OSCAR

OSCAR
series


This page contains philatelic information on the OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) series. 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.

This page includes the amateur-radio OSCAR-series only, not be confused with the US Navy Transit-Oscar navigational satellites.

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)
OSCAR OSCAR OSCAR


Below is a list of OSCAR-series postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio (OSCAR)
ArgentinaB157 (Mi2109)1991LUsat-1 / OSCAR-19
Burkina Faso1027a (Mi1363)In (upper-right) margin of SS11991LUsat-1 / OSCAR-19
ChadUnknown iss (BL?)Imperforate SS12008SunSat / OSCAR-35
ChadUnknown iss fdcImperforate SS1 and cachet on FDC
ChadUnknown ms (BL?)MS4
ChadUnknown ms fdcMS4 and cachet on FDC
Great BritainNoneMeter1981UoSat / OSCAR-9/11/14/15/22
Guyana3502a (Mi6958)From MS6 (3502 (a-f))2000Amsat-P3C / OSCAR-13
Guyana3502f (Mi6963)Arsene / OSCAR-24
HungaryUnknown (Mi?)2012MaSat-1 / OSCAR-72
HungaryUnknown fdcStamp and cancel and cachet on FDC
Korea (South)1976f (Mi2126)One of MS6 (1976 (a-f)) (BL683 (Mi2121-2126))2000Kitsat-1 / Uribyol / OSCAR-23
Oman397 (Mi430)1997Amsat-P3B / OSCAR-10
Oman397 fdcStamp on FDC
Peru860 (Mi1303)1985Amsat-P2D / OSCAR-8
SomaliaUnknownIn (lower) margin of SS12002Uribyol / Kitsat / OSCAR-23/25
South Africa1331i (Mi1540)One of MS10 (1331 (a-j))2003SunSat / OSCAR-35
South AfricaUnknown 1 (Mi2042)2011Sumbandila / OSCAR-67
South AfricaUnknown 2 (Mi2043)
South AfricaUnknown 3 (Mi2045)
South AfricaUnknown 4 (Mi2044)
South AfricaUnknown 5 (Mi2046)
South AfricaUnknown ms (Mi?)MS10 (2x set-of-5)
South AfricaUnknown fdcFive stamps on FDC
South AfricaUnknown posterSet release poster
South Africa1468 (BL129)In (upper) margin of SS12011Sumbandila / OSCAR-67
South Africa1468 fdcSS1 on FDC
South AfricaUnknown e (Mi?)From MS11 (a-k)2012Sunsat / OSCAR-35
South AfricaUnknown g (Mi?)Sumbandila / OSCAR-67
Switzerland679 (Mi1163)1979Amsat-P2B / OSCAR-7
Switzerland679 fdcStamp on FDC
United States1260 fdc (Mi875 fdc)Cachet on FDC1966OSCAR-1
United StatesNoneCachet on cover197?Amsat-P2B / OSCAR-7
United StatesNoneCachet on cover1989Fantasy OSCAR
Yugoslavia809 (Mi1157)
i809

Imperforate
1966Fantasy OSCAR


Below is a list of OSCAR-series launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).

CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio (OSCAR)
1961-12-12: OSCAR-1 (and Discoverer-36)
United States1961-12-12Vandenberg AFB, CA(Holden black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-1 launch
United States1961-12-12Vandenberg AFB, CA(Holden blue-green rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-1 launch
1962-06-02: OSCAR-2 (and KH4-5)
No launch cover images available yet
1965-03-09: OSCAR-3 (and SolRad-7B and SECOR-3 and Dodecapole-1 and Poppy-2 and GGSE-2 and GGSE-3 and Sureal-4)
No launch cover images available yet
1965-12-21: OSCAR-4 (and LES-3+4 and OV2-3)
United States1965-12-21Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverOSCAR-4 launch
United States1965-12-21Cape Canaveral FL(Red printed) cachet on coverOSCAR-4 launch (mis-labeled OSCAR-2)
United States1965-12-21Cape Canaveral FL(Printed) cachet on coverOSCAR-4 launch
1970-01-23: OSCAR-5 (and TIROS-M)
United States1970-01-22 / 1970-01-23Vandenberg AFB, CA / Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA(Printed) cachet on coverOSCAR-5 launch (TIROS-M image)
United States1970-01-22Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA(Sarzin) cachet on coverOSCAR-5 launch (wrong image)1
United States1970-01-23Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverOSCAR-5 launch
United States1970-01-23Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA(Printed) cachet on coverOSCAR-5 launch (TIROS-M image)
United States1970-01-23Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA(Boudwin rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-5 launch (wrong image)1
United States1970-01-23Colorado Springs CO(ATA Space Unit rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-5 launch
1972-10-15: OSCAR-6 (and NOAA-2)
Spain1972-10-15Madrid(NASA rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch
Spain1972-10-15Madrid(Red rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch (NOAA-2 image)
United States1972-10-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Space Voyage) cachet on cover, also insertOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch
United States1972-10-15Lompoc CA(NASA rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch
United States1972-10-15Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA(Solar no.?) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch
United States1972-10-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Sarzin) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch
United States1972-10-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Orbit) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch (NOAA-2 image)
United States1972-10-15Greenbelt MD(GSFC) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch (NOAA-2 image)
United States1972-10-15Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA(NASA rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch (NOAA-2 image)
United States1972-10-15Lompoc CA(RCA) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch (NOAA-2 image)
United States1972-10-15Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA(Polar) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch (NOAA-2 image)
United States1972-10-15Lompoc CA(Polar) cachet on coverOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch (NOAA-2 image)
United States1972-10-15Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA(Cygnus no.38) cachet on cover, also insertOSCAR-6 (Amsat-P2A) launch
1974-11-13: OSCAR-7 (and NOAA-4 and Intasat)
French Guiana1974-11-13Kourou(Lollini) cachet on coverOSCAR-7 (Amsat-P2B) launch (NOAA-4 image)
Germany (West)1974-11-15Bonn(Purple rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-7 (Amsat-P2B) launch (NOAA-4 image)
United States1974-11-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverOSCAR-7 (Amsat-P2B) launch
United States1974-11-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Centennial?) cachet on coverOSCAR-7 (Amsat-P2B) launch
United States1974-11-15Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc CA(Polar) cachet on coverOSCAR-7 (Amsat-P2B) launch
United States1974-11-15Lompoc CA(Amsat) cachet on coverOSCAR-7 (Amsat-P2B) launch
1978-03-05: OSCAR-8 (and Landsat-3 and PIX-1)
United States1978-03-05Vandenberg AFB, CA(NASA rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-8 (Amsat-P2D) launch (Landsat-3 image)
United States1978-03-05Vandenberg AFB, CA(Two-color rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-8 (Amsat-P2D) launch (Landsat-3 image)
United States1978-03-05GSFC, MD(GSFC rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-8 (Amsat-P2D) launch
United States1978-03-06Vandenberg AFB, CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverOSCAR-8 (Amsat-P2D) launch (Landsat-3 image)
1980-05-23: Amsat-P3A [failed OSCAR] (and Firewheel and CAT-2)
Germany (West)1980-05-23Garching(CNES) cachet on coverAmsat-P3A launch [failed OSCAR]
1981-10-06: OSCAR-9 (and Explorer-64)
United States1981-10-06Greenbelt MD(GSFC) cachet on coverOSCAR-9 (UoSat-1) launch (Explorer-64/SME image)
United States1981-10-06Pasadena CA(JPL) cachet on coverOSCAR-9 (UoSat-1) launch (Explorer-64/SME image)
1983-06-16: OSCAR-10 (and Eutelsat-1-F1/ECS-1)
Ascension1983-06-16Ascension(ESA) cachet on coverOSCAR-10 (Amsat-P3B) launch
French Guiana1983-06-16Kourou(Europa FDC Service) cachet on coverOSCAR-10 (Amsat-P3B) launch
1984-03-01: OSCAR-11 (and Landsat-5)
Spain1984-03-01Madrid(Space Voyage) cachet on coverOSCAR-11 (UoSat-2) launch (Landsat-5 image)
United States1984-03-01Greenbelt MD(GSFC) cachet on coverOSCAR-11 (UoSat-2) launch (Landsat-5 image)
United States1984-03-01Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(?) cachet on coverOSCAR-11 (UoSat-2) launch (Landsat-5 image)
United States1984-03-01Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(?) cachet on coverOSCAR-11 (UoSat-2) launch (Landsat-5 image)
United States1984-03-01Vandenberg AFB, CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverOSCAR-11 (UoSat-2) launch (Landsat-5 image)
United States1984-03-01White Sands Missile Range NM(Space Voyage) cachet on coverOSCAR-11 (UoSat-2) launch (Landsat-5 image)
1986-08-13: OSCAR-12 / Fuji-1 (and EGS)
Japan1995-08-13Tanegashima(Space Voyage) cachet on coverOSCAR-12 (Fuji-1) launch
Japan1995-08-13Tsukubagakuen(Space Voyage) cachet on coverOSCAR-12 (Fuji-1) launch
Japan1995-08-13Minamtane(Watanabe) cachet on coverOSCAR-12 (Fuji-1) launch
Japan1995-08-13Tsukubagakuen(Watanabe) cachet on coverOSCAR-12 (Fuji-1) launch (EGS image)
1988-06-15: OSCAR-13 (and Meteosat-3 and Panamsat-1)
French Guiana1988-06-15Kourou(Lollini) cachet on coverOSCAR-13 (Amsat-P3C) launch
French Guiana1988-06-15Kourou(Aerospatiale Philatélie) cachet on coverOSCAR-13 (Amsat-P3C) launch (Meteosat-3 image)
French Guiana1988-06-15Kourou(C.P.K. red rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-13 (Amsat-P3C) launch
French Guiana1988-06-15Kourou(C.P.K. printed and red rubber-stamp) cachets on launch cardOSCAR-13 (Amsat-P3C) launch (Meteosat-3 image in printed cachet; OSCAR-13 and Meteosat-3 images in rubber-stamp cachet)
1990-01-21: OSCAR-14 — OSCAR-19 (and SPOT-2)
French Guiana1990-01-21Kourou(Lollini) cachet on coverOSCAR-14/19 (UoSat-3/4, Microsat-1/4) launch (SPOT-2 image)
French Guiana1990-01-21Kourou(Lollini) cachet (different) on coverOSCAR-14/19 (UoSat-3/4, Microsat-1/4) launch
French Guiana1990-01-21Kourou(Lollini) cachet (different) on coverOSCAR-14/19 (UoSat-3/4, Microsat-1/4) launch
French Guiana1990-01-21KourouCancel only on coverOSCAR-14/19 (UoSat-3/4, Microsat-1/4) launch
1990-02-07: OSCAR-20 / Fuji-1b (and MOS-1b and DEBUT)
Japan1990-02-07Minamitane(Watanabe) cachet on coverOSCAR-20 (Fuji-1b) launch
Japan1990-02-07Tanegashima(Watanabe) cachet on coverOSCAR-20 (Fuji-1b) launch (MOS-1b image)
Japan1990-02-07Tanegashima(Space Voyage) cachet on coverOSCAR-20 (Fuji-1b) launch
Japan1990-02-07Katsuura(Space Voyage) cachet on coverOSCAR-20 (Fuji-1b) launch
Japan1990-02-07Minamitane(Watanabe) cachet on coverOSCAR-20 (Fuji-1b) launch (DEBUT image)
1991-01-29: OSCAR-21 (RS-14)
No launch cover images available yet
1991-07-16: OSCAR-22 (and ERS-1 and Tubsat-A and SARA and Orbcomm-X)
French Guiana1991-07-15Kourou(Printed) cachet on coverOSCAR-22 (UoSat-5) launch
French Guiana1991-07-15Kourou(Printed) cachet (different) on coverOSCAR-22 (UoSat-5) launch
French Guiana1991-07-16Kourou(Philatélie Spatiale) cachet on coverOSCAR-22 (UoSat-5) launch
French Guiana1991-07-16Kourou(Lollini) cachet on coverOSCAR-22 (UoSat-5) launch
French Guiana1991-07-16Kourou(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverOSCAR-22 (UoSat-5) launch
French Guiana1991-07-16Kourou(Printed) cachet on coverOSCAR-22 (UoSat-5) launch
French Guiana1991-07-16Kourou(Association philatélique du CNES) cachet on coverOSCAR-22 (UoSat-5) launch
1992-08-10: OSCAR-23 (and TOPEX-Poseidon)
France1992-08-10Toulouse(JPL) cachet on coverOSCAR-23 (KitSat-1) launch (TOPEX-Poseidon image)
French Guiana1992-08-10Kourou(JPL) cachet on coverOSCAR-23 (KitSat-1) launch (TOPEX-Poseidon image)
French Guiana1992-08-10Kourou(Fairchild Space) cachet on coverOSCAR-23 (KitSat-1) launch (TOPEX-Poseidon image)
French Guiana1992-08-10Kourou(Lollini) cachet on coverOSCAR-23 (KitSat-1) launch
French Guiana1992-08-10Kourou(C.E. SEP Section Philatélie) cachet on coverOSCAR-23 (KitSat-1) launch
United States1992-08-10Pasadena CA(JPL) cachet on coverOSCAR-23 (KitSat-1) launch (TOPEX-Poseidon image)
1993-05-12: OSCAR-24 (and Astra-1C)
No launch cover images available yet
1993-09-25: OSCAR-25 — OSCAR-28 (and SPOT-3)
French Guiana1993-09-25Kourou(Lollini) cachet on coverOSCAR-25/28 launch (SPOT-3 image)
French Guiana1993-09-25Kourou(Lollini) cachet (different) on coverOSCAR-25/28 launch
French Guiana1993-09-25Kourou(Lollini) cachet (different) on coverOSCAR-25/28 launch (wrong image)
1995-03-28: TechSat-1a [failed OSCAR] and Unamsat-A [failed OSCAR] (and EKA-2)
Israel1995-03-28HaifaCancel and (printed) cachet on coverTechSat-1a and Unamsat-A [failed OSCARs] launch
Israel1995-03-28HaifaCancel and (Israel Postal Authority) cachet on coverTechSat-1a and Unamsat-A [failed OSCARs] launch
1996-08-16: OSCAR-29 / Fuji-2 (and ADEOS-1)
United States1996-08-16Pasadena CA(JPL) cachet on coverOSCAR-29 (Fuji-2) launch (ADEOS-1 image)
Japan1996-08-17Tanegashima(JPL) cachet on coverOSCAR-29 (Fuji-2) launch (ADEOS-1 image)
Japan1996-08-17Minamitane(Watanabe) cachet on coverOSCAR-29 (Fuji-2) launch
Japan1996-08-17Tsukubagakuen(Watanabe) cachet on coverOSCAR-29 (Fuji-2) launch (ADEOS-1 image)
1996-09-05: OSCAR-30 (and Kosmos-2334)
No launch cover images available yet
1998-07-10: OSCAR-31 / TMSat-1 and OSCAR-32 / TechSat-1b (and Resurs-O1-4)
No launch cover images available yet
1998-10-24: OSCAR-33 (and Deep Space-1)
No launch cover images available yet
1998-10-29: OSCAR-34 (and SPARTAN-201-F5 from STS-95)
United States1998-10-29 / 1998-10-03Kennedy Space Center FL / Kennedy Space Center FL(Printed) cachet on coverOSCAR-34 (Pansat) launch / Calcopex station
United States1998-10-29 / 1998-10-29Kennedy Space Center FL / Kennedy Space Center FL(NASA) cachet on coverOSCAR-34 (Pansat) launch / STS-95 launch
1998-02-23: OSCAR-35 (and ARGOS and Oersted)
No launch cover images available yet
1999-04-21: OSCAR-36
No launch cover images available yet
2000-01-27: OSCAR-37+38+39 (and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2000-11-16: OSCAR-40 (and Panamsat-1R)
No launch cover images available yet
2000-09-26: OSCAR-41+42 (and OSCAR-46 and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2001-09-29: OSCAR-43+44+45 (and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2000-09-26: OSCAR-46 (and OSCAR-41+42 and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2002-05-04: OSCAR-47+48 (and SPOT-5)
No launch cover images available yet
2002-12-20: OSCAR-49+50 (and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2004-06-29: OSCAR-51 (and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2005-05-05: OSCAR-52 (and IRS-P5)
No launch cover images available yet
2005-10-27: OSCAR-53 (and OSCAR-58 and RS-25 and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2005-09-08 (launched to ISS) (with Progress-M54)
2006-02-03 (deployed from ISS): OSCAR-54
No launch cover images available yet
2003-06-30: OSCAR-55 (and OSCAR-57 and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2006-02-21: OSCAR-56 (and Astro-F)
No launch cover images available yet
2003-06-30: OSCAR-57 (and OSCAR-55 and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2005-10-27: OSCAR-58 (and OSCAR-53 and RS-25 and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2006-09-22: OSCAR-59 (and Solar-B and SSSat-2)
United States2006-09-22GSFC(Printed) cachet on coverOSCAR-59 (HITSat) launch
2006-12-09: OSCAR-60+61+62 (from STS-116)
United States2006-12-09Kennedy Space Center FL(Printed) cachet on coverOSCAR-60+61+62 (RAFT-1, ANDE, FCal) launch
United States2006-12-09Kennedy Space Center FL(Printed) cachet (different) on coverOSCAR-60+61+62 (RAFT-1, ANDE, FCal) launch
2007-10-01: OSCAR-63 (and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2008-04-28: OSCAR-64+65+66 (and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2009-09-17: OSCAR-67 (and Meteor-M1 and Sterkh-2 and IRIS and RS-28 and RS-38 and BLITS)
Russia2009-09-17Baikonur(Printed) cachet on coverOSCAR-67 (Sumbandila) launch
2009-12-15: OSCAR-68 (and Yaogan-8)
No launch cover images available yet
2011-08-03 (launched to ISS) (with Progress-M-09M)
2011-08-03 (deployed from ISS): ARISSat-1 (Kedr)
Russia2011-08-03Korolev 141079 Moscow Oblast(Printed) cachet on coverARISSat-1 (Kedr) deployed (from ISS)
2010-11-20: OSCAR-69+70 (and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2011-10-28: OSCAR-71 (and others)
No launch cover images available yet
2012-02-13: OSCAR-72 (and others)
No launch cover images available yet

1The satellite depicted on this item is no known spacecraft design.


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