|
Author
|
Topic: Space Cover 126: More Viking Mars Covers
|
Bob M
Member Posts: 1251
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted September 11, 2011 09:47 AM
   
Space Cover of the Week, Week 126 (September 11, 2011) Space Cover #126: More Viking Mars Covers To continue with what John did so well last week, I have presented six additional Viking Mars covers to display the quality and variety of the many covers done for the Viking missions. To many of us who experienced the two unmanned Viking Mars landings, and resulting photos from the Martian surface, they rivaled the excitement and fascination of the Apollo 11 moonlanding.  Top Cover: Jet Propulsion Laboratory Stamp Club cacheted cover for the Viking 1 launch. Bottom Cover: KSC Exchange cover double canceled for the Viking A/1 and B/2 launches.  Top Cover: A Viking 1 and 2 double canceled launch cover with a special Martin Marietta black rubber stamp cachet. Bottom Cover: A double canceled cover for the Viking B/Titan-3E/Centaur rollout and Viking B launch. Ken Havekotte, of SpaceCoast Cover Service, produced this and many other covers for various Viking pre-launch tests and events, as well as post-landing covers.  Top Cover: A JPL Stamp Club cacheted cover commemorating the Viking 2 Mars landing, with "NASA's First Lander on Mars" slogan cancel. Bottom Cover: An official Ames Research Center Stamp Club rubber stamp cacheted cover, double canceled for the Viking 1 Mars landing, and two years later, a First Day of Issue cancel applied for the "Viking Missions to Mars" commemorative stamp. |
Ross
Member Posts: 284
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted September 19, 2011 11:09 AM
The Viking spacecraft like all of NASA's deep space probes are tracked by NASA's Deep Space Network consisting of three tracking stations spaced approximately 120 degrees apart. One of those is the Honeysuckle Creek/Tidbinbilla complex located just outside Canberra, Australia. Below is a cover from that station.
|
albatron
Member Posts: 1933
From: Stuart, Florida, USA
Registered: Jun 2000
|
posted September 19, 2011 11:18 AM
VERY nice stuff. Has anyone ever tried to get some of the principle people to sign them? Any suggestions? |
Charlie16
Member Posts: 213
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
|
posted September 19, 2011 11:29 AM
I have this cover since years, anyone knows the signatures? |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 374
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
|
posted September 19, 2011 01:09 PM
James Martin and Calvin Broome were NASA Langley project managers for the Viking project. I don't know the third person. |
Charlie16
Member Posts: 213
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
|
posted September 19, 2011 05:12 PM
Thanks! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted September 19, 2011 06:07 PM
The third signature seems to belong to Kermit S. Watkins, deputy manager, Viking Orbiter. |
Charlie16
Member Posts: 213
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
|
posted September 20, 2011 03:30 AM
It's nice to know there is always someone who has the answers to your questions.
Thanks Robert! |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1251
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted September 20, 2011 03:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by albatron:
VERY nice stuff. Has anyone ever tried to get some of the principle people to sign them? Any suggestions?
Personally, way back then I did acquire a fair number of autographs of the principle scientists and engineers involved in the two Viking missions. But with the Viking missions taking place over 35 years ago, I wonder how many of the individuals are still available and can be located for autographs? I had one cover signed by 17 of the people involved, including Gentry Lee, Tobias Owen, Harold Masursky and Michael Carr. Also another cover signed by Thomas Mutch, who was the Viking Lander Imaging team leader, but sadly was killed in 1980 while on a climbing expedition in the Himalayas. Possibly some research using Google would turn up a lot of names and locations. |
advertisement