5. Gagarin 55

The above is an electronic award for the contacts with special stations commemorating the 55th year of manned space flight.

In early April, I heard frequently callsigns like RZ55YG, RX55YG. Googling showed that they are special stations for the 55th year of manned space flight. The 55 is self-explanatory, then what is YG? Well this would be the acronym of Yurii Gagarin.

The award rules;
Period: Apr. 1 thru Apr. 30
Awards: Elecronic awards of 3 types depending on the contact points, plaques available at 45 USD
One contact: 10 points (Hams of Russia and CIS: 5 points)
Repeats allowed for different bands or in one band in different modes
The commemorative stations; Russia: North-West Federal District RA55YG, - - -, Far East FD FZ55YG, total 9 stations, Kazakhstan: UN55G, - - - total 4 stations, Moldova: ER55G 1 station

I made 6 contacts in 3 days and checked the Russian logs, and found the QSLs and the award to my station for the minimum 55 points. As in the award, the number is a 3000 number as of April 10th. Different from here, this award might be popular in Russia or in Europe.

These days no one has minded manned space flights or the likes. The commoditization talked in merchandize world applies to the space flights too.