Major General Aleksandar Aleksandrov, Bulgaria’s second cosmonaut, remains one of the most distinguished figures in the history of Bulgarian science, astronautics, and national pride. Born on 1 August 1951 in Omurtag, he dedicated his life to aviation and space technology. He graduated from the Higher Air Force School “Georgi Benkovski” and later became part of the elite group of Bulgarian cosmonauts. On 7 June 1988, Aleksandrov launched into space aboard the orbital complex Mir as part of the Soviet‑Bulgarian crew under the “Intercosmos” programme, becoming the second Bulgarian to reach outer space. During his mission, he carried out scientific experiments in biology, medicine, materials science, and space technologies, contributing significantly to Bulgarian scientific research.
His achievements and the importance of his spaceflight are reflected in Bulgarian philately. The postage stamp issues dedicated to Aleksandrov are among the most sought‑after thematic releases related to astronautics. The first series was issued in 1988 - two stamps (BK 3693 and BK 3694) commemorating the second Soviet‑Bulgarian space mission. The artist was Dimitar Tasev, and the print run reached 1,000,000 copies for the first stamp and 500,000 for the second. These issues remain among the most recognisable philatelic symbols of Bulgaria’s participation in space exploration.
In 2008, Bulgaria marked the 20th anniversary of Aleksandrov’s historic flight with new philatelic releases. The commemorative block BK 4839 was issued, containing one stamp and a special cancellation, designed by artist Rumen Statkov. The print run was only 14,000 copies, making the issue particularly valuable for collectors. In the same year, an illustrated postal card (BK k200814) was released, also dedicated to the anniversary, with a print run of just 1,480 copies - one of the rarest philatelic items related to Bulgarian astronautics.
In 2018, a new block (BK 5355) was issued to mark 30 years since Aleksandrov’s space mission. Designed by Emil Hristov, the block includes one stamp and a commemorative cancellation. The print run was 10,100 copies, and the issue features simulated perforation and modern gummed paper - distinctive philatelic characteristics that make it a desirable addition to thematic collections.
These philatelic releases are more than postage stamps - they are documentary memory of one of Bulgaria’s greatest scientific achievements. Through them, generations of collectors and space enthusiasts continue to preserve the story of Bulgaria’s presence in outer space.
Major General Aleksandar Aleksandrov passed away on 10 July 2026, at the age of 74. Bulgaria has lost a true hero, and philately has lost a man whose legacy will continue to live through the stamps dedicated to his mission and scientific contribution.