posted 07-31-2010 07:13 PM               

Space Cover #68, Morton Thiokol SRB Static Firing RSC

During shuttle development, the solid rocket boosters needed to be static fired to insure proper performance during launch. Prior to the first static test firing in 1977, Morton Thiokol set up a cover servicing program for collectors who wanted to get covers cancelled on the dates of the static firings.

Up to three covers per test could be sent and a rubber stamp cachet was applied to covers. seven static firings were conducted from 1977-80 prior to the launch of STS-1 in 1981.

Morton Thiokol issued two cachets to commemorate the 1st SRB static firing on July 18, 1977 and the launch of STS-1 on April 12, 1981. These covers were available free one cover per request. One thousand (1,000) of each cachet were serviced.

Along with the printed cachet, Morton Thiokol included a special edition of its magazine 'Aerospace Facts' which included articles and photos on the SRB static test program.