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Topic: Space Cover 126: More Viking Mars Covers
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Bob M Member Posts: 1744 From: Atlanta-area, GA USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-11-2011 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: 472 From: Australia Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 09-19-2011 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.
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albatron Member Posts: 2732 From: Stuart, Florida Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 09-19-2011 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: 494 From: Italy Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 09-19-2011 11:29 AM
I have this cover since years, anyone knows the signatures? |
yeknom-ecaps Member Posts: 660 From: Northville MI USA Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 09-19-2011 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: 494 From: Italy Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 09-19-2011 05:12 PM
Thanks! |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42985 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-19-2011 06:07 PM
The third signature seems to belong to Kermit S. Watkins, deputy manager, Viking Orbiter. |
Charlie16 Member Posts: 494 From: Italy Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 09-20-2011 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: 1744 From: Atlanta-area, GA USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-20-2011 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. |
LaurieS New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 08-30-2013 07:08 PM
quote: Originally posted by Charlie16: I have this cover since years, anyone knows the signatures?
My dad is Kermit Watkins. That is his signature no doubt. Just for your info, he will be 94 on Sept. 6th 2013. He still lives 2 miles from JPL. He is amazing. |
micropooz Member Posts: 1512 From: Washington, DC, USA Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 08-31-2013 02:20 PM
Wow! And welcome to collectSPACE, Laurie!Please tell us more about your Dad!!! |
fredtrav Member Posts: 1673 From: Birmingham AL Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 08-31-2013 06:29 PM
I have various Viking covers signed by dozens of project managers, engineers, dir. launch vehicles, etc. Signatures includes James Martin, Viking Project Manager; Dr. Soffen, Viking Project chief scientist; head of the science team, at least four members of the imaging team, Wright and Sands, one signed by six at NASA HQ, one signed by eight from Langley, one by four from JPL.Also have two covers carried on Viking A spacecraft first and last Turn Around Rollout convoy. |
Apollo-Soyuz Member Posts: 1205 From: Shady Side, Md Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 09-01-2013 06:30 AM
Fred, can you post scans of some of your autographed Viking covers? |
fredtrav Member Posts: 1673 From: Birmingham AL Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 09-01-2013 01:16 PM
I will try. I have never posted a picture before so here is my first attempt.The signers are Henry Norris Viking Orbiter Manager, Kermit Watkins Viking Orbiter Dep, Mgr, Al Wolfe Viking Orbiter Spacecraft Mgr, and Conway Snyder Viking Orbiter scientist, |
Antoni RIGO Member Posts: 176 From: Palma de Mallorca, Is. Baleares - SPAIN Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 09-02-2013 01:38 AM
Another Viking signed cover. The signature of Dr. Klaus Biemann, from MIT, is not very common. |
Apollo-Soyuz Member Posts: 1205 From: Shady Side, Md Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 09-02-2013 10:24 AM
Fred sent me some more scans of Viking autographs.
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Antoni RIGO Member Posts: 176 From: Palma de Mallorca, Is. Baleares - SPAIN Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 09-03-2013 04:51 AM
Fortunately for astrophilatelists many managers, directors, scientists, technicians and other personal involved on the Viking program were willing to sign on remembering key dates of this amazing space program.Here is shown a cover signed by Vincent G. Redmond, Viking Program Manager for ERDA (shame on lacks the cachet). ERDA stands for Energy Research and Development Administration, based in Langley, responsible for the two 35-watt radioisotope thermoelectric generators called SNAP-19, located atop of the Viking lander and connected in series to double their voltage and reduce power loss. |