posted 01-04-2026 12:01 PM               

Space Cover 839: Space Craft Covers KSC Servicing

Around the holidays, I typically think about how important a step the Apollo 8 mission was in the eventual exploration of the lunar surface. The space cover this week celebrates the first mission to send astronauts free of Earth's gravitational pull. The cover was cancelled at Kennedy Space Center, Florida on Dec. 24, 1968 with a cachet by Space Craft Covers depicting the Apollo 8 Command and Service Modules orbiting the Moon at Christmas time. It has a hand-written address of R. Burton in pencil at the lower right.

For this week's topic, the space cover collecting community will most likely know that the addressee is Ray Burton, who helped provide servicing for KSC covers. Beginning in 1965, collectors and KSC employees alike were able to receive cancellations on mission dates from KSC, however they were limited to only a few envelopes per person. This restriction was eventually lifted for later Apollo flights, and collectors will notice the abundance of KSC cancels available from around Apollo 12 and onward. For earlier flights, the strict limitation provided a significant challenge for those running cover services.

Specifically for the Space Craft Cover (SCC) service, beginning in 1968, blank envelopes hand labeled in pencil with different addresses were cancelled at KSC, then cachets added later by Joe Fitzpatrick with Carl Swanson artwork. This is a reason why Space Craft Covers with KSC cancels from 1968/1969 are highly sought after by collectors due to their smaller numbers. SCC offered cancels from Patrick AFB and Cape Canaveral for these same events in larger numbers to their subscribers. A full write-up can be found in Charles Vukotich's SCC catalog.

Over time some covers have had their original pencil addresses erased but I've tried to collect as many with theirs remaining. You'll notice that most addressees are either in the vicinity of KSC itself or Huntington, WV, the home of SCC.

A summary of SCC cancelled at KSC, retaining their addresses in my collection:

1. Apollo 5, 1/22/1968, A. McCulgan, Kenova, WV.
   
2. Apollo 8, 12/24/1968, R. Burton, Indialantic, FL.
   
3. OSO 5, 1/22/1969, J. Fitzpatrick, Huntington, WV.
   
4. ESSA 9, 2/26/1969, A. McCulgan, Kenova, WV.
   
5. Intelsat 3, 5/21/1969, R. Turvy, Merrit Island, FL.
   
6. Intelsat 3, 5/21/1969, Bill Webb, Huntington, WV.
   
7. Apollo 10, 5/26/1969, L. Underhill, Cocoa Beach, FL.
   
8. OGO 6, 6/5/1969, W. Webb, Huntington, WV.
   
9. Apollo 11, 7/16/1969, Jim Jones, Titusville, FL.
   
10. Apollo 11, 7/22/1969, R. Nichols, Eau Gallie, FL.
    
11. Apollo 11, 7/23/1969, Ellen Burton, Indialantic, FL.
    
12. Apollo 11, 7/25/1969, W. Webb, Huntington, WV.
    
13. Apollo 11, 7/25/1969, W. Holden, Titusville, FL.
    
14. Apollo 12, 11/19/1969, J. Jones, Titusville, FL.
    
15. Skynet, 11/21/1969, R. Turvy, Merrit Island, FL.
    
16. Apollo 12, 11/24/1969, W. Holden, Merrit Island, FL.
    
17. Apollo 12, 11/24/1969, W. Webb, Huntington, WV.

Would love to add to this census of addressees and possibly correct any spelling mistakes as well. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year to all.

posted 01-04-2026 04:38 PM               

• Apollo 5 - Fitzpatrick
  
• ESSA 9 - Underhill
  
• Apollo 11 7/16 - McCulgan
  
• Apollo 11 7/22 - Anne Burton
  
• Apollo 11 7/24 - Dave Burton
  
• Apollo 11 7/25 - Mark Burton
  
• Apollo 11 7/25 - Mr. Sadanta Maria, Apollo PA (partially erased so not sure of spelling)

posted 01-04-2026 07:00 PM               

• Apollo 10 5/18/69, J. Bukowski, Irwin, PA
• Apollo 10 5/26/69, Ellen Burton
• Apollo 11 7/16/69, J. Gray, Huntington, WVa
• Apollo 11 7/20/69, Tom O__ator, Liberty Boro, PA*
• Apollo 11 7/24/69, Dick Nichols, Eau Gallie, FL
• Apollo 12 11/14/69, McCulgen