From Russia With Love

Ok, I don't really know how much love is involved here, but my items I have to share this week do indeed come from Russia. A while back, I picked up a couple of small pinbacks celebrating the Soviet space program. Here they are, as displayed on my rocket hat:

Now, I can't speak or read Russian, but the dates on these pretty much give away what they mean. The bottom pin was made to celebrate Sputnik I, the world's first man made satellite. It shows Sputnik orbiting the earth and has a red star on the Soviet Union.

The top pin celebrates Yuri Gagarin's 1961 flight in which he became the first man to orbit the earth. It seems that this is a 10 year anniversary pin. I like the science fiction based rocket, and the CCCP Soviet marking. It's sad to think that Gagarin passed away two years before this pin was made.

So there you have it; two huge milestones preserved on my floppy hat. You know, I kind of do love them...

Until next time, fly 'em fast and high!