Keychain, First Space Walk, 1965

Pins or znachki have a long and established Russian tradition. During the 19th century, workers received these pins as a reward for work done. It was during the Soviet period that the emphasis on the use of znachki shifted from rewarding work done to acting as souvenirs of national celebrations. By the late 1960s, schoolchildren began to collect and exchange the pins with foreigners. Today, space-themed znachki are popular among collectors worldwide. People of all ages wear the pins to celebrate and acknowledge anniversaries, programs and individuals of the space program.

This keychain commemorates the first walk in space that Aleksei Leonov took in March 1965.