This is the story of first successful steps made in 2015 towards keeping alive the last ship from the Soviet space control-monitoring fleet “Kosmonavt Viktor Patsayev” (sorry for imperfect translation of the text from Russian) Dear friends, colleagues and associates, we had achieved the first victories on keeping alive the last ship from the Soviet space control fleet (Space Fleet) that was devoted to detecting and receiving satellite communications. Letter in support of the ship “Kosmonavt Viktor Patsayev” was signed by more than 2 200 people from all parts of Russia and 24 foreign countries, and of course most of the responses came from the city of Kaliningrad where the ship is moored. Many people left comments, that's the most memorable (I do not write the names of the authors, they are on the site): “I am signing the letter because I have been working in the space industry for more than 45 years. We have the memorial devoted to the best years of power and energy, and perhaps it is time for us to move away from the "mercantile" interests of the 90s. I have been involved several times in the history of the ship testing equipment and measurement systems, including preparation the provision of the spaceship "Buran". The ship “Kosmonavt Viktor Patsayev” is a symbol of the history of Russian cosmonautics.” “I am proud that I was honored to serve on the ships of the Space Fleet in the eighties of the last century, and I am sure that the history of this glorious fleet should not be forgotten.” “The research vessel "Kosmonaut Viktor Patsayev" was my first ship during its voyage in 1979. Then there were other ships, "Academician Sergey Korolev", "Kosmonavt Georgy Dobrovolsky", "Kosmonavt Vladislav Volkov”, and again "Kosmonaut Viktor Patsayev". It's a shame that it was sent to the eternal parking in Kaliningrad, I was the last time on it in 2000. And now it is planned to convert it “on needles”? So we get to that, and the ship "Aurora" will be sent on the scrap-metal! ...” “August 27, 2015 I and my 9-year old son were in Kaliningrad and were on the ship. This is the pride of our country! SUCH can not be destroyed! Our children ought to see it!” And the response of Kaliningrad that deeply touched me: “On this ship, my grandfather worked. He worked until the last! From the work he was taken to the hospital, and did not return home. For our family the ship is the memory of my grandfather, about his latest work.” Many thanks to all supported the ship! To summarize achievements of the year 2015: July 24, 2015 the RV "Kosmonaut Viktor Patsayev" according to the order of the State Security Service of cultural heritage of the Kaliningrad region, is included in the list of identified sites of cultural heritage as subject the State protection. In August 2015 the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping carried out the survey of the RV "Kosmonavt Viktor Patsayev" and the ship has got a classification certificate valid until 23 August 2020. The Ministry of Transport stated that there are no objections to include the RV "Kosmonavt Viktor Patsayev" into the Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage of the Russian Federation. In September, the veterans of the Maritime Space Fleet collected the necessary funds, and in October, with the support of the World Ocean Museum signed an agreement to conduct historical and cultural examination of the ship giving the status of an object of cultural heritage of Russia. The state historical-cultural examination was completed on November 16, and it was concluded that: "The inclusion in the State Register of Cultural Heritage (historical and cultural monuments) of the Russian Federation of the newly identified cultural heritage, the RV "Kosmonaut Viktor Patsayev", 1968, located at the address: Russian Federation, Kaliningrad region, Kaliningrad, Peter the Great embankment 1, is JUSTIFIED (positive conclusion)." Documents of the historical-cultural examination in December 2015 were delivered to the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation to register the ship in the Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage of the Russian Federation. The vessel that receives funding is due to the fact that the Mission Control Center provides communication and telemetry from the International Space Station, acting as the most western territory of Russia to the measuring points. And what will happen next? The fight for the ship is not over. The next step is to do everything possible towards the funding of the ship as a monument of culture, science and technology, to find money for its repair and maintenance. Our ministries, Federal Space Agency and the Ministry of Culture, together with the Government of the Russian Federation are required to attach to this all their efforts and good intentions. The ship has to live! I sincerely thank the veterans of the Space Fleet, all those who contributed to the fundraising for the examination of the ship and actively insisted on conducting a historical examination, the Museum of the World Ocean, the State Protection Service of the Kaliningrad region, all journalists who raised the problems of the ship, and all people indifferent to the fate of the ship. I wish all of you good health, happiness and fulfillment of your own wishes. Happy New Year! Svetlana Patsaeva (Photo taken from http://voldema.livejournal.com/140941.html)