Certified on the backside by Yuri Usachev - only 3 of these covers with Clifford's signature are known !!
An outstanding and exceptionally desirable flown Mir postal cover, carried aboard the Russian Mir Space Station during the historic STS-76 / Soyuz TM-23 joint mission and bearing onboard Mir postmarks dated 24 March and 29 March 1996.
The cover is hand-signed by the complete six-member crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-76:
Kevin P. Chilton – Commander Richard A. “Rick” Searfoss – Pilot Ronald M. “Ron” Sega – Payload Commander / Mission Specialist Michael R. “Rich” Clifford – Mission Specialist Linda M. Godwin – Mission Specialist Shannon W. Lucid – Mission Specialist / Mir resident
Additionally signed by the complete Soyuz TM-23 / Mir-21 crew:
Yuri Onufrienko – Commander Yury Usachev – Flight Engineer
This represents an impressive eight-astronaut and cosmonaut signature combination on a single genuine flown Mir artifact.
The postmark dates are especially important. 24 March 1996 marks the docking of Space Shuttle Atlantis with Mir, while 29 March marks the end of the docked phase and Atlantis’ departure, effectively documenting the complete Shuttle–Mir rendezvous through postal markings applied aboard the station itself.
STS-76 was the third Space Shuttle docking with Mir and a landmark mission in U.S.–Russian cooperation. Shannon Lucid transferred to Mir to begin her record-setting long-duration stay, while Michael “Rich” Clifford and Linda Godwin conducted the first U.S. spacewalk around the docked Shuttle–Mir complex, installing scientific experiments on Mir’s exterior.
Of particular collector interest is the presence of the scarce and highly desirable signature of Michael “Rich” Clifford, together with every other member of both participating crews.
A superb example of flown Shuttle–Mir postal history, combining two highly significant onboard space postmarks, complete multinational crew signatures and direct association with one of the defining missions of the Shuttle–Mir program. A major piece for an advanced collection of flown space artifacts, astronaut autographs or Russian-American space exploration memorabilia.
SIZE: cover
CONDITION: excellent