posted 10-21-2019 02:32 PM               

Depicted below are some of my "first" or early space shuttle cover issues from the years 1971 to 1977. The covers selected represent different categories of space shuttle cover collecting themes and formats, and on top of that, all have been signed in some way or another. Many of the signatures included are those of the first and pioneering shuttle program developers, leaders, shakers and movers of NASA's reusable Space Transportation System during the 1970's. I've included a few early Spacelab program cover issues as well that might be of interest.

What's not included in the selections is the 747/SCA/ALT-Enterprise program during the mid/late 1970's since there is so much space cover material from that first non-orbital shuttle flight test program and other related projects. Perhaps that can be the topic of a future cS-space cover forum here.

One of the earliest "carried" covers pertaining to the new Space Shuttle program is one that is illustrated and signed by astronaut Joe Engle that reads, "Carried During Space Shuttle Simulation Training — 23 Feb. 72." It appears, even before the Apollo 16 lunar flight, that NASA's simulation training division at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston was already busy with their first, or rather simplistic, shuttle orbiter-type trainer in 1972.

Besides Engle, which later commanded two shuttle ALT/Enterprise free flights in 1977 and two shuttle-orbital missions in 1981/85, other signing shuttle astronauts in the cover group are on flown covers by Gordon Fullerton, Hank Hartsfield, and David Griggs, (signed as a JSC-NASA Shuttle Trainer Aircraft program chief pilot in 1976 before becoming a NASA shuttle astronaut two years later), just to name a few for now.

There are a variety of other "flown/carried/located" shuttle-related covers in the below selections, including a flown shuttle-related balloon cover in Sept. 1975. I believe the JSC-balloon flight experiments program by Dr. Robert Golden in Texas was a prior cS-topic by SCOTW contributor John Macco.

After reading a newspaper article or an aerospace magazine story during the 1970's about a specific upcoming shuttle development or test series, as John pointed out to me in a recent email, scientists like Dr. Golden were accessible and cooperative with space fan mail and requests. I am not sure if that same level of cooperation is possible today.

With going back nearly half a century, I thought perhaps now would be a good time to spotlight some of the first or newly-created shuttle program covers from around the country of those that are signed, etc., from the early/mid 1970's. Does anyone have an earlier produced shuttle "signed" cover before June 1971 that I would love to see and possibly even purchase if available?

posted 10-22-2019 08:13 PM               

There were indeed hundreds and hundreds of shuttle-related research flight tests with the A-7, F-8, YF-12, T-38, the Gulfstream II/STA flight program along with the ASSESS II test aircraft, and with using other aircraft all throughout the 1970's.

Perhaps it should also be pointed out that many of the above flight test programs did pertain to the ALT/Enterprise that I felt was best to keep as a separate topic.

I've got several flights myself of their major or highlight flight programs with many covers signed by the pilots. But keep in mind though that not all of the cachet "shuttle related" research flights, with most of them flying over Edwards AFB, were in fact shuttle related as indicated.

In addition to a series of indicated flight test programs during the 70's, you also had the Solid Rocket Booster drop series of B-52 flights from Edwards AFB to El Centro in CA. There were even SRB static firings at Utah and Alabama during this time period along with many other shuttle activities at various sites all across the country.

Concerning the shuttle orbiter itself, during the early development stages, you had SSV-wind tunnel testing at Ames, shuttle crewmember ejection escape hatch operations at Holloman AFB in NM, a long series of shuttle main engine test firings at Bay St. Louis, a vibration test boost phase at Marshall SFC (involving the orbiter as well), several shuttle ET events, and with so many other shuttle activities right here at the Kennedy Space Center.

posted 10-25-2019 02:41 PM               

It's been said many times that the 1970's and 1980's, especially, were wonderful times to be a space fan and especially a collector. Many fascinating tests and events were taking place and so often those involved in the tests and events were willing to autograph covers and some were also willing to have covers carried, flown or located for many important space events.

Myself and surely others were active during this special time and the covers above show well what was possible to acquire back then. It is a small sample size, though.

Covers are known to be flown on NASA aircraft by astronauts, usually just-selected ascans; also covers inside the KSC Firing Room for Shuttle launches; inside JSC Mission Control; on the Crawler Transporter in the MLP during rollouts to the launch pad and stored there during the launches; inside JPL for the Viking Mars landings; etc., and all documented by the participants that kindly handled the covers for us.

Unfortunately, many of these flown, carried, located covers can't be shown publicly because generally doing such was discouraged by NASA and some of the participants may still be involved with NASA.

posted 10-31-2019 04:33 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Ken Havekotte:
The same for me to, Hart, as my above depicted SMD-III "carried" cover only lacks the autograph of Dr. Bill Thornton of the three Spacelab week-long simulation participates.

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Below is a cover that was inside JSC Mission Control during the STS-41C launch and very nicely documented by the USAF officer that kindly handled the cover for me. Being extra (overly) careful, I have covered up his name to protect the innocent. Interesting, he added that the SSMEs were used exclusively for the first time to achieve orbit - no final OMS push.

I believe that this USAF Major was being trained to later play an important part in the not-to-happen shuttle launches at Vandenberg's Slick Six launch complex.