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Weather Balloons and Radiosondes
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Weather Balloons and Radiosondes
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Below are checklists of weather balloons and balloon-related devices on postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.). Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the items 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.
Equipment carried aloft with weather balloons: Weather balloons always carry with them an instrument package known as a radiosonde. Some balloons also have a parachute that allows the package to drift gently back to the surface after the balloon bursts. Some older systems also carried a boxy radar reflector that would efficiently reflect the energy from a tracking radar. As will be seen in the table of weather balloon stamps, different systems can have different combinations of these three attachments.
| 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) |
|---|---|
| Weather balloons and radiosondes | |
| Pilot balloons (pibals) and tracking theodolites | |
| Weather balloon tracking antennas and tracking equipment | |
| Eole-program isentropic balloons1 | Eole-program isentropic balloons1 |
| Un-manned stratospheric balloons2 | Un-manned stratospheric balloons2 |
Below is a list of Weather balloon postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).
| Country | Catalog Number | Type of Item | Year of Issue | Type of Weather Balloon or Radiosonde |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather balloons and radiosondes | ||||
| Afghanistan | 1360 (Mi1644) | 1989 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Albania | 1210 (Mi1338) | 1969 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Albania | 1208-1210 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Algeria | 351 (Mi451) i351 | Imperforate | 1966 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with vertical sequencer3 |
| Algeria | 351 fdc1 | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Algeria | 351 fdc2 | Stamp on FDC (different cancel) | ||
| Algeria | 351 fdc3 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Algeria | None | Cancel | 1969 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Angola | 860 (Mi915) | 1993 | Weather balloon | |
| Argentina | 769 (Mi856) | 1965 | (probable) weather balloon in launch shelter | |
| Argentina | 769 fdc1 | Stamp and cachet on FDC | ||
| Argentina | 769 fdc2 | Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Argentina | 770 cover (Mi857 cover) | Cachet on cover | 1965 | (probable) weather balloon in launch shelter |
| Argentina | C105 (Mi898) | 1966 | Project Matienzo: Track of rising instrumented balloons (dashed line in stamp); Gamma Centaur research rocket | |
| Argentina | C105 fdc1 | Stamp and cachet on FDC | ||
| Argentina | C105 fdc2 | Stamp and cachet (same) on FDC (different) | ||
| Argentina | C105 fdc3 | Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Argentina | C105 fdc4 | Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Argentina | C105 folder | FDC folder | ||
| Argentina | None | Cachet on cover | 1969 | Two weather balloons / radiosondes, one with horizontal sequencer3 |
| Argentina | 977 fdc1 (Mi1127 fdc1) | Cachet on FDC | 1972 | Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer3 |
| Argentina | 977 fdc2 (Mi1127 fdc2) | Cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Argentina | 977 cover1 (Mi1127 cover1) | Cancel and cachet on cover | 1972 | Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer3 |
| Argentina | 977 cover2 (Mi1127 cover2) | Cachet on cover, abbreviated balloon (different color) | 1972 | Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer3 |
| Argentina | None | Cachet on cover | 1988 | Two weather balloons: one with ozonesonde (left), and with radiosonde (right) |
| Argentina | None | Cachet on cover | 1990 | Weather balloon / ozonesonde |
| Argentina | None | Cachet on cover | 1993 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Australia | None | Cachet on A3-H (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover | 1971 | "Met[eo] balloon ceiling" (i.e. highest level typically reached by radiosonde balloons) (in text) |
| Australia | 431 fdc (Mi395 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1968 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with vertical sequencer3 |
| Australia | 431-432 fdc1 | Cachet (different color) on FDC | ||
| Australia | 431-432 fdc2 | Cachet (different color) on FDC | ||
| Australia | 431-432 fdc3 | Cachet (same) on FDC | ||
| Australia | 431-432 fdc4 | Cachet (different color) on FDC | ||
| Australia | 432 fdc (Mi396 fdc) | Cachet (same color as second) on FDC | ||
| Australia | None | Cachet on cover | 2007 | Weather balloon |
| Australian Antarctic Territory | L117n (Mi138) | One of MS20 (L117 (a-t)) | 2001 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Belgium | C16 (Mi1111) | 1958 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Belgium | None | Cachet on cover | 2010 | (probable) weather balloon launch shelter, modern version of Argentina 769 |
| Brazil | 2127 (Mi2244) | In (upper-right) margin of SS1 | 1988 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| British Antarctic Territory | 21 (Mi21) | 1969 | Two weather balloons / radar reflectors | |
| British Antarctic Territory | 144 (Mi147) | 1987 | Weather balloon / radar reflector | |
| British Antarctic Territory | 176 (Mi177) | 1991 | Weather balloon / ozonesonde | |
| British Antarctic Territory | 237 (Mi247) | 1996 | Weather balloon | |
| British Antarctic Territory | 239 (BL3) | In (right) margin of SS1 | ||
| British Antarctic Territory | Unknown c+d (Mi563-564) | From MS8 (a-h) | 2011 | Weather balloons |
| Burma | 275 (Mi276) | 1980 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Canada | 479 (Mi420) | 1968 | Weather balloon | |
| Canada | 479 fdc1 | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Canada | 479 fdc2 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Canada | 479 fdc3 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Canada | 479 fdc4 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Canada | 479 fdc5 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Canada | 479 fdc6 | Stamp and cachet on FDC | ||
| Canada | 479 sc | Souvenir card | ||
| Central African Republic | C18 fdc | Cachet on FDC | 1964 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Central African Republic | C115 (Mi326) iC115 | Imperforate | 1973 | Weather balloon / radar reflector |
| Central African Republic | C115 proof1 | Die proof (blue) | ||
| Central African Republic | C115 proof2 | Die proof (black) | ||
| Central African Republic | C115 proofs | Color proof strip | ||
| Central African Republic | C115 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Chad | 227 (Mi305) | 1970 | Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde | |
| Chad | 227 ds | Deluxe sheet (227) | ||
| Chad | 227 proof1 | Die proof (orange) | ||
| Chad | 227 proof2 | Die proof (green) | ||
| Chad | 227 proofs | Color proof strip | ||
| China (People's Republic) | 368 (Mi396) | 1958 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with 4-cup horizontal sequencer3 | |
| China (People's Republic) | 367-369 fdc | One of three stamps and cachet on FDC | ||
| China (People's Republic) | 484 (Mi512) | 1960 | Weather balloon / radar reflector / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer3 | |
| China (People's Republic) | 1384 (Mi1394) | 1978 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| China (People's Republic) | 1384-1388 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| China (People's Republic) | 3067 (Mi3195) | 2000 | Balloon tethersonde | |
| China (People's Republic) | 3066-3069 fdc1 | One of four stamps on FDC | ||
| China (People's Republic) | 3066-3069 fdc2 | One of four stamps and cachet on FDC | Balloon tethersonde, weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| China (Taiwan) | 1337 (Mi452) | 1962 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| China (Taiwan) | 1337 specimen | Overprinted "specimen" | ||
| China (Taiwan) | 1338 fdc | Cachet on FDC | Weather balloon | |
| China (Taiwan) | 1339 (Mi454) | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | ||
| China (Taiwan) | 1339 specimen | Overprinted "specimen" | ||
| China (Taiwan) | 1337+1339 fdc | Cancel on FDC | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| China (Taiwan) | 1337-1339 folder | FDC folder | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| China (Taiwan) | 1651-1652 fdc (Mi766-767 fdc) | Cancel and cachet on FDC | 1970 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Congo (Republic) | 111 fdc (Mi42 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1964 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Croatia | None | Cachet on postal card | 2013 | Weather balloon |
| Cuba | 962 (Mi1024) | 1965 | Weather balloon | |
| Cuba | 1221 (Mi1291) | 1967 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Cuba | 1592 (Mi1666) | 1971 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Cuba | 1589-1592 fdc | One of four stamps and cancel on FDC | ||
| Cyprus | 960 (Mi959) | On stamp and on (left) selvedge of block of 4 (4x 960) | 2000 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Cyprus | 960 specimen | Overprinted "specimen" | ||
| Cyprus | 960 fdc1 | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Cyprus | 960 fdc2 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Cyprus | 960 sc | Souvenir card, also back | ||
| Cyprus | 957-960 card | Advertising postcard (957-960) | ||
| Denmark | 489 fdc (Mi521 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1972 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Denmark | 1004 (Mi1077) | 1994 | Wegener's weather balloon, 1906-1908 Danish Greenland expedition | |
| Dominica | 356 (Mi356) | 1973 | Weather balloon / radar reflector / radiosonde with vertical sequencer3 | |
| Dominica | 354-360 fdc | One of seven stamps on FDC | ||
| Dominica | 354-360 proofs1 | Proof sheet | ||
| Dominica | 354-360 proofs2 | Proof sheet (different) | ||
| Dubai | 121 (Mi365) | 1970 | Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector | |
| Dubai | 122 (Mi366) | Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde with 6-cup vertical sequencer3 | ||
| Finland | 531 (Mi728) | 1973 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Finland | 938 (Mi1249) | 1994 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| France | 1903 fdc (Mi2416 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1983 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| France | None | Cancel on aerogramme | 1996 | Weather balloon |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | Cachet on cover | 1984 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C92 (Mi218) | 1986 | Weather balloon | |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C92 cover | Stamp and cachet on cover | 1986 | Weather balloon |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | Cachet on cover | 1988 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | (Dark blue) cachet on cover | 1991 | Weather balloon |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C116a cover (Mi277-278 cover) | (Blue) cachet on cover | 1991 | Weather balloon |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | Cachet on cover | 1992 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | Cachet on cover (blue) | 1993 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 189a cover (Mi311-312 cover) | Two cachets on cover (both black) | 1993 | Two weather balloons / radiosondes |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | Cachet on cover | 1994 | 11,000th weather balloon / radiosonde |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 294f stamp (Mi464) | On stamp in booklet pane of 7 (294a-g) and on stamp and in (center) margin of one SS1 (294f); booklet contains 28 stamps (14 in two different booklet panes of 7 and in 14 SS1 with margin design the same as each stamp); also booklet cover and back) | 2001 | Weather balloon / radiosonde; "release of the weather balloon" (in text) |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | Cachet on cover | 2003 | Weather balloon / ozonesonde |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 331 cover (Mi? cover) | Cachet on cover | 2004 | Weather balloon / ozonesonde |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | Cachet on cover | 2007 | Weather balloon |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | Cachet on cover | 2007 | "Ballon sonde météorologique" |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | (Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 2009 | Small radiosonde balloon |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | (Blue rubber-stamp) cachet (different) on cover | 2009 | Radiosonde balloon |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | None | (Black rubber-stamp) cachet (different) on cover | 2009 | Weather balloon |
| Gabon | 170 fdc (Mi196 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1964 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Germany | None | Postcard back, also front | 1918 | Early instrumented balloon (possibly carrying a meteorograph) |
| Germany (East) | None | Cancel and cachet on cover | 1986 | Sounding balloon, 1911-1912 German Antarctic expedition |
| Germany (East) | None | Cachet on cover | 1989 | Weather balloon / ozonesonde |
| Germany (West) | None | (Blue) cachet on cover | 1981 | Weather balloon / radiosonde (above the ship's stern) |
| Ghana | 503 (Mi520) | 1973 | Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde with vertical sequencer3 | |
| Gilbert and Ellice Islands | 220 (Mi215) | 1973 | Weather balloon / radiosonde / radar reflector | |
| Gilbert and Ellice Islands | 218-221 fdc | One of four stamps on FDC | ||
| Greece | None | Cachet (design based on United Nations 49 and 50) on WMD cover | 1970 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Grenada | 493 (Mi519) | 1973 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with vertical sequencer3 | |
| Hungary | 1664 (Mi2106A) i1664 (Mi2106B) | Imperforate | 1965 | Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde |
| Indonesia | 840 fdc (Mi728 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1973 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer3 |
| Iraq | 644 (Mi716) | 1972 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer3 | |
| Iraq | 645 (Mi717) | |||
| Ivory Coast | 213 (Mi266) | 1964 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Ivory Coast | 213 fdc | Stamp and cachet on FDC | ||
| Jamaica | 746 (Mi760) | 1991 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Jamaica | 747 (Mi761) | |||
| Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania | 260 (Mi248) | 1973 | Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde with (possible) horizontal sequencer3 | |
| Korea (South) | 2142 (Mi2398) | One of MS4 (2142a (4x 2142)), or one of MS20 (2142b (20x 2142)) | 2004 | Symbolic weather balloon (light-blue shape) |
| Kuwait | 272 (Mi269) | 1965 | Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde | |
| Kuwait | 273 (Mi270) | |||
| Kuwait | 274 (Mi271) | |||
| Kuwait | 272-274 fdc | Three stamps on FDC | ||
| Kuwait | 1132 (Mi1224) | 1990 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Kuwait | 1133 (Mi1225) | |||
| Kuwait | 1134 (Mi1226) | |||
| Libya | 276 (Mi185) | 1965 | Four weather balloons | |
| Libya | 277 (Mi186) | |||
| Libya | 278 (Mi187) | |||
| Libya | 276-278 fdc1 | Three stamps and cachet on FDC | ||
| Libya | 276-278 fdc2 | Three stamps and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Libya | 276-278 fdc3 | Three stamps on FDC, also insert | ||
| Libya | 359 (Mi274) | 1969 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Libya | 359 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Libya | 507-508 fdc (Mi423-424 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1973 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Macedonia | 185 fdc (Mi194 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 2000 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Mali | 45 (Mi62) i45 | Imperforate | 1963 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Mali | 46 (Mi63) | |||
| Mali | 47 (Mi64) | |||
| Mali | 45-47 fdc | Three stamps on FDC | ||
| Mexico | C323 fdc (Mi1227 fdc) | Cachet on FDC, also detail | 1967 | Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer3 |
| Namibia | 690 (Mi698) | 1991 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Namibia | 690-693 fdc1 | One of four stamps on FDC, also insert | ||
| Namibia | 690-693 fdc2 | One of four stamps on FDC (different) | ||
| New Zealand | None | Cachet on cover | 1961 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| New Zealand | 794 (Mi892) | 1984 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| New Zealand | 794 fdc | Stamp and cachet on FDC | ||
| New Zealand | 794a (Mi889-892) | MS4 (791-794) | ||
| New Zealand | 794a cover1 | MS4 on cover | 1985 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| New Zealand | 794a cover2 | MS4 on cover (different) | ||
| Niger | C41 fdc | Cachet on FDC | 1964 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Norway | 1500 (BL34) | In (lower-left) margin of MS2 (1500 (a-b)) (BL34) | 2007 | Weather balloon |
| Poland | 2976 (Mi3275) | 1990 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Poland | 2976-2977 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Portugal | 1114 (Mi1147) | 1971 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Portugal | 1113-1115 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Qatar | 348 (Mi562) | 1973 | Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde with vertical sequencer3 | |
| Romania | None | Cachet on stamped envelope | 1984 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Russia (USSR) | 1765 (Mi1791) | 1955 | Weather balloon | |
| Russia (USSR) | 1766 (Mi1792) | |||
| Russia (USSR) | 2091 (Mi2104) | 1958 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Russia (USSR) | 2234 (Mi2260) | 1959 | Weather balloon | |
| Russia (USSR) | 2235 (Mi2261) | Weather balloon / radiosonde | ||
| Russia (USSR) | 2495 (Mi2500) | 1961 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Lower-right purple rubber-stamp) cachet on stamped envelope | ~1961 | Weather balloon |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cachet on cover | 1961 | Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer3; "10,000 Arctic radiosonde launches" (in text) |
| Russia (USSR) | 3251 fdc (Mi3275 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1966 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Russia (USSR) | 3700 (Mi3728) | 1970 | Weather balloon | |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cachet on stamped envelope | 1979 | Weather balloon / radiosonde, 50 years of Soviet radiosondes |
| Russia (USSR) | 4898 (Mi5029) | 1981 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Russia (USSR) | 4898 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cachet on stamped envelope | 1981 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cachet on stamped envelope | 1982 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cancel and cachet on postal card | 1984 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cancel (different) and cachet on postal card | 1984 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Russia (USSR) | None | (Red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 1987 | |
| Russia | None | (Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover; also same violet cachet | 1991 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Russia | None | (Purple rubber-stamp) cachet on stamped envelope | 1991 | Weather balloon |
| Russia | None | (Square rubber-stamp) cachet on stamped envelope | 1992 | Weather balloon |
| Russia | None | Cachet on cover | 1993 | Balloon launch from Molodezhnaya Antarctic base |
| Russia | None | Cachet on cover | 1994 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Russia | None | Cachet | 1994 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Russia | 6575a (BL30) | In margin of MS5 (6571-6575 + label) | 2000 | Weather balloon |
| Russia | Y1081 | 100 roubles (silver coin) | 2007 | Weather balloon |
| Russia | 7206 cover (Mi? cover) | Cachet on cover | 2011 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| St. Pierre and Miquelon | 431 (Mi495A) i431 (Mi495B) | Imperforate | 1974 | Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector |
| Salvador, El | 1195-1196 fdc (Mi1738-1739 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1989 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Saudi Arabia | 456 (Mi389) | 1967 | Weather balloon / radiosonde with horizontal sequencer3 emphasized | |
| Saudi Arabia | 457 (Mi390) | |||
| Saudi Arabia | 458 (Mi391) | |||
| Saudi Arabia | 459 (Mi392) | |||
| Saudi Arabia | 460 (Mi393) | |||
| Saudi Arabia | 670 (Mi577) | 1975 | Weather balloon / radar reflector | |
| Senegal | C62 (Mi372) iC62 | Imperforate | 1968 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde with vertical sequencer3 |
| Senegal | C62 proof1 | Die proof (green) | ||
| Senegal | C62 proof2 | Die proof (blue) | ||
| Senegal | C62 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Senegal | 1442 (Mi1953) i1442 | Imperforate | 2000 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Senegal | 1442 ds | Deluxe sheet (1442) | ||
| South Africa | None | Cachet on cover | 1979 | Balloon tethersonde |
| South Africa | 613 (Mi629) | 1983 | Weather balloon | |
| South Africa | 613 maxi | |||
| South Africa | 610-613 fdc1 | One of four stamps on FDC | ||
| South Africa | 610-613 fdc2 | One of four stamps on FDC (different) | ||
| South Africa | None | Cachet on cover | 1995 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Spain | None | Aerogramme | 1999 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Staffa (Scotland) | Local | 1978 | Weather balloon | |
| Staffa (Scotland) | Local fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Staffa (Scotland) | Local sheet | FDC on information sheet | ||
| Syria | C452 (Mi1097) | 1970 | Weather balloon / radiosonde with (possible) horizontal sequencer3 | |
| Syria | C453 (Mi1098) | |||
| Thailand | 1173 (Mi1196) | One of booklet pane of 5 (1173a (5x 1173)) | 1987 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Thailand | 1461 (Mi1479) | 1992 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Thailand | 1472 (Mi1498) | 1992 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Thailand | 1472 fdc | Stamp on FDC, also insert | ||
| Tunisia | 441 fdc (Mi633 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1964 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| United Nations | 49 (Mi55) | 1957 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| United Nations | 49 fdc1 | Stamp and cachet on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 49 fdc2 | Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 49 fdc3 | Stamp and (Fleetwood) cachet on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 49 bl4 fdc | Block of 4 stamps and (Fleetwood) cachet on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 50 (Mi56) | |||
| United Nations | 50 fdc1 | Stamp and (ArtCraft) cachet on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 50 fdc2 | Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 50 fdc3 | Stamp and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 50 fdc4 | Stamp and (Fleetwood) cachet on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 50 fdc5 | Stamp on FDC (Ken Boll Cachet Craft cachet) | ||
| United Nations | 50 bl4 fdc | Block of 4 stamps and (Fleetwood) cachet on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 49-50 fdc1 | Two stamps on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 49-50 fdc2 | Two stamps and cachet on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 188 fdc (Mi204 fdc) | (ArtCraft) cachet on FDC, also detail | 1968 | Weather balloon |
| United Nations | 188-189 fdc (Mi204-205 fdc) | Cachet on FDC, also detail | 1968 | Weather balloon |
| United States | None | (Lollini silk) cachet on GOES-1 launch cover | 1975 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| United States | None | (Lollini silk) cachet on GOES-1 launch cover (different) | 1975 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde |
| Upper Volta | C63 (Mi258) iC63 | Imperforate | 1969 | Weather balloon / radiosonde |
| Upper Volta | C63 ds | Deluxe sheet (C63) | ||
| Upper Volta | C63 proof | Die proof | ||
| Upper Volta | C63 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Vanuatu | 565 (Mi889) | 1992 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Vanuatu | 565-568 fdc | One of four stamps on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 235 (Mi312) | 1964 | Weather balloon / parachute / radiosonde | |
| Vietnam (South) | 236 (Mi313) | |||
| Vietnam (South) | 237 (Mi314) | |||
| Vietnam (South) | 238 (Mi315) | |||
| Vietnam (South) | 238 ds | Deluxe sheet (238) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 235-238 fdc1 | Four stamps and cachet on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 235-238 fdc2 | Four stamps and cachet (different color) on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 235-238 fdc3 | Four stamps and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 235-238 fdc4 | Four stamps and cachet (different color) on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 235-238 fdc5 | Four stamps and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 235-238 fdc6 | Four stamps and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc1 (Mi525 fdc1) | Cachet (black and white) on FDC | 1973 | Weather balloon / parachute / radar reflector / radiosonde |
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc2 (Mi525 fdc2) | Cachet (green) on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc3 (Mi525 fdc3) | Cachet (orange) on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc4 (Mi525 fdc4) | Cachet (yellow) on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc5 (Mi525 fdc5) | Cachet (red) on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 fdc6 (Mi525 fdc6) | Cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 folder1 | Cachet on FDC folder, also inside | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 folder2 | Cachet on FDC folder (different color) | ||
| Vietnam (South) | 447 sc | Souvenir card | ||
| Vietnam | 2338 (Mi2413) | 1992 | Weather balloon / radiosonde | |
| Vietnam | 2338-2339 fdc | One of two stamps on FDC | ||
| Pilot balloons (pibals) and tracking theodolites | ||||
| Australian Antarctic Territory | L14 (Mi16) | 1966 | Pilot balloon and tracking theodolite | |
| Belgium | B799 (Mi1450) | 1966 | (possible) pilot balloon and tracking theodolite, 1963-1965 Belgian Antarctic expedition | |
| Belgium | B797+B799 fdc | One of two stamps on FDC | ||
| Belgium | B797-B800+B800 stamp folder | FDC folder | ||
| British Antarctic Territory | 82-85 fdc (Mi84-87 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1981 | Pilot balloon tracking theodolite (no balloon shown) |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 8 (Mi10) | 1957 | Pilot balloon tracking theodolite (no balloon shown) | |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 9 (Mi11) | |||
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 10 (Mi12) | |||
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 189 (Mi312) | One of pair (189a (188-189 + label)) (Mi311-312) | 1993 | Pilot balloon tracking theodolite (no balloon shown) |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 189 maxi | Maxicard | ||
| Romania | B415 (Mi1167) | See balloon detail | 1948 | Pilot balloon and tracking theodolite |
| Romania | B416a (BL38) | Imperforate MS4 (B413-B416), colors (slightly) changed | ||
| Romania | None | Postal card | 1998 | Pilot balloon tracking theodolite (no balloon shown), 1898-1899 Belgica Antarctic expedition |
| Ross Dependency (New Zealand) | L97 (Mi?) | 2006 | Triangular pilot balloon and tracking theodolite | |
| Russia | 7189 (Mi?) | 2009 | Pilot balloon | |
| Russia | 7189 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| United Nations | 188 fdc (Mi204 fdc) | Cachet on FDC, also theodolite detail | 1968 | Pilot balloon with (possible) light for night launch, and tracking theodolite |
| United States | UX57 fdc1 | Cachet on FDC | 1970 | Pilot balloon with (possible) light for night launch |
| United States | UX57 fdc2 | Cachet (different) on FDC | Pilot balloon and tracking theodolite | |
| Weather balloon tracking antennas and tracking equipment (See also APT-like (multiple-helix and multiple-Yagi) tracking antennas on the APT page.) |
||||
| Belize | 972 (Mi1071) | 1991 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome | |
| China (Taiwan) | 2222 (Mi1374) | 1981 | (possible) weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome on building | |
| China (Taiwan) | 3574k_1 (BL?) | In (lower) margin of MS10 (3574k (a-j + 10 labels)) | 2004 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome on roof of Central Weather Bureau (CWB) HQ in Taipei |
| China (Taiwan) | 3574k_2 (BL?) | In (lower) margin of MS10 (3574k (a-j + 10 labels)), (different) | ||
| China (Taiwan) | 3574k_3 (BL?) | In (lower) margin of MS10 (3574k (a-j + 10 labels)), (different) | ||
| Czechoslovakia | 837 maxi (Mi1056 maxi) | On maxicard background only | 1957 | (possible) weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 437 (Mi?) | 2011 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome | |
| Gilbert and Ellice Islands | 220 (Mi215) | 1973 | Wind-finding (weather balloon tracking) radar | |
| Gilbert and Ellice Islands | 218-221 fdc | One of four stamps on FDC | ||
| Korea (North) | 2998 (Mi3201) | 1991 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome | |
| Korea (North) | 3545 (Mi?) | In (right) margin of MS2 | 1996 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| Korea (North) | 3545 fdc (Mi?) | MS2 on FDC | ||
| Malagasy Republic | C78 (Mi519) iC78 | Imperforate | 1964 | (probable) weather balloon tracking antenna (feedhorn missing, or not visible) |
| Malagasy Republic | C78 ds | Deluxe sheet (C78) | ||
| Malagasy Republic | C78 proof | Die proof | ||
| Malagasy Republic | C78 fdc1 | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Malagasy Republic | C78 fdc2 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Niger | C55 (Mi117) iC55 | Imperforate | 1966 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome on stern of ship |
| Niger | C55 ds | Deluxe sheet (C55) | ||
| Niger | C55 proof | Die proof | ||
| Niger | C55 proof-pair | Color proof pair | ||
| Niger | C55 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Niger | C55 maxi | Maxicard | ||
| Panama | 457D (Mi782) | 1964 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome | |
| Panama | 457D specimen | Overprinted "specimen" | ||
| Romania | None | Postal card | 2007 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Postal card | 1981 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Postal card | 1984 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Postal card (different cancel) | 1984 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| Russia (USSR) | None | Cachet on cover | 1994 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| Russia | 6575a (BL30) | In (lower-left) margin of MS5 (6571-6575 + label) | 2000 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| Russia | 6939 (Mi1304) | 2005 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome | |
| Russia | 6941a (BL?) | On selvedge of MS6 (6936-6941) | ||
| Russia | None | Cancel | 2006 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| Russia | 7140 cachet (Mi1549 cachet) | (Green rubber-stamp) cachet on 7140 fdc, or on 7140a fdc | 2009 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| Russia | None | Cachet on cover | 2010 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| Ukraine | None | (Color) cachet on cover | 1999 | Weather balloon tracking antenna shelter dome |
| United Nations | 49 fdc (Mi55 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | 1957 | Weather balloon tracking antenna and tracking equipment |
| United Nations | 50 fdc (Mi56 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | ||
| Eole-program isentropic balloons1 (See also the Eole-series satellites page.) |
||||
| Argentina | 977 (Mi1127) | 1972 | Eole-program balloon | |
| Argentina | 977 fdc1 | Stamp on FDC | ||
| Argentina | 977 fdc2 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Argentina | 977 fdc3 | Stamp on FDC (different) | ||
| Central African Republic | C115 (Mi326) iC115 | Imperforate | 1973 | Eole-program balloon |
| Central African Republic | C115 proof1 | Die proof (blue) | ||
| Central African Republic | C115 proof2 | Die proof (black) | ||
| Central African Republic | C115 proofs | Color proof strip | ||
| Central African Republic | C115 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| French Guiana | None | (Lollini) cachet on Super ARCAS 35-43B (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover | 1974 | Eole-program balloons (no.2) |
| French Guiana | None | (Lollini) cachet on Super ARCAS 35-48 (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover | 1974 | Eole-program balloons (no.3) |
| Mali | 174 (Mi331) i174 | Imperforate | 1972 | Eole-program balloon |
| Mali | 174 ds | Deluxe sheet (174) | ||
| United States | None | (Space Voyage) cachet on Eole launch cover | 1971 | Earth as symbolic Eole-program balloon |
| United States | None | (Orbit) cachet on Eole launch cover | 1971 | Thirteen (13) Eole-program balloons |
| United States | None | (Sarzin) cachet on Eole launch cover | 1971 | Thirteen (13) Eole-program balloons |
| Un-manned stratospheric balloons2 | ||||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (Serb Admin.) | 126g (Mi191) | One of booklet pane of 7 (126 (a-g + 2 labels)), also selvedge detail | 2000 | (possible) stratospheric balloon and payload |
| Burundi | Unknown b (Mi?) | One of MS4 (a-d), also detail | 2012 | Preparing stratospheric ozone sounding balloon for launch at South Pole |
| Canada | 376 fdc1 (Mi323 fdc1) | Cachet on FDC | 1958 | Stratospheric balloon |
| Canada | 376 fdc2 (Mi323 fdc2) | Cachet (same) on FDC (different cancel) | ||
| Comoro Islands | 789 (BL365) | In (right) margin of SS1 | 1992 | Stratospheric balloon |
| French Guiana | None | (Lollini) cachet on Super ARCAS 35-58 (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover | 1974 | "Campagne international ballons" (in text) |
| French Guiana | None | (Lollini) cachet on Super ARCAS 35-59 (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover | 1974 | "Campagne international ballons" (in text) |
| French Guiana | None | (Lollini) cachet on Super ARCAS 35-60 (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover | 1974 | "Campagne international ballons" (in text) |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 24 (Mi29) | 1963 | Stratospheric balloon | |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 24 proofs | Color proof strip | ||
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 24+C6 fdc | Stamp and cachet on FDC | ||
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C81 (Mi192) | One of strip of 2 (C82a (C81-C82 + label)) | 1983 | Stratospheric balloon |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C115 (Mi277A) iC115 (Mi277B) | One of strip of 2 (C116a (C115-C116 + label)) One of imperforate strip of 2 (iC116a (iC115-iC116 + label)) | 1991 | Stratospheric balloon for ozone study |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C115 fdc | Stamp on FDC | ||
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C116a fdc1 | One of strip of 2 on FDC | ||
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C116a fdc2 | One of strip of 2 and cachet on FDC | ||
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C116a fdc3 | One of strip of 2 and cachet (different) on FDC | ||
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C116a sc | Souvenir card | ||
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | C116a cover | One of strip of 2 on cover | 1991 | Stratospheric balloon for ozone study |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 189 maxi (Mi312 maxi) | Cachet on maxicard | 1993 | Stratospheric balloon |
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | 189a fdc (Mi311-312 fdc) | Cachet on FDC | ||
| French Southern and Antarctic Territories | Unknown (Mi?) | One of strip of 5 (1-5) | 2012 | Antarctic stratospheric balloon (Concordias mission, McMurdo) |
| Germany (East) | 371 (Mi616) | 1958 | Stratospheric balloon | |
| Germany | None | Cancel | 2000 | Stratospheric balloon |
| ISO (Sweden) | Local ss | In (lower-right) margin of imperforate silver SS1 | 1978 | Stratospheric balloon |
| ISO (Sweden) | Local ss | In (lower-right) margin of imperforate gold SS1 | ||
| Mongolia | 372 (Mi378) | 1965 | Stratospheric balloon | |
| Mozambique | 946 (Mi1015) | 1985 | Stratospheric balloon | |
| Sweden | 1892 (Mi1664) | One of booklet pane of 3 (1893a (1891-1893)) | 1991 | Stratospheric balloon |
| Sweden | 1893a folder | Inside of folder: includes 1893a (1891-1893) | ||
| Sweden | 1893a black | Blackprint | ||
| Sweden | 2605b (Mi?) | On one of pair (2605 (a-b)) (Mi2687-2688), or two of booklet pane of 4 (2605c (2x 2605)), also booklet cover and booklet interior | 2009 | Stratospheric balloon |
| Sweden | 2605c fdc | On two of four stamps on FDC | ||
| United States | None | (Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | 1983 | Stratospheric balloon |
1Instrumented earth-circling constant-density (isentropic) meteorological balloons tracked by French Eole-series satellites.
2Only un-manned stratospheric balloons are included in this checklist.
3Sequencers are wind-driven anemometer-like devices used, in lieu of other means, for mechanical switching among the various measurements (pressure, temperature, and humidity) recorded by radiosonde packages. Vertically-mounted sequencers are thought to be the corrrect orientation, whereas it is improbable that horizontally-mounted sequencers with cups would work, since a weather balloon floats with the horizontal wind, so no relative wind would be present to turn the cups.
Below is a list of Stratospheric balloon launch covers. (No attempt is made to be complete.)
| Country | Cancel Date | Cancel Location | Type of Item | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eole-program isentropic balloons1 (See also the Eole-series satellites page.) |
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| French Guiana | 1974-02-13 | Kourou | (Lollini) cachet on cover | Eole-program isentropic balloons (no.1) launch |
| French Guiana | 1974-09-25 | Kourou | (Lollini) cachet on cover | Eole-program isentropic balloons (no.5) launch |
| Un-manned stratospheric balloons2 | ||||
| United States | 1962-12-13 | Holloman AFB, NM | (SpaceCraft) cachet on cover | "Stargazer" stratospheric balloon launch |
| United States | 1963-03-01 / 1964-11-05 | Palestine TX / Satellite Beach FL | (Rank velvet) cachet on dual-event cover | Stratoscope Balloon II launch (1963 was the first year of use of this balloon) / Mariner-3 launch |
| United States | 1967-07-15 | Palestine TX | (Red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover, common design3 no.1 | stratospheric balloon launch |
| Australia | 1969-04-24 | Mildura VIC | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon launches, 17-24 April 1969 |
| Australia | 1969-10-23 | Mildura VIC | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon launch |
| United States | 1971-09-10 | Huntsville AL | (Space Voyage) cachet on cover | Stratoscope Balloon II launch (1971 was the last year of use of this balloon) |
| United States | 1971-09-10 | Huntsville AL | (Printed) cachet on cover | Stratoscope Balloon II launch (1971 was the last year of use of this balloon) |
| Australia | 1971-09-25 | Mildura VIC | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon launch |
| Australia | 1971-10-13 | Mildura VIC | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon launch for air and dust sampling |
| Australia | 1972-09-28 | Mildura VIC | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon launch for astronomical study |
| Australia | 1972-10-19 | Mildura VIC | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon launch for air and dust sampling |
| Australia | 1972-12-04 | Longreach QLD | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon launch |
| Australia | 1973-03-02 | Mildura VIC | (Printed) cachet on cover | recovery of Boomerang-1 stratospheric balloon launched 24 January 1973 |
| Australia | 1973-08-10 | Mildura VIC | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon with acoustic sounder for temperature inversion observations |
| Australia | 1973-11-06 | Longreach QLD | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon launch for stratospheric CO2 and dust sampling |
| Australia | 1973-11-06 | Longreach QLD | (Printed) cachet (different) on cover | stratospheric balloon launch for stratospheric CO2 and dust sampling |
| French Guiana | 1973-11-28 | Kourou | (Lollini) cachet on cover | Program Essor stratospheric balloon launch |
| Australia | 1974-02-05 | Mildura VIC | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon launch for stratospheric CO2, water vapour and dust sampling |
| United States | 1974-02-25 | Palestine TX | (Two-color rubber-stamp) cachet on cover, common design3 no.2 | stratospheric balloon launch |
| United States | 1975-06-13 | Palestine TX | (Two-color rubber-stamp) cachet on cover, common design3 no.3 | stratospheric balloon launch |
| United States | 1975-07-18 | Palestine TX | (Two-color rubber-stamp) cachet on cover, common design3 no.3 | stratospheric balloon launch; "measurement of ozone concentration" (in text) |
| French Guiana | 1973-10-03 | Kourou | (Lollini) cachet on cover | Program of 13 CBS (Carrier Balloon System)4 missions, from 7 July 1974 to 6 November 1975 (including one launch on 3 October 1975, the date of this cover) |
| Australia | 1975-11-24 | Alice Springs NT | (Printed) cachet on cover | stratospheric balloon with gamma ray spectrometer |
| South Africa | 1981-09-15 | Pretoria | (Lollini) cachet on cover | stratospheric ballon launch; also Argos |
1Instrumented earth-circling constant-density (isentropic) meteorological balloons tracked by French Eole-series satellites.
2Only un-manned stratospheric balloons are included in this checklist.
3Palestine TX stratospheric balloon launch covers are of three common designs that represent most, if not all, covers produced.
4The Carrier Balloon System was a particular type of stratospheric balloon with instruments that provided vertical profiles of wind, temperature and humidity in the tropical upper atmosphere. In addition, some missions observed solar radiation and the radiation budget. Each balloon carried 64 Omega dropsondes, which were released from approximately 24 km and made measurements as they fell. Thirteen such balloons were launched from Kourou, French Guiana in 1974 and 1975. They floated in the tropical stratosphere for relatively long periods of time (from 18 to 84 days, with a mean time of 37 days). The dropsondes were released upon command from the control centre.
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