This Date in History: Stamps

Korabl-Sputnik-1 (Russian: Корабль Спутник 1 meaning Vessel Satellite 1), also known as Sputnik-4 in the West, was the first test flight of the Soviet Vostok program, and the first Vostok spacecraft. It was launched on 15th May 1960. Though Korabl-Sputnik-1 was unmanned, it was a precursor to the first human spaceflight, Vostok 1. Its mass was 4,540kg (10,010 lbs), of which 1,477kg (3,256 lbs) was instrumentation.

This spacecraft, the first of a series used to investigate the means for manned space flight, contained scientific instruments, a television system, and a self-sustaining biological cabin with a dummy of a man. The spacecraft was designed to study the operation of the life support system and the stresses of flight. The spacecraft radioed both extensive telemetry and prerecorded voice communications. After four days of flight, the retro rocket was fired and the descent module was separated from its equipment module, but because of an incorrect attitude the spacecraft did not re-enter the atmosphere as planned. The descent module re-entered the atmosphere on 6th September 1962, while the equipment module re-entered on 15th October 1965.

The coronation of Elizabeth II took place on 2nd June 1953 at Westminster Abbey, London.  She acceded to the throne at the age of 25 upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6th February 1952, being proclaimed queen by her privy and executive councils shortly afterwards.  The coronation was held more than one year later because of the tradition of allowing an appropriate length of time to pass after a monarch dies before holding such festivals.  It also gave the planning committees adequate time to make preparations for the ceremony.  During the service, Elizabeth took an oath, was anointed with holy oil, invested with robes and regalia, and crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

Celebrations took place across the Commonwealth realms and a commemorative medal was issued.  It was the first British coronation to be fully televised; television cameras had not been allowed inside the abbey during her father's coronation in 1937.  Elizabeth's was the fourth and last British coronation of the 20th Century.  It was estimated to have cost £1.57 million (c. £43,427,400 in 2019).