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Author
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Topic: Active cosmonauts refusing to sign autographs
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 53402
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-31-2023 01:28 PM
   
No further details yet, but as noted in a recent email from BeenInSpace.com: ...for the first time in (Russian) space history, active cosmonauts have refused to sign covers for [Soyuz] MS-24, [Oleg] Kononenko apparently instructed his crew not to sign covers, even signed photos were less available this time. We don't know the reason yet, but will closely follow the situation. |
Neil DC
Member Posts: 207
From: Middletown, NJ, USA
Registered: May 2010
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posted 10-31-2023 02:29 PM
Kononenko was always a good signer in person. He has a whole year up there to change his mind on this. |
SkyMan1958
Member Posts: 1399
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 10-31-2023 04:27 PM
Two possibilities come immediately to mind. I'm not saying either is true, these just come to mind. First, fall out from the Ukrainian war is causing issues for cosmonauts who try to sell international crew covers in Russia. Second, Kononenko is (assuming no disaster) going to pass Padalka to become the human with the longest amount of time in space. Further, given current uncertainties with regards to follow on space stations, particularly with regards to future Russian stations, this record for time in space will probably stand for quite a while. Given that, Kononeko might be trying to limit his amount of signatures on the ISS to increase the value of the ones he does eventually sell in the future. I suspect we'll see more of his signatures at the tail end of the mission. Further, it would be surprising to me if he didn't sign any covers etc. with the visiting Belorussian MS-25 crew. |
spaceflori
Member Posts: 1540
From: Germany
Registered: May 2000
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posted 11-02-2023 04:19 AM
Before rumors spread: The info about Kononenko refusing to sign philatelic material (photos are fine although reported less than usual) came from one specific source. We do not know at this time what the reason was or the background is. This was certainly not meant as a marketing gag. However recent flown ISS covers also lack his signature already which is quite uncommon for cosmonauts. Anyway I'm aware of authentically signed MS-24 covers from other sources where Kononenko autographed. I'm looking into the situation to see what the reason might be! |
spaceflori
Member Posts: 1540
From: Germany
Registered: May 2000
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posted 11-02-2023 05:39 AM
Short update: Another reliable source confirmed that Kononenko indeed refused to sign for "private people," which means he did sign for official sources where the covers mentioned before originate (don't ask me for the logic). The amount of signed MS-24 material indeed is very low so far, it may change in the future, so that's no final conclusion. This has nothing to do with politics however, I was confirmed, simply a private thing of Kononenko. |
india-mike
Member Posts: 141
From: Linnich, Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 11-03-2023 05:49 PM
I wrote to Kononenko in the autumn of 2021 and attached several photos. He signed them for me and sent them back in February 2022. Let us see how he will handle autograph requests in the future. |
soviet space
Member Posts: 377
From:
Registered: Jan 2015
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posted 11-22-2023 02:18 AM
I myself witnessed that Oleg refuse, but simply ran away from people, only an American and a Canadian remained to sign, then I simply got photos without Kononenko. Yes, this year he refused to sign because it was not his first time flying and he was simply tired, and besides, he had a clear signature. He signed the envelopes, but the circulation is smaller. quote:
Originally posted by SkyMan1958:
Further, it would be surprising to me if he didn't sign any covers etc. with the visiting Belorussian MS-25 crew.
Belarusians were together with Oleg Novitsky at the meeting on October 27 in Star City, I saw them together. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1753
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-22-2023 08:55 PM
I noticed on one of the ISS flown covers shown that they were missing signatures of two cosmonauts...Kononenko (Soyuz MS-24) and Borisov (Crew 7). |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 850
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 11-23-2023 02:10 AM
Konstantin Borisov is member of SpaceX Crew-7. He is signing all on-board covers which are signed by Crew-7. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1753
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-24-2023 11:19 AM
For example, missing Borisov (source): |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 850
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 11-25-2023 10:45 AM
Here are some of my Dragon Crew-7 signed on-board covers: 
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Tom
Member Posts: 1753
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-25-2023 05:22 PM
I don't understand how those can be examples of Crew-7 on board signed covers when that crew was launched late August and those were all dated way before that? |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 850
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 11-26-2023 03:33 AM
Before landing Sergey Prokopiev asked Crew-7 to sign some of the covers he did during his stay on board ISS. Erroneously I submitted the Dragon CRS-27 cover which is signed by Soyuz MS-22 and SpaceX Crew-6 crews. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1753
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-27-2023 05:56 AM
Thank you for the explanation. |
amcombill
New Member Posts: 4
From: Huntsville, AL
Registered: May 2022
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posted 10-25-2024 09:59 AM
The USPS website still says that mail from the US to Russia is restricted. Is that actually the case? What happens if you try to mail a request to Russia? Does the Post Office simply return it? What is protocol for return postage? Enclose a couple of bucks? |
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