FDC Voskhod -2 signed by cosmonaut A.Leonov.

Voskhod -2 First Day Cover (FDC) bears commemorative post stamp depicting Leonov floating in space outside his spacecraft, and postmarked March 23, 1965. Stamp, Soviet Union, 10 kopecks, 1965. “Voskhod-2” The first manned space walk.

On the left upper part of cover blue ink stamp depicting Voskhod 2 and Leonov.  It says: “For the first time in the world, a Soviet man A.A. Leonov left the spacecraft into space on March 18, 1965”

The red ink stamp depicting cosmonaut Leonov flying among the stars. It says: “Soviet man A.A. Leonov opened the door to the Universe. March 18, 1965”. Rare

Some information:

Today spacewalks are an almost routine part of space exploration but the very first spacewalk by Alexei Leonov, was anything but straightforward.

Alexei Leonov Soviet Russian cosmonaut (1934-2019) launched on Voskhod 2, the world's 17th human spaceflight, on March 18, 1965, Leonov made history as the first person to exit his spacecraft for an extravehicular activity (EVA). For a duration of 12 minutes and nine seconds, the cosmonaut conducted the first ever spacewalk, while connected to the spacecraft by a 5.4-metre (17.6-foot) tether.

However, Leonov's true test of skill came when he attempted to return to the ship. Experts had not foreseen the effect the vacuum of space would have on the cosmonaut's suit — it was steadily inflating. As the difference in air pressure caused the suit to balloon out of shape, Leonov's hands were pushed out of the gloves and his feet out of his boots. In fact, the suit had ballooned so much that he was unable to return through the airlock and to add even more danger, he only had five minutes before the craft would enter Earth's shadow and be plunged into total darkness. Acting quickly, Leonov bled some air out of the suit by opening a valve. The suit slowly deflated, but he was already feeling the effects of decompression sickness, with pins and needles in his hands and legs. Just in time, Leonov managed to force himself through the airlock headfirst and close the hatch behind him. However, Leonov's troubles were far from over: as the capsule attempted to re-enter Earth's atmosphere it malfunctioned and after an emergency landing, Leonov and Belyayev found themselves hundreds of miles off course in a remote area of the Ural Mountains. For two freezing nights, the men waited in temperatures below zero before they were finally rescued.

The Soviet Union were quick to celebrate the mission as a success, but it very nearly ended in disaster.

Ten years after The Voskhod -2 mission Alexei Leonov served as commander on the 1975 Soyuz 19 mission, the first joint Soviet-U.S. space mission, called the Apollo- Soyuz Test Project.

Leonov had actually expected to become a professional artist, but his life took a very different turn, as he became a key player in the Space Race.

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