Space Cover 658: Pegasus, rockets and debrisEvery week SCOTW features a space cover. All space covers are as bits of space history by marking relevant space events such launches, dockings, fly-bys, orbit insertions, landings…
Furthermore, it is usual that space collectors add philatelic information about who made such space cover and even how it was created.
Above a space cover commemorating the launch of an air-to-rocket Pegasus from Vandenberg, CA, take-off point for airplane B-52 Stratofortress, which is also considered launch point for Pegasus.
It was the fifth launch of a Pegasus rocket in a serial of 44 current launchings and the second and last launch for a Pegasus Standard with HAPS version. HAPS — Hydrazine Auxiliary Propulsion System — was an upper stage added to the basic three-stage fuel Pegasus rocket.
Unfortunately, this launch had only a partial success because rocket did not reach planned altitude and STEP-2 mini-satellite on board was not placed in correct orbit what reduced its operability.
The space cover was produced by Ray Dubeau from Illinois with a number of units unknown for me.
However, what it is most unusual is link two different space covers dated many years in between both.
Below cover, postmarked with ISS Houston cancel Dec 3, 2021 marks the avoidance maneuver of ISS to avoid collision with Pegasus debris orbiting around Earth.
And these Pegasus debris were produced in Pegasus launch dated May 19, 1994.
This space cover was produced by Gus Kathmann from Minnesota in quantity around 20 units.
posted 07-09-2022 12:43 AM
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