A pair of cosmonauts, each in their own time, brought value to the realm of space exploration for their country. Alexander Volkov, U4MIR, now retired, is a veteran of three launches who later served as commander of the cosmonaut detachment at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. Roscosmos cosmonaut, Alexander Grebenkin, R3HP, who has a radio communications engineering background, served as a mission specialist for SpaceX Crew 8 in 2024.

Now the two are adding value to an event here on Earth that pays tribute to Yuri Gagarin and the trip 65 years ago that made him the first man in space. Both cosmonauts will be among the activators seeking QSOs with chasers on the 11th and 12th of April as part of an international DX contest honouring the Soviet cosmonaut and bearing his name.

Contacts will be on HF via CW and SSB. The cosmonauts aren't just worth double multipliers for chasers but earn them QSL cards bearing their autographs.