Dale Gardner Signed STS-2 STDN Cover, Greenbelt MD Nov 12 1981 — MVES COA View Watchlist >
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Lot # Nasa110M
System ID # 29521360
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Dale Gardner Signed STS-2 STDN Cover, Greenbelt MD Nov 12 1981 — MVES COA
A Space Shuttle Launch commemorative cover marking STS-2 — the second orbital flight test of Space Shuttle Columbia — postmarked Greenbelt, MD, November 12, 1981, the actual launch date. The cachet reads "SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH / ORBITAL FLIGHT TEST #2 / NASA-STDN / GREENBELT, MARYLAND STATION," referencing Goddard's role in the Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network. Franked with the 18¢ "Space Achievement / Benefiting Mankind" stamp and a 2¢ definitive, both tied by the Greenbelt roller cancel.
Signed at lower right by NASA astronaut Dale A. Gardner with his "NASA Astronaut" notation. Gardner flew as a mission specialist on STS-8 (1983) and STS-51-A (1984), the latter famous for the retrieval of two stranded communications satellites. His signature here is a collector autograph on the STDN launch cover, not a crew association with STS-2. This cover sells with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by Mesilla Valley Estate Sales guaranteeing the Gardner signature.
History
STS-2 launched November 12, 1981 with Joe Engle and Richard Truly aboard, making Columbia the first crewed spacecraft to fly to orbit a second time. Goddard's STDN stations provided the ground tracking and data relay that made the flight test possible, and station covers like this one were postmarked to commemorate the network's participation in the early Shuttle program.
CONDITION
Very Good. Clean cachet impression and crisp cancel; stamps intact with the 2¢ definitive showing a small perforation nick at the lower right corner. Signature is bold and legible. A faint "K8" pencil/ink notation is present on the reverse.
DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS
- Cover: 3 5/8" × 6 1/2"
- Postmark: Greenbelt, MD — Nov 12, 1981
- Franking: 18¢ Space Achievement stamp + 2¢ definitive
- Signed: Dale A. Gardner, NASA Astronaut
- Certificate of Authenticity: Mesilla Valley Estate Sales
