posted 04-15-2017 10:59 AM               

Space Cover #413: Showa Station

Showa Station, also named Syowa Station, is a Japanese Antarctic base located in East Ongul Island, in Queen Maud Land. As many other Antarctic bases its main function is protect the members of the Antarctic scientific expeditions from very extreme temperatures in Antarctica.

During the scientific campaigns or expeditions held in Showa (equal succeeded in other Antarctic bases) some sounding-rocket were launched with the purpose to study for climate conditions, temperature at different levels of our atmosphere as well as aurora phenomena.

In the development of Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition 12 (JARE-12) a sounding-rocket was launched on February 10, 1970 (corrected February 10, 1971) to observe directly several aspects of ionosphere and austral auroras.

The cover shown above was dated on next day (February 11) and bears two pictorial cachets showing a stylized rocket.

Please note that regular postmark is entirely in Japanese language. At the top appears the name of the post office: Showa or Syowa and at the bottom are the starting and ending hours meanwhile within two bars in the middle are the dates: the last two digits of the year of the Emperor’s reign, the month in number and the day.

In our case the postmark reads 56.2.11 which stands for; 56 is the year of Hirohito Emperor, 2 is the month of February and 11 is the day of the month,

In this same JARE-12 a special red postmark was used, although the first date I has been able to find is 46.2.22 (February 22, 1970) (corrected February 22, 1971) not concerning to any sounding-rocket launch.

The cover above is an example of this red postmark. Other covers exist with this same date but with different illustrations.

However, there is a previous Japanese cancel in blue color and two versions, (big and small, both shown) depicting a sounding-rocket for JARE-11. At the moment of this post, any information has been found concerning what sounding-rocket launch refers this cancel.

The pictorial red postmark is dated 45.1.15 or January 15, 1969.

Any help will be welcomed. Thanks.

posted 02-29-2024 08:18 AM               

• NB: Showa 45 = 1970
  
• 46 = 1971
  
• 47= 1972

Here is a timeline you might find useful:

JARE XI

• 45.1.5 = 5Jan70 ice breaker Fuji unloads men and material to Showa base on East Ongul Island, Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.
  
• 45.2.10 = 10Feb70 First ever launch of a S-160 sounding rocket from Showa base.
  
• 45.2.17 = 17Feb70 second launch of S-160
  
• 45 = summer 1970. JARE XI did not overwinter in the Antarctic but returned to Japan in the early (northern) summer.

• 45.11.25 = 25Nov70 the ice breaker Fuji leaves Tokyo with the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) XII team aboard led by Dr. T Ogushi. The expedition had an emphasis on meteorological research and carried a number of sounding rockets with them.
  
• 45/46 = Dec70/Jan71/ Feb71 There were a great many problems getting ice breaker Fuji close enough to the station for unloading due to the heavy icepack.
  
• 46.2. = early Feb71 Showa base finally set up.
  
• 46.2.11 = 11Feb71 Showa Base post office in operation
  
• 46.2.22 = 22Feb71 ice breaker Fuji special red cancel on covers to mark the setting up and re-opening of the base and the unloading of the rockets. A number of different cachets were used emphasizing the Antarctic rocket projects of the JARE XII team, and the special red cancel of the ice-breaker Fuji reflects this showing a weather rocket and part of the Aurora Australis.
  
• 46.4.30 = 30Apr71 Launch of a S-160 sounding rocket from Showa Base. Third rocket launch, and the first by JARE XII.
  
• 46.6.24 = 24Jun71 Launch S-210
  
• 46.7.21 = 21Jul71 Launch S-210
  
• 46.8.10 = 10Aug71 Launch S-210
  
• 46.9.13 = 13Sep71 Launch S-210
  
• 46.9.24 = 24Sep71 Launch S-210
  
• 46.12.3 = 3Dec71 Launch S-210

• 46.11.25 = 25Nov71 Fuji left Tokyo with JARE XIII expedition aboard under Commander Kawaguchi
  
• 47.1.1 = 1Jan72 men and material (including more rockets) were airlifted by helicopter 45 miles off the shore from Fuji to Showa base
  
• 47.2.11 = 11Feb72 Launch S-210
  
• 47.4.16 = 16Apr72 Launch S-160
  
• 47.5.17 = 17May72 JARE XII expedition return home to Tokyo aboard Fuji, leaving JARE XIII expedition members behind in the Antarctic, firing off more sounding rockets.

posted 03-01-2024 09:06 AM               

45 is 1970 year and 46 is 1971 year.

Really, I do not know why I wrote wrong dates when in all covers I have on backside correct dates.