The Yuri Gagarin(TMA-21) / ISS medallions
Year: 2011(Year of Flight)
Mint/Issuer: Unknown
Mintage: 31(Different Medals flown)
Additional Information:
In April 2011 Cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev launched in the Soyuz TMA-21 on the 50th Anniversary of Gagarin’s 1st flight into space. That anniversary flight was special because for the first time in history, the Soyuz ship had a name: Yuri Gagarin. Samokutyaev launched from exact same place, where 50 years earlier, Yuri Gagarin's Vostok launched.On this "Yuri Gagarin" anniversary flight he carried approximately 31 medals issued in USSR to commemorate Gagarin. Before flight I helped him to get rare medals issued to commemorate Y.Gagarin back in former USSR, plus some medals Alex had in his personal collection. Medals were flown to ISS on his Soyuz, but most he arranged to return with STS-134 visiting Endeavour shuttle crew (which was 25th and final mission of that shuttle), plus few pieces on his Soyuz and STS-135 Atlantis (final shuttle flight).Note: The 10th Anniversary medal was also carried on an EVA by Alexander.
