posted 10-18-2020 05:14 AM               

Space Cover 581: INTA-NASA Madrid red meter (part 1)

Above pictured INTA-NASA Madrid red meter number 6191 with different text recording Pioneer 10 encounter with Jupiter on Dec 4, 1973 and Voyager 2 launch on Aug 20, 1977.

All INTA-NASA (INTA stands for Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial – National Institute for Aerospace Technic, the Spanish Space Agency) Madrid red meter show a face value of 0000 but there are not a proof.

Collector who made Spanish space covers was authorized to use this red meter INTA-NASA with the acceptation of no charging the machine with any amount. So, it was free of cost for Spanish space agency.

In order to avoid that covers came out with face value, collector added one stamp with face value (which is too an anomaly in philately as meters do not require usage of stamps, the own meter comprises postage, cancel and text as propaganda).

Philatelic full details for this red meter are as follows:

INTA-NASA ESTACION ESPACIAL DE MADRID DEEP SPACE NETWORK Apartado 50719 Madrid-Space red meter number 6191 was a Francotyp machine with date of issue Jun 22, 1969. In unknown date text was changed to INTA-NASA ESTACION ESPACIAL DE MADRID Orense, 11 Madrid-20. In Jan 01, 1989 it was still in use. Actually it is unknown when it was retired.

Spanish tracking stations located in Madrid province were in the villages of Fresnedillas de la Oliva (closed in 1985) and Robledo de Chavela, one of three major space tracking complex worldwide for Deep Space Network.

However, central office was not located in Fresnedillas nor Robledo but in Madrid city, exactly in Orense Street number 11, as the meter reads. All mail was centralized there and delivered from Madrid city from/to tracking stations.

Although all these Spanish space covers with INTA-NASA Madrid red meter are not perfect, astrophilatelically speaking, these covers can be used in philatelic exhibits explaining its origins and its motivations. It is necessary to remember everybody that first Regulations and Guidelines for Astrophilately were born in 1985, many years after these covers saw the light.

Obviously, and according actual Guidelines, it would be more appropriate show Spanish space covers with Robledo de Chavela postmark (where antennas DSS-61 and DSS-63 are located) than covers with this INTA-NASA Madrid red meter but in many space events, only covers with this INTA-NASA Madrid red meter exist.

Sample covers with rubber stamp cachet for DSS-61 antenna (also named Robledo I) and DSS-63 antenna (also named Robledo II) recording on Mar 20, 1974 the first Mercury fly-by of Mariner 10.