posted June 21, 2009 06:12 AM               

Space Cover #10, ASTP Tracking Station

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) the first joint flight with the United States and Soviet Union presented an unprecedented challenge to the personnel of the Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network (STDN) to provide the vital link between earth and the two orbiting spacecraft. Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) located in Greenbelt, Md. was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the worldwide network.

The ASTP cover shown above was cancelled on splashdown day of the Apollo spacecraft on July 24, 1975. The Greenbelt, Md. post office used a slogan cancel from July 15- October 31, 1975 which read: APOLLO-SOYUZ/PEACEFUL USES OF/OUTER SPACE.

Tracking station covers were avidly collected in the 70's and 80's. With the implementation of the Tracking Data Relay Satellites (TDRSS) in the mid 80's the STDN tracking stations were closed.