posted 01-26-2025 08:48 AM               

Let's Not Get Snarky

Many of us space cover collectors lament the fact that covers do not exist for every single rocket or missile launch that was ever conducted. OK, maybe not many collectors but at least some. OK, maybe just me. But wouldn't it be nice to own a cover for every launch? Sometimes we just have to be satisfied with anniversary covers. As in my last post for the Bumper-1 launch, the cover I have chosen for this post commemorates the 25th anniversary of the first Snark missile test conducted from the Eastern Test Range and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The SM-62 Snark was an air-breathing missile that was the first operational surface to surface cruise missile capable of carrying a W39 thermonuclear warhead to intercontinental ranges. The Snark, named by Jack Northrup after a Lewis Carrol character, started its development in the late 1940's. The Snark test missiles were designed to be recovered for re-use though that was a major problem during testing as a reliable navigation system was extremely difficult given the available technology. Initial testing in the early 1950's was conducted at Holloman AFB. However, with the intercontinental range requirement it made Holloman AFB a poor choice due to its limited available space. The testing was then moved to Launch Complex-1/2 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A total of 97 Snark launches were conducted from the Cape from 1952-1960.

The Snark was only operational for 4 years. The advent of the Atlas missile and its ability to carry a much larger warhead far greater distances doomed the Snark. The Snark was a missile ahead of its time and technology. It was replaced by a big dumb booster that the Air Force so relied on at the time.

The above cover is postmarked for the 25th anniversary of the first Snark launch conducted from Cape Canaveral. It is postmarked at Patrick AFB which had operational control over all Eastern Test Range launches. The cover also has an FMF local post stamp and postmark honoring the Snark missile. Too bad the cover wasn't postmarked 25 years earlier for the actual first launch!

posted 01-26-2025 09:51 AM               

I agree, it would be very very nice to have original launch covers for all flights, so that makes at least two of us! I too am quite satisfied with anniversary covers filling in the gaps.

(We do however differ on one point — I only collect rockets that would be capable of independent flight in outer space. And sadly the air-breathing Snark does not qualify.)

Nevertheless, bravo on your Snark 25th anniversary cover.