posted 01-21-2017 01:02 PM               

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300
Washington, DC 20260-3501

The recent deaths of astronauts John Glenn (the first American to orbit the Earth) and Eugene Cernan (last man on the Moon) highlight the need for a Space Heroes stamp series.

American astronauts have made history by orbiting the Earth and Moon and, in 1969, landing on the Moon. USPS has rightfully honored several space missions over the years, but the only astronaut who has been specifically honored by name with a stamp has been Alan Shepard.

The following deceased NASA astronauts, besides Shepard, certainly deserve stamps, preferably in a series:

1. Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon
   
2. Eugene Cernan, the last man on the Moon
   
3. John Glenn, the first American in orbit
   
4. Sally Ride, the first American female in orbit
   
5. Walter Schirra, the only astronaut to fly in all early manned programs (Mercury, Gemini, Apollo)
   
6. Gus Grissom, the second American in space, the commander of the first manned Gemini flight and the commander of the Apollo 1 crew who perished in a ground fire in 1967
   
7. Edward White, the first American to walk in space and also a member of the Apollo 1 crew
   
8. Charles (Pete) Conrad, the third man to walk on the Moon and the commander of the first Skylab mission
   
9. Edgar Mitchell, the sixth man to walk on the Moon
   
10. James Irwin, the eighth person to walk on the Moon

Others who gave their lives for space exploration include Roger Chaffee (Apollo 1) and the crews of space shuttles Challenger and Columbia.

Please consider stamps for these deceased American heroes, especially Armstrong, Cernan, Glenn and Ride. Thanks for your consideration.

posted 01-22-2017 03:23 PM               

Living people will not be considered at the present time. Beginning in 2018, proposals for a deceased individual will be considered three years following his/her death.