On 16 November 1965,
Venera 3 unmanned spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur space-vehicle launching site. It was an automatic interplanetary station aimed at researching the planet Venus. The station consisted of an orbital section and a descent module, a sphere of 0.9 m in diameter and weighing 960 kg.
After a 3.5-month space travel, AIS
Venera 3 reached the surface of the planet and delivered a pennant with the USSR coat of arms on 1 March 1966 09:56 Moscow time.
A large volume of trajectory measurements gained during the flight served as valuable data to research superlong-range communication and interplanetary travel.
The postcard with an original stamp depicts a symbolic image of a carrier rocket being launched into space. The main image features the AIS
Venera 3 against the background of Venus and a metallic globe with the USSR pennant.
Additionally, FSUE PTC “Marka” will manufacture a special cancellation postmark for Moscow, Korolyov (Moscow Oblast) and Baikonur central post office.
Design: A. Drobyshev (stamp), R. Komsa (illustration)
Circulation: 30,000 copies.
« back