Azur-1

Azur, Aeros, and
Dial-Wika/Mika satellites


This page contains philatelic information on the Azur, Aeros, and Dial-Wika/Mika satellites. 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.

Azur is also known as GRS (German Research Satellite).

Launch information
(found elsewhere)
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)
Azur / GRS (Germany) Azur / GRS (Germany) Azur / GRS (Germany)
Aeros (Germany) Aeros (Germany) Aeros (Germany)
Dial-Wika/Mika (France-Germany) Dial-Wika/Mika (France-Germany) Dial-Wika/Mika (France-Germany)


Below is a list of Azur / GRS, Aeros, and Dial-Wika/Mika postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
Azur / GRS (Germany)
French GuianaNone(At upper-left of) cachet on cover1979Azur
Germany (West)None(At upper-left of) cachet on cover1966early-design Azur, project name 625-A1
Germany (West)None(At upper-right of blue) cachet on stamped envelope1968Azur
Germany (West)None(At upper-right of orange) cachet on cover1968Azur
Aeros (Germany)
Czechoslovakia2026 (Mi2280)1975Aeros
French GuianaNone(At middle-right of) cachet on cover1979Aeros
Dial-Wika and Dial-Mika (France-Germany)
France1270 (Mi1705)1970Dial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch (based on cachet in FDC1 and year of issue of stamp), but small satellite in stamp resembles Vanguard-21 (not Dial-Wika/Mika)2; (Launch rocket only shown in cachets on FDCs 2, 3, and 4)
France1270 fdc1Stamp and cachet on FDC
France1270 fdc2Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC
France1270 fdc3Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC
France1270 fdc4Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC
Ras Al KhaimaMi438From strip of 3 (Mi438+444+450)1970Dial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch
Ras Al KhaimaMi444Dial-Wika
Ras Al KhaimaMi450Dial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch
Ras Al KhaimaMi438 ds1 (PA84 ds1)Deluxe sheet (Mi438) (gray/green)Dial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch
Ras Al KhaimaMi438 ds2 (PA84 ds2)Deluxe sheet (Mi438) (white)Dial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch
Ras Al KhaimaMi444 ds1 (PA84 ds3)Deluxe sheet (Mi444) (gray/green)Dial-Wika
Ras Al KhaimaMi444 ds2 (PA84 ds4)Deluxe sheet (Mi444) (white)Dial-Wika
Ras Al KhaimaMi450 ds1 (PA84 ds5)Deluxe sheet (Mi450) (gray/green)Dial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch
Ras Al KhaimaMi450 ds2 (PA84 ds6)Deluxe sheet (Mi450) (white)Dial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch
Ras Al KhaimaMi444 gold (PA81)Gold foilDial-Wika
Ras Al KhaimaMi444 ds gold (PA81 ds)Deluxe sheet, gold foilDial-Wika
Ras Al KhaimaMi444 silver (PA83)Silver foilDial-Wika
Ras Al KhaimaMi444 ds silver (PA83 ds)Deluxe sheet, silver foilDial-Wika

1"like-Vanguard-2" items have the appearance of Vanguard-2, but the images of the satellite are quite small.
2Not Dial-Wika as intended, based on FDC.


Below is a list of Azur / GRS, Aeros, and Dial-Wika/Mika launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).

CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
1969-11-07: Azur / GRS (Germany)
United States1969-11-07Vandenberg AFB, CA(Orbit) cachet on coverAzur launch
United States1969-11-07Vandenberg AFB, CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverAzur launch
United States1969-11-07Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverAzur launch
United States1969-11-07Vandenberg AFB, CA(Two-color rubber-stamp) cachet on coverAzur launch
United States1969-11-07Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(Printed) cachet on coverAzur launch
Aeros (Germany)
1972-12-16: Aeros-1
Germany (West)1972-12-16Wessling OberbayCancel and (purple rubber-stamp) cachet on coverAeros-1 launch
Germany (West)1972-12-16Wessling OberbayCancel and (black rubber-stamp) cachet on postal cardAeros-1 launch
United States1972-12-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverAeros-1 launch
United States1972-12-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverAeros-1 launch
United States1972-12-16Greenbelt MD(GSFC) cachet on coverAeros-1 launch
United States1972-12-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(Centennial?) cachet on coverAeros-1 launch
United States1972-12-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(Cygnus no.42) cachet on coverAeros-1 launch
1974-07-16: Aeros-2
United States1974-07-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverAeros-2 launch
United States1974-07-16Greenbelt MD(GSFC) cachet on coverAeros-2 launch
United States1974-07-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(Centennial?) cachet on coverAeros-2 launch
United States1974-07-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(Black and red rubber-stamp) cachet on coverAeros-2 launch
United States1974-07-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverAeros-2 launch
United States1974-07-16Greenbelt MD; USPS, MD(GSFC rubber-stamp) cachet on coverAeros-2 launch
United States1974-07-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(Orbit) cachet on coverAeros-2 launch (Explorer-51/54/55 image)
United States1974-07-16Vandenberg AFB, CA(?) cachet on coverAeros-2 launch (futuristic image)
1970-03-10: Dial-Wika and Dial-Mika (France-Germany)
French Guiana1970-03-10Kourou(Le Burin d'Or) cachet on coverDial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch
French Guiana1970-03-10Kourou(Lollini) cachet on coverDial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch
French Guiana1970-03-10Kourou(Lollini) cachet on cover (different cancel)Dial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch
French Guiana1970-03-10Kourou(Printed) cachet on coverDial-Wika and Dial-Mika launch


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Updated: 2013-03-14