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Author
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Topic: Space Cover 704: Gemini-6/7 NASA cachet error
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Eddie Bizub
Member Posts: 127
From: Kissimmee, FL USA
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 06-04-2023 10:23 AM
   
Space Cover of the Week, Week 704 (June 4, 2023)  Space Cover of the Week #704: Gemini-6/7 NASA Cachet ErrorIn December 1965, the United States conducted the first rendezvous between to orbiting vehicles. Gemini 6 was launched on December 15 and caught up with the orbiting Gemini-7 spacecraft which was launched on December 4. They orbited within one foot of each other completing yet another task that needed to be learned in our effort to land on the moon. Many covers exist for both the Gemini 6 and Gemini 7 missions. The Kennedy Space Center post office produced official NASA cachets for both missions as well. In fact, the Gemini 6 NASA cachet exists with both a dark background and a light background. Official NASA cachets are usually postmarked on the launch date but there have been exceptions throughout the years. Most exceptions are postmarked at other times during the mission. The cover pictured is what you might call the exception to the exception. It appears that the cover was intended to receive a cancel for the launch of Gemini 6 as well as an official NASA cachet. The cover instead received a very nice strike on the NASA cachet and a nice Cocoa Beach cancel. However, the December 20 date is four days after the Gemini 6 splashdown and even two days after the Gemini 7 splashdown. The city of Cocoa Beach is fairly close to the Cape Canaveral launch site and this certainly would have made an interesting cover had it been postmarked for the launch. It is still an interesting cover but I would like to know the story behind it. Was it intentional or was it an error? We will probably never know. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3622
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 06-04-2023 10:57 AM
We'll probably never know for sure why it had been cancelled at Cocoa Beach on Dec. 20. It possibly could had been missed by a machine postal strike at KSC and arrived at Morristown, NJ, but that wouldn't explain why/how it got back to Cocoa Beach with a cancel four days after GT-6's splashdown.Maybe there had been a GT-6 post-mission event in Cocoa Beach, such as a return crew visit or downtown parade. But that would seem unlikely within such a short period of time after splashdown and recvoery of Schirra and Stafford. If time permits, I'll try to check the post-splashdown events of the GT-6 crew in that area. But for sure Eddie, a most interesting cover in more ways than one.
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Axman
Member Posts: 24
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 06-05-2023 11:12 AM
More information required please! Has the envelope been opened or is it sealed shut? Does it contain an insert or letter?Depending on the answers to the above, a more definitive explanation of the background to this cover could be postulated. |
bobslittlebro
Member Posts: 240
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 06-05-2023 06:18 PM
Very nice cover Eddie. I really like these odd ball unusual covers that come our way. A simple answer is this cover may have just fell threw the cracks and was just missent to the Cocoa Beach post office with the wrong date? Maybe Ken Havekotte can shed some light on my GT-6 ONC launch cover postmarked from Orlando, FL. It has the correct date Dec. 15, 1965.  |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3622
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 06-05-2023 06:43 PM
Another interesting ONC cover similar to Eddies' in some areas. For yours, Tim, I think it can be explained quite simply: KSC mail was routed to Orlando since July 1965, therefore, somehow this particular ONC cover for the launch of GT-6 missed having a KSC postal strike. When discovered after it had been received at Orlando regional district office from KSCPO, it looks like one of the postal clerks had applied an Orlando machine cancel on it. I've got some similar ONC's like this as well, as time permits, I'll post some of them here. Good and unusual topic Eddie. |
Eddie Bizub
Member Posts: 127
From: Kissimmee, FL USA
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 06-06-2023 12:39 AM
Guys, many thanks for the comments. The envelope is sealed and there appears to be a blank stuffer inside. The cover has all indications that it was intended to be cancelled for the launch. It is certainly possible that it simply missed the KSC cancel and was re-routed to Cocoa Beach and received the cancel there. |
Axman
Member Posts: 24
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 06-06-2023 11:32 AM
Being sealed and unopened with a blank stuffer inside I'd be happy to agree that it was definitely intended as a launch cover, and therefore it must be a rerouted cancellation.A very nice bit of astrophilately postal history. |
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