Description Vintage soviet cigarette box with cosmos theme MADE IN USSR!   Featuring space launch of SPUTNIK 3 space satellite on May 15th 1958.   On May 15, 1958, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 3, a large, sophisticated scientific satellite, into orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.  Details of the Launch Mission: Sputnik 3 was the third Soviet artificial satellite and the first “automatic orbital station”. It was initially intended to be the first satellite launched for the International Geophysical Year (IGY), but its complexity led the Soviets to launch the much simpler Sputnik 1 and 2 first for political advantage. Satellite: The satellite was a 1,327 kg (2,925 pounds) cone-shaped scientific laboratory, making it the heaviest object put into orbit at that time. Instrumentation: It carried 12 scientific instruments designed to study the upper atmosphere and near-Earth space, including pressure, composition, charged particles, cosmic rays, and magnetic fields. Outcome: Although the launch was successful, a failure with the onboard tape recorder meant it could not achieve all its science objectives. However, data from the mission contributed to the detection and mapping of the Earth’s outer Van Allen radiation belts. Relevance: The launch occurred during the height of the Space Race and was a significant display of Soviet technological capability, reinforcing the US fear of being left behind.  Sputnik 3 remained in orbit until April 6, 1960.   Read more on wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_3   The cigarette case appreas to be in very good pre-owned condition. Ships from ����Ukraine with tracking number Modes of payment: PayPal Credit Cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)   We guarantee that the item in this ad looks and works as advertised and offer money back guarantee on this.