posted 01-02-2016 11:21 AM               

Space Cover #350: Kronogård launch site

Kronogård launch site was the first operational sounding-rocket launch base in Sweden for years 1961-1964. In this short frame of time only 18 rockets were launched.

However, the first rocket launch campaign from Kronogård began on August 7, 1962 when a Nike-Cajun rocket was launched carrying a scientific payload of 40 kg to 120 km of altitude. The campaign called "Kronogård 62" lasted for three weeks and was a co-operation between United States (NASA) and Sweden.

The cover above shown, very common indeed is postmarked in Kåbdalis, (nearest post office) on August 7, 1962 commemorating the first rocket launch from Kronogård.

But if Kronogård was opened in 1961 and first launch took place in 1962 it means that not launches were made in 1961.

Searching in my data base I found a previous launch in 1961.

From a launching tube in a forest clearing in northern Sweden at Nausta, a tiny Arcas rocket was launched on August 14, 1961 but immediately after left the tube the rocket simply disappeared. As it carried no transmitter any signal was received.

And this is the quiz: an unsuccessful rocket fired in 1961 meanwhile the first rocket fired from Kronogård in 1962.

The mistake could be consequence of enclosing erroneously the rocket launch of 1961 inside the launches from Kronogård, because the truth is that temporary rocket base of Kronogård was established in 1962, not in 1961, and as result the launch of 1961 should not be taken into account as a launch from Kronogård.

For many years I have tried to find through space covers the first rocket launch of 1961 from Sweden without success. It seems that not philatelic evidence of this launch can be found.

Nevertheless in at glance, simple and poor card, also cancelled in Kåbdalis on August 7, 1962 marking the Nike-Cajun rocket launch I found a little violet rubber cachet (origin not yet known) with two words: on top NATTPIP and on the bottom Kronogård. Probably it was applied by Swedish team in honor of previous launch and also as thank testimony of a new inaugurated base of Kronogård.

The Arcas rocket launched on August 14, 1961 was part of NATTPIP (night beep) project and had the goal to create an artificial night-shining cloud at above 80 km altitude.

In 1965 Kiruna was opened and Kronogård was used anymore.