Vladimir Utkin (1923-2000) was a Soviet and Russian scientist, a designer, a specialist in rocket and space technology; a Twice Hero of Socialist Labor, a Winner of the Lenin Prize; the Chief Designer and the Head of the Yuzhnoye Design Office, an Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1984).
In 1967, he was appointed the First Deputy Chief Designer and the Head of the Yuzhnoye Design Office; in 1971, the Chief Designer and the Head of the Design Office; and in 1979, he took the position of the General Designer and the Head of the Design Office.
In the capacity of a developer and the leader of research and development, Utkin was directly involved in the development of modern launch vehicles and spacecraft. Under his leadership, four strategic missile systems were developed and put into service, as well as several launch vehicles were designed. The latest development was highly efficient, environmentally friendly Zenit boost vehicle capable of placing 12 tons of payload into the near-Earth orbit, the RT-23 solid-fuel rocket, which was used to equip combat railway missile systems, and highly efficient R-36M strategic missile.
In 1990-2000, Vladimir Utkin was the Director of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the Russian Space Agency.
The commemorative stamp provides a symbolic image of a boost vehicle launched into outer space; the main illustration features a portrait of Vladimir Utkin against the background of the launch of the Zenit boost vehicle.
| Denomination |
Paper |
Printing method |
Format of the postal card |
Edition |
| Letter “B” |
Chalk surfaced |
Offset |
105 × 148 mm |
10 thousand postcards |