk) is a closed town near Moscow hosting military unit 32103 – Testing and Space Tracking Center named after G. Titov. This unit is responsible for space operations including monitoring all military and some civilian launches. In 1990s it was heavily involved in MIR activities. The Space Center has a wide arrange of facilities across Russia.

The sender probably served in one of the Baikonur tracking stations operated by unit 32103. Interestingly, the covers were mailed to Alma-Ata (Kazakhstan) and Bishkek (Kirgizstan) from Baikonur, passed Golitsyno-2 and reached its addressees after several months!

There are not too many Soviet/Russian postmarks of space related military units available for a collector. The most known of cause Baikonur based units and I was really excited to come over these Galitsyno-2 mail-pieces. Below is another example.