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Automatic Picture Transmission
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Automatic Picture Transmission
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This page contains philatelic information on the Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) system, Weather Facsimile (WEFAX), and APT-like antennas. Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the satellites featured are given when available. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.
APT is a low-resolution analog transmission of data from polar-orbiting satellites. Two channels of reduced-resolution (4 km) data are continuously transmitted using analog VHF signals (137 MHz) at reduced rates (120 lines per minute), allowing use of simple, low-cost ground station equipment for APT reception. Reference: http://www2.ncdc.noaa.gov/docs/klm/html/c4/sec4-2.htm
WEFAX is a method to transmit weather satellite images via facsimile images. The intended recipients are ships and aircraft, most of which receive WEFAX via satellite radio links.
The necessary equipment for APT has been placed aboard various satellites:
In the future, the analog signal of APT systems will be replaced by a digital signal of Low Rate Picture Transmission (LRPT) systems.
| Launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers) (farther below) |
Other postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.) (immediately below) |
|---|---|
| APT WEFAX6 | APT images1 |
| APT antennas2 | |
| Multiple-helix tracking antennas3 | Multiple-helix tracking antennas3 |
| Multiple-Yagi tracking antennas4 | Multiple-Yagi tracking antennas4 |
Below is a list of APT postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).
| Country | Catalog Number | Type of Item | Year of Issue | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) images | ||||
| Dominica | 359 (Mi359) | 1973 | APT-like image1 | |
| Dominica | 354-360 fdc | One of seven stamps on FDC | ||
| Dominica | 354-360 proofs1 | Proof sheet | ||
| Dominica | 354-360 proofs2 | Proof sheet (different) | ||
| Dominica | 360a (BL17) | MS2 (359-360) | ||
| Dominica | 360a fdc | MS2 on FDC | ||
| Grenada | 496 (Mi522) | 1973 | APT-like image1 | |
| Hungary | 2019 (Mi2580) i2019 | Imperforate | 1970 | APT-like image |
| Hungary | 2019 fdc i2019 fdc | Stamp on FDC Imperforate stamp on FDC | ||
| Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) antennas2 | ||||
| Argentina | 977 cover (Mi1127 cover) | Cachet on cover | 1972 | Crossed-Yagi APT antenna |
| Argentina | None | Cachet on cover | 1972 | Crossed-Yagi APT antenna |
| Argentina | None | Aerogramme, also back | 1973 | Crossed-Yagi APT antenna |
| Argentina | 1017 cover (Mi1170 cover) | Cachet on FDC | 1977 | Helical APT antenna |
| Belgium | 836 (Mi1714) | 1973 | Helical APT antenna | |
| Belgium | 836 sc1 | Three stamps and cancel on souvenir card | ||
| Belgium | 836 sc2 | Four stamps and cancel (same) on souvenir card (different) | ||
| Belgium | 836 fdc1 | Stamp and cancel and cachet on FDC | ||
| Belgium | 836 fdc2 | Stamp and cancel (same) and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Belgium | 836 fdc3 | Stamp and cancel (same) and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Belgium | 836 maxi | Cancel (same) on maxicard | ||
| Belgium | 836 card | Stamp on card | 1980 | Helical APT antenna |
| Czechoslovakia | 1718-1719 fdc (Mi1972-1973 fdc) | (Printed) cachet on FDC | 1970 | (possible) APT antenna |
| France | 1903 fdc (Mi2416 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1983 | Helical APT antenna |
| Germany (East) | 983 (Mi1344) i983 | One of strip of 3 (984a (982-984)) (Mi1343-1345) One of imperforate strip of 3 (i984a) | 1968 | Helical APT antenna |
| Germany (East) | 984a fdc | One of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Hungary | 2019 (Mi2580) i2019 | Imperforate | 1970 | Helical APT antenna |
| Hungary | 2019 fdc i2019 fdc | Stamp and cachet on FDC Imperforate stamp and cachet on FDC | ||
| Japan | None | Cancel on cover | 1985 | (possible) APT antenna |
| Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania | 262 (Mi250) | 1973 | Helical APT antenna | |
| Maldive Islands | 467 (Mi482) | 1974 | Helical APT antenna | |
| Mongolia | C35 (Mi773) | 1973 | Helical APT antenna | |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cachet on stamped envelope | 1982 | Helical APT antenna |
| Russia (USSR) | 5246 cover (Mi5376 cover) | Cachet on cover | 1984 | Helical APT antenna |
| Russia | 6575a (BL30) | In (lower-right) margin of MS5 (6571-6575 + label) | 2000 | Helical APT antenna |
| Russia | 6577 (BL31) | SS1 | 2000 | Helical APT antenna |
| Russia | 6577 fdc1 | SS1 on FDC | ||
| Russia | 6577 fdc2 | SS1 on FDC (different) | ||
| Tunisia | 653 (Mi860) | 1975 | Helical APT antenna | |
| United Nations | 188 fdc (Mi204 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1968 | Helical APT antenna |
| United States | None | Cachet on PPO postcard | 1968 | Helical APT antenna |
| Vietnam (South) | 447 (Mi525) | 1973 | Crossed-Yagi APT antenna | |
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc1 | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc2 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc3 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc4 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc5 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc6 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc7 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc8 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 folder1 | FDC folder, also inside | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 folder2 | FDC folder (different color) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 folder3 | FDC folder (different) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 sc | Souvenir card | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 497 (Mi575) | 447 overprinted new currency | 1974 | Crossed-Yagi APT antenna |
| Multiple-helix tracking antennas3 | ||||
| Andorra (French Admin.) | 167 (Mi193) | 1965 | 4-helix | |
| Andorra (French Admin.) | 167 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Andorra (French Admin.) | 167 maxi | Maxicard | ||
| France | 1047 (Mi1413) | 1962 | 4-helix | |
| France | 1047 maxi1 | Maxicard | ||
| France | 1047 maxi2 | Maxicard (different) | ||
| France | 1047 maxi3 | Maxicard (different) | ||
| France | 1047 fdc1 | Stamp and cachet on FDC | ||
| France | 1047 fdc2 | Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| France | 1047 fdc3 | Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| France | 1047 ds | Deluxe sheet (1047) | ||
| France | 1047 proofs | Trial color proofs | ||
| France | 1047 cover1 | Stamp and cancel on cover | 1962-10-19 | 4-helix |
| France | 1047 cover2 | Stamp and cancel (different) and cachet on cover | 1962-11-03 | 4-helix |
| France | 1047 cover3 | Stamp and cancel (same as first) and cachet (different) on cover | 1962-11-19 | 4-helix |
| France | 1047 cover4 | Stamp on cover | 1962-11-20 | 4-helix |
| France | 1048 cover1 (Mi1414 cover1) | Cancel on cover | 1962-10-19 | 4-helix |
| France | 1048 cover2 (Mi1414 cover2) | Cancel (different) on cover | 1962-11-10 | 4-helix |
| France | 1048 cover3 (Mi1414 cover3) | Cancel (same as first) on cover | 1962-11-19 | 4-helix |
| France | 1048 maxi3 | Cancel on maxicard | 1962 | 4-helix |
| France | 1048 maxi4 | Cancel (different) on maxicard | ||
| France | 1100 (Mi1480) i1100 | From MS8 (1100a (8x 1100)) From imperforate MS8 (i1100a (8x i1100)) | 1964 | 4-helix; see also Hungary 2367 |
| France | 1122 (Mi1520) i1122 | Imperforate | 1965 | 4-helix |
| France | 1122 proofs | Trial-color proofs | ||
| France | 1122 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| France | 1122 maxi1 | Maxicard | ||
| France | 1122 maxi2 | Maxicard (different) | ||
| France | 1122 maxi3 | Maxicard (different) | ||
| Hungary | 2367 (Mi3043) | Stamp (stamp-on-stamp: France 1100) and label | 1975 | 4-helix |
| Monaco | 609 (Mi802) | 1965 | 4-helix | |
| Monaco | 609 maxi | Maxicard | ||
| Monaco | 609 fdc2 | Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Monaco | 609 fdc3 | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Monaco | 605-610 fdc | One of six stamps on FDC | ||
| Monaco | 876 (Mi1082) | 1973 | 4-helix | |
| Reunion | 343 (Mi423) | France 1047 overprinted | 1963 | 4-helix |
| Reunion | 343 ds | Deluxe sheet (343) | ||
| Reunion | 343-344 fdc | One of two stamps on FDC | ||
| Reunion | 343 cover | Four stamps (France 1047 overprinted) on cover | 1963-06-12 | 4-helix |
| Russia (USSR) | 5299 (BL176) | In (right) margin of SS1 | 1984 | 3-helix |
| Russia (USSR) | 5299 fdc | SS1 and cachet on FDC | ||
| Multiple-Yagi tracking antennas4 | ||||
| Albania | 1210 (Mi1338) | 1969 | 4 Yagis | |
| Albania | 1208-1210 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Chad | 440B (BL151) i440B | In (left) margin of gold foil SS1 In (left) margin of imperforate gold foil SS1 | 1983 | 4 Yagis |
| Congo (Republic) | C37 (Mi93) iC37 | 1966 | 8 crossed-Yagis | |
| Cuba | 964 (Mi1026) | 1965 | 4 booms5 | |
| Cuba | 964-968 fdc | One of five stamps on FDC | ||
| France | 1835 (Mi2335A) i1835 (Mi2335B) | Imperforate | 1982 | 5 crossed-Yagis |
| France | 1835 fdc1 | Stamp on FDC | ||
| France | 1835 fdc2 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| France | 1835 fdc3 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| France | 1835 fdc4 | Stamp and cachet on FDC | ||
| France | 1835 sc | Stamp on souvenir card | ||
| Hungary | 1659 (Mi2101) i1659 | Imperforate | 1965 | 4 Yagis |
| India | 655 fdc (Mi624 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1975 | 8 crossed-Yagis |
| Romania | None | Cachet on stamped envelope | 1984 | 4 Yagis |
| Russia (USSR) | 2091 (Mi2104) | 1958 | 4 Yagis | |
| Russia (USSR) | 2235 (Mi2261) | 1959 | 4 Yagis | |
| Russia (USSR) | 3110 (Mi3129) | 1965 | 4 Yagis | |
| Russia (USSR) | 3700 (Mi3728) | 1970 | 4 Yagis | |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cachet on stamped envelope | 1979 | 5 crossed-Yagis |
| Russia (USSR) | 4898 (Mi5029) | 1981 | 4 Yagis | |
| Russia (USSR) | 4898 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cachet on cover | 1981 | 4 Yagis |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cachet on stamped envelope | 1985 | 4 Yagis |
| Russia (USSR) | 5462 (Mi5611) | 1986 | 5 Yagis? | |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Postal card | 1987 | 3 Yagis |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Postal card (with different cancel) | 1987 | 3 Yagis |
| Rwanda | 815 (Mi879) i815 | Imperforate | 1977 | 4 crossed-Yagis |
| Syria | C452 (Mi1097) | 1970 | 2 Yagis and dish | |
| Syria | C453 (Mi1098) | |||
| Upper Volta | C29 (Mi187) iC29 | 1966 | 8 crossed-Yagis | |
1The "35-mm filmstrip" satellite images on these items are likely low-resolution APT images.
2A helical or crossed-Yagi antenna is required for (right-hand) circular-polarized APT signals. (A helical antenna consists of a conducting wire wound in the form of a helix, usually mounted over a ground plane; a Yagi is a directional antenna consisting of an array of a dipole and additional closely-coupled parasitic elements, usually a reflector and one or more directors. The Yagi antenna, or more-properly the Yagi-Uda antenna, is named after Hidetsugu Yagi and Shintaro Uda of Japan, who jointly invented it in 1926.)
3APT-like multiple-helix tracking antennas, similar to the single helix on most APT antennas.
4APT-like multiple-Yagi tracking antennas, many of which are associated with weather balloons/radiosondes.
5The image of the antenna on this item is so small, that only the four (4) booms and no helix or Yagi elements can be seen.
Below is a list of APT system on satellite launch covers.
| Country | Cancel Date | Cancel Location | Type of Item | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) | ||||
| United States | 1963-12-21 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Unknown printed) cachet on cover | TIROS-8 launch; APT (in text) |
| United States | 1963-12-21 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Centennial?) cachet on cover | TIROS-8 launch; APT (in text) |
| United States | 1963-12-21 | Patrick AFB, FL | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insert | TIROS-8 launch; APT (in insert text) |
| United States | 1963-12-21 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers) cachet on cover | TIROS-8 launch; APT (in text) |
| United States | 1966-02-28 | Cape Canaveral FL | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insert | ESSA-2 launch; "Instant weather watcher" (in text), referring to APT equipment |
| United States | 1966-02-28 | Patrick AFB, FL (machine cancel) | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover | ESSA-2 launch; "Instant weather watcher" (in text), referring to APT equipment |
| United States | 1966-02-28 | Patrick AFB, FL (hand cancel) | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover | ESSA-2 launch; "Instant weather watcher" (in text), referring to APT equipment |
| United States | 1966-05-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sarzin?) cachet on cover | Nimbus-2 launch; "simple inexpensive ground equipment" (in text), referring to APT receiving equipment |
| United States | 1967-01-26 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | ESSA-4 launch; "Its two cameras will…send pictures immediately to ground stations around the world" (in text), referring to APT receiving equipment |
| United States | 1967-01-26 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Orbit) cachet on cover | ESSA-4 launch; ""Instant Weather" photos" (in text), referring to APT receiving equipment |
| United States | 1967-04-20 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Orbit) cachet on cover | ESSA-5 launch; ""Instant Weather" photos" (in text), referring to APT receiving equipment |
| United States | 1967-11-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insert1, also insert2 and insert2 back | ESSA-6 launch; "Up-to-the moment weather pictures direct from space" (in text), referring to APT receiving equipment |
| United States | 1967-11-10 | Lompoc CA | (Orbit) cachet on cover | ESSA-6 launch; ""Instant Weather" photos" (in text), referring to APT receiving equipment |
| United States | 1968-12-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover | ESSA-8 launch; APT (in text) |
| United States | 1968-12-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Orbit) cachet on cover | ESSA-8 launch; APT acronym |
| United States | 1969-02-26 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Orbit) cachet on cover | ESSA-9 launch; "Instant Weather" photos (in text), referring to APT equipment |
| United States | 1969-02-26 | Vandenberg AFB, CA (machine cancel) | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insert, also insert2 and insert2 back | ESSA-9 launch; "Instant Weather" photos (in text), referring to APT equipment |
| United States | 1971-10-21 | Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA | (Space Voyage) cachet on cover | ITOS-B launch [failed]; "transmit instant pictures of weather to small stations around the world" (in text), referring to APT receiving equipment |
| Russia (USSR) | 1972-03-30 | Moscow | (Swanson) cachet on cover | Meteor-1-11 launch; APT (in text) |
| Russia (USSR) | 1972-10-26 | Moscow | (Swanson) cachet on cover | Meteor-1-13 launch; APT (in text) |
| Russia (USSR) | 1973-05-29 | Moscow | (Anklam) cachet on cover | Meteor-1-15 launch; APT (in text) |
| Weather Facsimile (WEFAX)6 | ||||
| United States | 2009-06-27 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Mission 57) cachet on cover, also front | GOES-14 launch; "digital Weather Facsimile (WEFAX)"6 (in text) |
| United States | 2010-03-04 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Mission 57) cachet on cover, also front | GOES-15 launch; "digital Weather Facsimile (WEFAX)"6 (in text) |
| Multiple-helix tracking antennas3 | ||||
| United States | 1962-08-20 | Andover ME | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | Telstar-1 launch; 4-helix |
| United States | 1962-08-20 | Andover ME | (Sarzin) cachet on cover (different cancel) | Telstar-1 launch; 4-helix |
| Multiple-Yagi tracking antennas4 | ||||
| India | 1976-04-20 | Sri Hari Kota Launch Range | Cancel on cover | 1st anniv. Aryabhata launch; 8 crossed-Yagis |
| Russia (USSR) | 1979-06-07 | Moscow | (Printed) cachet on cover (stamped envelope) | Bhaskara launch; 5 crossed-Yagis |
3APT-like multiple-helix tracking antennas, similar to the single helix on most APT antennas.
4APT-like multiple-Yagi tracking antennas, many of which are associated with weather balloons/radiosondes.
6Digital Weather Facsimile (WEFAX) refers to the digital replacement for analog WEFAX transmissions. That service is called Low Rate Information Transmission (LRIT). At some point it is expected the NOAA's GOES satellites will transmit only digital LRIT. The transmission frequency for LRIT will remain 1691 MHz, but will require changes to present receivers and the decoding and display software to accomodate a digital data stream. The advantage of a digital signal will be improved resolution or visual quality of the images and the additional data in the transmission.
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