Helios

(West German)
Helios-series
satellites

Helios (patch)
HeliosHelios (patch)

This page contains philatelic information on the (West German) Helios-series 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.

The West German Helios-series from the 1970s should not be confused with the French Helios-series, the first of which was launched in 1995.

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)
Helios
(West Germany)
Helios
(West Germany)
Helios
(West Germany)
Helios (on other than Helios launch covers)


Below is a list of (West German) Helios-series satellite postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
Helios (West Germany)
BeninUnknown a (Mi none)One of MS4 (a-d) [known illegal issue]2017"Helios-1" (also launch date)
BeninUnknown ms fdc
Unknown ims fdc
MS4 on FDC
Imperforate MS4 on FDC
BeninUnknown fdcOne of four stamps on FDC
Equatorial GuineaMi588
MiA588

Imperforate on lavender paper
1975"Helios-1"
French GuianaNone(At upper-right of) (Verein für Weltraum-Philatelie e.V. München) cachet on cover1979"Helios"
GabonUnknown b (Mi none)
Unknown ib
One of MS4 (a-d) [known illegal issue]
One of imperforate MS4 (a-d)
2016"Helios" (launch date in text)
GabonUnknown ms fdc
Unknown ims fdc
MS4 on FDC
Imperforate MS4 and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
Germany (West)None(Pictorial) cancel on cover1974"Helios"
Germany (West)None(Pictorial) cancel on cover (blank/no cachet)1974"Helios"
Germany (West)None(Pictorial) cancel (different time) and (pink and black printed) cachet on cover1974"Helios" (in cancel); "Helios-A" (in cachet)
Germany (West)None(Pictorial) cancel (different date/time) and (pink and black printed) cachet on cover1974"Helios" (in cancel); also "Helios-A" (in cachet)
Germany (West)None(Pictorial) cancel on cover (different cachet)1974"Helios"
Germany (West)None(DFVLR mission patch) cachet on (un-stamped and un-canceled) cover~1975"Helios"
Germany (West)None(Pictorial) cancel and (black printed) cachet on cover1979"Helios"
Grenada756 (Mi790)From MS50 (756a (50x 756))1976"Helios"
Grenada757 (Mi791)From MS50 (757a (50x 757))
Grenada758 (Mi792)
Grenada759 (Mi793)
Grenada763 (BL59)SS1
ParaguayC414 (BL251)SS11975Spelled "Helius" (in cancel)
ParaguayC414 fdcSS1 and (pictorial) cancel and (black printed) cachet on FDC
RomaniaNone(Pictorial) cancel2005"Helios-1", "Helios-2"
SpainNone(Orange and blue and black printed) cachet on cover1984"Helios" (in text only)
United StatesNone(Black rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on (un-canceled) cover1975?"Helios-B" (but Skylab depicted)
United StatesNone(Ken Bishop) cachet on cover, also back1985Helios-A depicted (on cover front); "Helios-A" (on cover back)


Below is a list of (West German) Helios-series satellite launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).

CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
Helios (West Germany)
1974-12-10: Helios-1
United States1974-12-09Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-09Pasadena CA(JPL Stamp Club) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Australia1974-12-10Canberra ACT(NASA Communications Network) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Germany (West)1974-12-10Wessling Oberbay(DFVLR/GSOC) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Germany (West)1974-12-10Bad Münstereifel(Mission patch) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Germany (West)1974-12-10Ottobrunn(MBB) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Germany (West)1974-12-10Stuttgart(SEL red) meter and (SEL blue rubber-stamp)3 cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Germany (West)1974-12-10Stuttgart (black cancel)(SEL blue rubber-stamp)3 cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Germany (West)1974-12-10Stuttgart (black cancel)(SEL blue rubber-stamp)3 cachet on (airmail) coverHelios-1 launch
Germany (West)1974-12-10Bad Münstereifel(DFVLR/GSOC blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Germany (West)1974-12-10Weilheim Oberbay(DFVLR/GSOC blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Germany (West)1974-12-10Stuttgart(SEL red) meter on coverHelios-1 launch
Spain1974-12-10Madrid(Green printed) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Spain1974-12-10Madrid(Green rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Spain1974-12-10Madrid(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Spain1974-12-10Madrid(Blue printed) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Spain1974-12-10Madrid(NASA Communications Network) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Orlando FL, Kennedy Space Center Branch(SEL blue rubber-stamp)3 cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Orlando FL, Kennedy Space Center Branch(SEL blue rubber-stamp)3 cachet on (airmail) coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Kennedy Space Center FL(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Cape Canaveral FL(InterSpace Cover) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Kennedy Space Center FL(SCPS ser.74/19) cachet on cover, also backHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Kennedy Space Center FL(SCPS with logo) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Kennedy Space Center FL(NASA/KSC black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Kennedy Space Center FL(NASA/KSC black rubber-stamp) cachet (and signatures) on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Orlando FL, Kennedy Space Center Branch(NASA/KSC black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Cape Canaveral FL(Whitney magenta and black) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Cape Canaveral FL(Whitney magenta and black) cachet on (airmail) coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Satellite Beach FL(Whitney magenta and black) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Satellite Beach FL(Whitney magenta and black) cachet on (airmail) coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Greenbelt MD(GSFC STDN blue rubber-stamp / GSFC Stamp Club) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Greenbelt MD(GSFC STDN purple rubber-stamp / GSFC Stamp Club) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Greenbelt MD(GSFC Stamp Club) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Cape Canaveral FL(Roma) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Cape Canaveral FL(Orbit Covers) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Patrick AFB, FL(blank/no) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
United States1974-12-10Agana, Guam(Boudwin blue and black rubber-stamp and red typed) cachet on (airmail) cover, also backHelios-1 launch
Germany (West)1974-12-10
1974-12-10
Stuttgart (red meter)
Stuttgart (black cancel)
(SEL red) meter and (SEL sticker) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Australia1974-12-11Moree NSW(Parade Covers cyan and brown, and purple and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch (TIROS depicted)
Australia1974-12-11Paddington NSW(Parade Covers cyan and red, and purple and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch (TIROS depicted)
Australia1974-12-11Carnarvon WA(Parade Covers grey and green, and purple and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch (TIROS depicted)
Australia1974-12-11Carnarvon WA(Carnavon Tracking Station black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 launch
Helios-1 (events)
Germany (West)1975-01-03Wessling Oberbay(Black rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on cover(possible) Helios-1 tracking (by the GSOC)
Australia1975-03-15Adelaide SA(Purple and red and green rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
Germany (West)1975-03-15Stuttgart(SEL red) meter and (SEL red and black rubber-stamp)3 cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
Spain1975-03-15Madrid(Green printed) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
Spain1975-03-15Madrid(Blue printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1975-03-15Cape Canaveral FL(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1975-03-15Cape Canaveral FL(Space Voyage) cachet (and signature) on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1975-03-15Cape Canaveral FL(NASA/KSC black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1975-03-15
1975-03-19
Barstow CA (red meter)
Barstow CA (black cancel)
(Goldstone black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1975-03-16
1975-03-17
Barstow CA (red meter)
Barstow CA (black cancel)
(Goldstone black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1975-03-17Orlando FL, Kennedy Space Center Branch(Mission patch) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
Australia1975-04-22Canberra City ACT(Honeysuckle Creek purple and red rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 tracking
Germany (West)1975-04-25Bad Münstereifel(DFVLR/GSOC blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 tracking
Germany (West)1975-05-16Weilheim Oberbay(DFVLR/GSOC purple rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 tracking by Zentrale-Deutsche Bodenstation (ZDBS)
United States1975-09-21Cape Canaveral FL(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1976-03-29Cape Canaveral FL(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
Germany (West)1976-04-01Bad Münstereifel(DFVLR/GSOC blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1976-10-05Cape Canaveral FL(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1977-04-13Pasadena CA(Space Voyage, no logo) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1977-10-21Pasadena CA(Space Voyage, no logo) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1978-04-29Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1978-11-05Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1980-12-05Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1981-06-13Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1981-12-20Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1982-06-28Kennedy Space Center FL(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1983-07-13Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1984-07-27Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1985-02-02Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1
United States1986-03-14Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-1 perihelion1: "Helios program ends"
Helios-1 (anniversaries)
United States2019-12-10Monument Beach MA(Coverscape) cachet on cover45th anniv. Helios-1 launch
Helios-2 (pre-launch events)
United States1975-10-07
1991-10-01
Cape Canaveral FL
Pasadena CA
(SEL) cachet on cover"Helios-B ... arrival" (at Cape Canaveral)
2570 fdc
1976-01-15: Helios-2
United States1976-01-14Pasadena CA(JPL Stamp Club) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-14Pasadena CA(Mission patch) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
Germany (West)1976-01-15Weilheim(DFVLR/GSOC blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
Germany (West)1976-01-15Wessling-Oberbay(DFVLR blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
Germany (West)1976-01-15Bad Münstereifel(DFVLR/GSOC blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
Germany (West)1976-01-15Stuttgart (red meter)(SEL blue rubber-stamp)3 cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Kennedy Space Center FL(Space Voyage blue and red) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Cape Canaveral FL(Space Voyage blue and orange) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Cape Canaveral FL(Space Voyage blue and orange) cachet (slightly different) on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15 (year inverted)Greenbelt MD(GSFC Stamp Club) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15 (year inverted)Greenbelt MD(GSFC Stamp Club) cachet (and signatures) on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15 (year inverted)Greenbelt MD(GSFC STDN blue rubber-stamp / GSFC Stamp Club) cachet on cover, also backHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15 (year inverted)Greenbelt MD(GSFC STDN blue rubber-stamp / GSFC Stamp Club) cachet (slightly different) on cover, also backHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Kennedy Space Center FL(SCPS) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Kennedy Space Center FL(BMFT/DFVLR/NASA) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Kennedy Space Center FL(Mission patch) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Cape Canaveral FL(Orbit Covers) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Kennedy Space Center FL(Black typed and black and green rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Kennedy Space Center FL(Blue and red rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Cape Canaveral FL(Whitney blue and black) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Patrick AFB, FL (hand cancel)(Whitney blue and black) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Patrick AFB, FL (machine cancel)(Whitney blue and black) cachet (and signatures) on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Kennedy Space Center FL(Centennial) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Kennedy Space Center FL(Havekotte blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Orlando FL, Kennedy Space Center Branch(Havekotte blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Kennedy Space Center FL(Hand-printed) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Barstow CA(Goldstone red) meter and (Goldstone black rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Barstow CA(Goldstone red) meter and (Goldstone black rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature, different) on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15USPS(Jolly Green Giant Launch Support and Surveillance) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15USPS(Jolly Green Giant Launch Support and Surveillance) cachet on (airmail) coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15?no cancel(Jolly Green Giant Launch Support and Surveillance) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15USPS(Jolly Green Giant Launch Support and Surveillance) cachet (different) on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15USPS(Jolly Green Giant Launch Support and Surveillance) cachet (different) on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15Patrick AFB, FL(Jolly Green Giant Launch Support and Surveillance) cachet (different) on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15?no cancel(USNS Vanguard black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
United States1976-01-15?no cancel(USNS Vanguard black rubber-stamp) cachet (different, and signature) on coverHelios-2 launch
Germany (West)1976-01-15
1976-01-15
Stuttgart (red meter)
Stuttgart (black cancel)
(SEL red) meter and (SEL blue rubber-stamp)3 cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
Germany (West)1976-01-15
1976-01-15
Ottobrun (red meter)
Ottobrun (black cancel)
(MBB/mission patch, red and yellow and blue) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
Germany (West)1976-01-15
1976-01-15
Ottobrun (red meter)
Ottobrun (black cancel)
(blank/no) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
Germany (West)1976-01-15
1976-01-15
Stuttgart (red meter)
Stuttgart (black cancel)
(SEL red) meter and (SEL sticker) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
Germany (West)1976-01-15
1976-01-15
Stuttgart (red meter)
Stuttgart (black cancel)
(SEL red) meter and (SEL sticker) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
Germany (West)1976-01-15
1976-01-15
Ottobrun (red meter)
Ottobrun (black cancel)
(MBB/mission patch, pink and yellow and blue) cachet on coverHelios-2 launch
Helios-2 (events)
United States1976-01-17Agana, Guam(NASA Communications Network) cachet on coverHelios-2 tracking
Germany (West)1976-03-15Bad Münstereifel(DFVLR/GSOC blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 tracking
Germany (West)1976-03-29
1976-03-29
Köln (red meter)
Köln (black cancel)
(DFVLR purple rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 tracking
Germany (West)1976-03-30Weilheim-Oberbay(DFVLR/GSOC black and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 tracking, as it approaches its first perihelion1,2
Germany (West)1976-04-01Bad Münstereifel(DFVLR/GSOC blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 tracking
United States1976-04-16Cape Canaveral FL(Space Voyage) cachet on coverFirst Helios-2 perihelion1,2
Germany (West)1976-04-17Weilheim Oberbay(DFVLR/GSOC blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverFirst Helios-2 perihelion1,2
Germany (West)1976-04-17Wessling Oberbay(DFVLR blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverFirst Helios-2 perihelion1,2
United States1976-04-17Greenbelt MD(GSFC STDN blue rubber-stamp / GSFC Stamp Club) cachet on coverFirst Helios-2 perihelion1,2
Germany (West)1976-04-17
1976-04-17
Köln (red meter)
Bonn - Bad Godesberg (black cancel)
(DFVLR purple rubber-stamp) cachet on coverFirst Helios-2 perihelion1,2
Germany (West)1976-04-21Bad Münstereifel(DFVLR/GSOC blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverHelios-2 tracking, four days after its first perihelion
Germany (West)1976-10-19Stuttgart(SEL red) meter and (SEL blue rubber-stamp and black typed)3 cachet on coverHelios-2 perihelion1
United States1977-04-23Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-2 perihelion1
United States1978-04-29Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-2 perihelion1
United States1978-11-01Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-2 perihelion1
United States1979-05-08Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-2 perihelion1
United States1979-11-07Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-2 perihelion1
United States1980-05-12Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-2 perihelion1
United States1980-11-14Pasadena CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverHelios-2 perihelion1, and "final Helios-2 information due to shutdown"
Helios (on other than Helios launch covers)
Australia1975-03-18Woomera SA(Blue and brown printed) cachet on (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover"Helios-A" (in text only)
United States1978-08-08Cape Canaveral FL(Purple and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on Pioneer-13 launch coverHelios
United States2020-01-29GSFC, Greenbelt MD(Red Eagle) cachet on PSP event coverHelios-2"
United States2020-01-29Pasadena CA(Red Eagle) cachet on PSP event cover

1Perihelion: The point in the satellite's orbit when it is nearest to the Sun, which in the case of Helios satellites occurs semi-annually.
2The first Helios-2 perihelion on 17 April 1976, at a distance of 0.29 AU (43.432 million km) from the Sun, was the closest flyby of the Sun of any spacecraft until the Parker Solar Probe flew closer in October 2018. See https://earthsky.org/space/parker-solar-probe-1st-image-from-inside-suns-atmosphere.
3The rubber-stamp device that was used to create this cachet is shown here and here.


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