On May 17, 2017, Viktor Gorbatko, pilot-cosmonaut of USSR, passed away at the age of 82. A retired cosmonaut and twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Viktor Gorbatko, performed three journeys into space.

He was among the first group of Soviet cosmonauts. He began training in early 1960. In 1988 – 1991 he was Chairman of the All-Soviet Union Philatelic Society. His philatelic exhibit on Space Mail was demonstrated in the Class of Honor at the “Mosocw-97” World Philatelic Exhibition. In 2001 – 2009 Viktor Gorbatko was President of the Union of Philatelists of Russia.