Space Cover #334: HEAO-C LaunchThis week's cover commemorates the launch of the High Energy Astronomy Observatory on September 20, 1979 aboard Atlas Centaur #53. This satellite carried three scientific experiments — a gamma ray spectrometer, a cosmic ray isotope experiment and a heavy cosmic ray nuclei experiment.
Control of the in orbit HEAO was under direction of Marshall Space Flight Center in conjunction with flight control engineers operating from Goddard Space Flight Center. Control of the Data Processing Center, Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network and the Operations Control Center were also the responsibility of GSFC.
500 launch covers were serviced by the Goddard Space Flight Center Stamp Club. The cover was autographed by the Mission Operations System Manager, Richard Costa.
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