Cosmonaut Lazarev signed Viking Space Cover Kennedy Space Centre, September 9, 1975.

Vasily Grigoryevich Lazarev (1928 –1990) was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on Soyuz 12 spacecraft as well as the abortive Soyuz 18a launch in 5 April 1975.

He was injured by the high acceleration of the abort and landing and was initially denied his spaceflight bonus pay, having to appeal directly to Leonid Brezhnev to receive it. Brezhnev was at the time the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Lazarev held a degree in medicine and the rank of colonel in the Soviet Air Force. He remained in the space program until failing a physical in 1981.

He never fully recovered from the injuries sustained on Soyuz 18a and died on the last day of 1990 at the age of 62.

He was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, the title Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR and the Order of Lenin.

The cover in a good condition.

Authenticity guaranteed. Will provide the letter of authenticity for this autograph.