posted 09-05-2021 10:13 AM               

Space Cover 621: Marshall Space Flight Center Anniversary

The Marshall Space Flight Center was founded on July 1, 1960 and was named after Gen. George C. Marshall, the US Army's Chief of Staff in World War II. The Marshall Plan was named after Gen. Marshall and was created to aid in the recovery of Europe after WWII.

This cover marks the 20th anniversary of MSFC and bears a cachet picturing three of the programs that MSFC was closely involved with: the Saturn vehicles, Skylab and the Space Shuttle.

The stamp honors and pictures Gen. Marshall and is canceled with a well-applied July 1, 1980 MSFC, AL hand cancel. Werhner von Braun was the first MSFC Director and the cover is autographed by the next three MSFC Directors who followed von Braun: Eberhard Rees, Rocco Petrone and William Lucas. There have been 14 MSFC Directors, with Jody Singer serving since 2018.

MSFC is now involved in the Artemis moon program and the Space Launch System rocket.