posted 06-05-2022 08:17 AM               

Space Cover 653: Soviet Satellite Communications – Early Years

After the massive waves of Sputnik and Vostok commemorations the amount of Soviet space issues began to decline this was especially true concerning privately issued club covers that were formally declared as 'philatelic outlaws' in 1965. In the same 1965, on April 23, Soviet Union launched the first satellite specifically dedicated to communications – Molnia. The event did not receive much philatelic attention besides a couple of club covers, until next year when two stamps were issued picturing the snowflake shaped satellite. Below is the example of Balashikha club cover with official issue postmarked on the 1st anniversary of Molnia launch.

In 1967 the Orbita network has been launched with first 20 remote Earth stations of satellite communications. In the next year another official issue commemorated Soviet achievements in Space Communications area and devoted to 50th anniversary of October Revolution. Below is a classic Kniga cover with the souvenir sheer and Moscow International Post Office cancellation.

In the same 1968, the stamped cover has been officially issued by Ministry of Communications showing the Earth Station near Magadan (main image). The shown cover has been serviced in 1969 and postmarked in Iultin village, one of the remote locations of Chukotka Region, by then Magadan Oblast. Interestingly that the return address mention the Philatelic Society member. Need to mention that Iultin settlement does not exist anymore. In 1970, another official stamped cover has been issued picturing Orbita station in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Below is the serviced cover postmarked in Khabarovsk – the major city in the district.

Since then the topic of satellite communications became relatively common in Soviet issues showing both Orbita stations and Molnia satellites. This also became one of the most popular symbols of the Day of Radio – official commemorative holiday of the employees of Ministry of Communications and related organizations. Below cover shows the Day of Radio issue of 1974 with special postmark.