Nimbus-1/2 type Nimbus-B/3 type

Nimbus
series
satellites

Nimbus-5 Nimbus-7
Nimbus-1/2 typeNimbus-B/3 typeNimbus-5Nimbus-7

This page contains philatelic information on the Nimbus-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.

Nimbus spacecraft are similar in design to early Landsat-1/2/3 type spacecraft, but are distinguished by different instrumentation on the spacecraft body and context of use.

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)
Nimbus Nimbus Nimbus
Nimbus (on other than Nimbus launch covers)


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

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
Nimbus
Algeria351 fdc (Mi451 fdc)(Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC1966Nimbus-1/2 type
Amsterdam City PostNone(Amsterdam CityPost) local post1971
AntarcticaP6$100. (banknote) back, also front1996Nimbus-7, and ozone measurements
AntarcticaP13$100. (banknote) back, also front2001Nimbus-7, and ozone measurements
AntarcticaP13s$100. (banknote) back, overprinted "specimen", also front2009
Argentina1017 cover (Mi1170 cover)(Blue printed) cachet on cover1977Nimbus-1/2 type
AustriaNoneCard, also detail1969"Nimbus-2" and photo of Europe taken by Nimbus-2
British Antarctic Territory487 (Mi688)2015Nimbus-7
Central African RepublicC27 (Mi72)
iC27

Imperforate
1965Nimbus-1/2 type
Central African RepublicC27 proof1Signed proof (green)
Central African RepublicC27 proof2Signed proof (blue)
Central African RepublicC27 proof3Signed proof (black)
Central African RepublicC27 fdc1Stamp on FDC (Éditions So.Ge.Im. cachet)
Central African RepublicC27 fdc2Stamp and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
Central African RepublicC208 (BL49)
iC208
In (lower-left) margin of SS1
In (lower-left) margin of imperforate SS1
1979Nimbus-1/2 type
Central African RepublicC208 fdcSS1 on FDC
China (Taiwan)1652 (Mi767)1970Nimbus-1/2 type
China (Taiwan)1652 specimenOverprinted with bars through face value
China (Taiwan)1651-1652 fdc1One of two stamps on FDC (Taipei cancel)
China (Taiwan)1651-1652 fdc2One of two stamps on FDC (Taipei, Taiwan cancel)
Comoro IslandsMi425A
Mi425B

Imperforate
1978Nimbus-1/2 type
Comoro Islands474 (Mi573)Mi425A overprinted1979Nimbus-1/2 type
Dahomey197 (Mi245)
i197

Imperforate
1964Nimbus-1/2 type
Dahomey197 fdcStamp and (Éditions P.J.) cachet on FDC
Dahomey196-197 fdc1One of two stamps on FDC
Dahomey196-197 fdc2One of two stamps on FDC (different)
DahomeyC25 fdc (Mi246 fdc)(Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC1965Nimbus-1/2 type
Dominica355 (Mi355)1973Nimbus-1/2 type
Dominica354-360 fdcOne of seven stamps on FDC
Dominica354-360 proofs1Proof sheet
Dominica354-360 proofs2Proof sheet (different)
Dominican Republic711 (Mi1040)1973Nimbus-B/3 type1
Dominican RepublicC208 (Mi1041)
Dominican Republic711+C208 fdcTwo stamps and (black printed) cachet on FDC
Ecuador1040 fdc (Mi1947 fdc)(Multi-color printed) cachet on FDC1983
Faroe Islands220 (Mi215)1991
Faroe Islands220-221 fdcOne of two stamps on FDC
FranceNone(Pictorial) cancel1970Nimbus-4 (based on year)
France1903 fdc (Mi2416 fdc)(Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC1983Nimbus-1/2 type
Franklin Mint (USA)None(Bronze) medallion, also reverse1970s"Nimbus-5"
Franklin Mint (USA)None(Bronze) medallion, also reverse"Nimbus-6"
Franklin Mint (USA)None(Silver) medallion"Nimbus-5"
Germany (West)None(Magenta pictorial) meter1969Nimbus-B/3 type1
Germany (West)NoneImperforate cinderella1977
Greenland526a (Mi516)One of MS3 (526 (a-c)) (BL42)2008(poorly-depicted) Nimbus
Greenland526 fdc1MS3 on FDC (? cachet)
Greenland526 fdc2MS3 on FDC (Greenland Post cachet)
Greenland526a-c fdcOne of three stamps and (Greenland Post) cachet on FDC
Guinea-Bissau412D (BL147A)
i412D (BL147B)
In (upper-right) margin of SS1
In (upper-right) margin of imperforate SS1
1979Nimbus-1/2 type
Macau471 (Mi499)Also annotated1983Nimbus (or Landsat-1/2/3 type) (but incorrect body shape)
Maldive Islands147a (Mi147)In (lower-left) margin of MS9 (9x 147)1965Nimbus-1/2 type
Maldive Islands148a (Mi148)In (lower-left) margin of MS9 (9x 148)
Maldive Islands149a (Mi149)In (lower-left) margin of MS9 (9x 149)
Maldive Islands150a (Mi150)In (lower-left) margin of MS9 (9x 150)
Maldive Islands465 (Mi480)
i465

Imperforate
1974"Nimbus" (note: mis-spelling of "metereological" instead of "meteorological")
Maldive Islands471 (BL21)
i471
SS1
Imperforate SS1
MexicoC323 fdc (Mi1227 fdc)(Cyan and black printed) cachet on FDC, also detail1967"Nimbus"-1/2 type
MordoviaLocal_cOne of local post MS6 (a-f)1998Nimbus-B/3 type1
MordoviaLocal_ms6 fdcMS6 on FDC
New CaledoniaC39 (Mi411)
iC39

Imperforate
1965Nimbus-1/2 type
New CaledoniaC39 fdcStamp and (Éditions J.F.) cachet on FDC
Nigeria173a (Mi164)In (upper-left) margin of MS12 (12x 173)1965Nimbus-1/2 type (solar panels are seen on edge, so they are barely visible)
Nigeria174a (Mi165)In (upper-left) margin of MS12 (12x 174)
Poland2248a (Mi2539)On (left) selvedge of MS6 (2248a (6x 2248 + 2 labels)), also annotated1977Nimbus-1/2 type
Portugal1115 (Mi1148)1971Nimbus-1/2 type
Portugal1113-1115 fdcOne of three stamps on FDC
Qatar352 (Mi566)1973Nimbus-B/3 type1
Sharjah43 (Mi55A)
i43 (Mi55B)

Imperforate
1964Nimbus-1/2 type
Sharjah48A (BL4)Imperforate SS1
Sharjah43_op (Mi55A_op)
i43_op (Mi55B_op)
43 overprinted new currency
i43 overprinted new currency
1967Nimbus-1/2 type
SpainNone(Orange and blue and black printed) cachet on cover1984"Nimbus" (in text only)
Togo502 (Mi448A)
i502 (Mi448B)

Imperforate
1964Nimbus-1/2 type
Togo505 (Mi451A)
i505 (Mi451B)

Imperforate
Togo500-505 fdcTwo of six stamps on FDC
Togo501-502+505 fdcTwo of three stamps on FDC
Togo502+504-505 fdcTwo of three stamps on FDC
Togo505a (BL17)Imperforate MS4 (502-505)
Togo505a fdcImperforate MS4 on FDC
TongaNoneOne of essay strip of 31983
TurkmenistanUnknown g (Mi none)One of MS9 (a-i) [known illegal issue]2001Nimbus (however, astronauts were not associated with any of the Nimbus series)
United Nations188 fdc (Mi204 fdc)(Schering) cachet on FDC1968Nimbus-1/2 type
United Nations256 fdc (Mi279 fdc)(Artmaster) cachet on FDC, also annotated1975
United Nations550 fdc (Mi575 fdc)(Fleetwood) cachet on FDC1989
United Nations551 fdc (Mi576 fdc)(Fleetwood) cachet on FDC
United StatesNone(Schering) cachet on PPO postcard1968
United StatesNone(R.E. Nichol) cachet on cover1970"Nimbus-3" (but Alouette depicted)
United StatesNone(R.E. Nichol) cachet (different) on cover, also back
United StatesNone(Florex-1973) cachet on cover1973Nimbus-1/2 type
United StatesNone(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover, also annotated cachet1973Nimbus (upper-right); (also Space Shuttle)
United States1395 cover (Mi1832 cover)(Black printed) cachet on cover; also annotated1973[#4] Nimbus
United States1759 fdc
1710 cover
(Aeropex'77) cachet on FDC, also annotated cachet1978
1977
Nimbus [#2 in annotated cachet]
United StatesNone(Beckman Employees Philatelic Society) cachet on cover1978
United StatesNone(Beckman Employees Philatelic Society) cachet on cover (different cancel date)1978
United StatesNone(RCA) cachet on cover1978[#12] Nimbus-1/2 type
United StatesNone(GSFC multi-satellite blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1979"Nimbus"
United States3187d fdc (Mi3126 fdc)(Colorano silk) cachet on FDC1999
Yemen Arab RepublicC89 (Mi1700)1982Nimbus-1/2 type
Yemen Arab RepublicC89 dsDeluxe sheet (C89)
Yemen Arab RepublicC89 proofChromalin proof
Yemen RepublicC146 (Mi92)Yemen Arab Republic C89 overprinted1993Nimbus-1/2 type
Zambia61 (Mi61)1970"Nimbus-3"1
Zambia61 fdc1Stamp on FDC (Ridgeway cancel)
Zambia61 fdc2Stamp on FDC (Ndola cancel)

1Nimbus-B/3 type can be identified by one of two SNAP-19 radioisotope thermonuclear generators located above the instrumented base of the satellite.


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

CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
Nimbus
1964-08-28: Nimbus-1
Austria1964-08-28Krieglach(Black and red typed and cinderella) cachet on cardNimbus-1 launch
United States1964-08-28Vandenberg AFB, CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insertNimbus-1 launch
United States1964-08-28Vandenberg AFB, CA(Sarzin?) cachet on coverNimbus-1 launch
United States1964-08-28Vandenberg AFB, CA(Holden red and black printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-1 launch
United States1964-08-28Vandenberg AFB, CA(Holden blue rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on coverNimbus-1 launch
United States1964-08-28Vandenberg AFB, CA(Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-1 launch
United States1964-08-28Vandenberg AFB, CA(Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverNimbus-1 launch
United States1964-08-28Vandenberg AFB, CA(Black printed) cachet on coverNimbus-1 launch
1966-05-15: Nimbus-2
United States1966-05-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Sarzin?) cachet on coverNimbus-2 launch; also APT
United States1966-05-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insertNimbus-2 launch
United States1966-05-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Vandy?/DuBeau? blue satellite-launch and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverNimbus-2 launch
United States1966-05-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Vandy?/DuBeau? blue satellite-launch and blue rubber-stamp) cachet (and signatures) on coverNimbus-2 launch
United States1966-05-15Lompoc CA(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-2 launch
United States1966-05-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Astro Covers, no logo) cachet on coverNimbus-2 launch
United States1966-05-15Vandenberg AFB, CA(Green printed) cachet (and Sharjah 43) on coverNimbus-2 launch
United States1966-05-15
1963-06-19
Satellite Beach FL
Satellite Beach FL
(Rank silkscreened) cachet on coverNimbus-2 launch
TIROS-7 launch
1968-05-18: Nimbus-B (and SECOR-10) [failed]
United States1968-05-18Vandenberg AFB, CA(Swanson/DuBeau? blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-B launch [failed]
United States1968-05-18Vandenberg AFB, CA(Swanson/DuBeau? black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-B launch [failed]
1969-04-13: Nimbus-3 (and SECOR-13)
United States1969-04-13Vandenberg AFB, CA(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insertNimbus-3 launch
United States1969-04-13Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insertNimbus-3 launch
United States1969-04-13Vandenberg AFB, CA(Sarzin) cachet on coverNimbus-3 launch
United States1969-04-13Vandenberg AFB, CA(Centennial brown rocket, type-2 and black text) cachet on coverNimbus-3 launch
United States1969-04-13Vandenberg AFB, CA(Swanson/DuBeau? blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-3 launch
United States1969-04-13
1969-04-13
Vandenberg AFB, CA
Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB
(Swanson/DuBeau? blue rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on coverNimbus-3 launch
United States1969-04-14Vandenberg AFB, CA(Orbit Covers) cachet on coverNimbus-3 launch; also Argos
United States1969-04-14Vandenberg AFB, CA(NORAD tracking station red and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-3 launch
1970-04-08: Nimbus-4 (and Topo-1)
United States1970-04-08Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(Space Voyage) cachet on coverNimbus-4 launch
United States1970-04-08Vandenberg AFB, CA(Orbit Covers) cachet on coverNimbus-4 launch; also Argos
United States1970-04-08Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(Blue and black printed) cachet on coverNimbus-4 launch
United States1970-04-08Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(Centennial) cachet on coverNimbus-4 launch
United States1970-04-08Vandenberg AFB, CA(Sarzin) cachet on coverNimbus-4 launch
United States1970-04-08Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(Riser/Andromeda Cover no.9) cachet on (airmail) cover, also insertNimbus-4 launch
United States1970-04-08Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(Riser/Andromeda Cover no.9) cachet (and signature) on (airmail) cover, also insertNimbus-4 launch
United States1970-04-08Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(DuBeau?/Swanson cyan rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-4 launch (but ESRO-2A depicted)2
United States1970-04-08Vandenberg AFB, CA(DuBeau?/Swanson blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-4 launch (but ESRO-2A depicted)2
1972-12-10: Nimbus-5
United States1972-12-09Vandenberg AFB, CA(Orbit Covers) cachet on coverNimbus-5 launch
United States1972-12-10Vandenberg AFB, CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverNimbus-5 launch
United States1972-12-10Vandenberg AFB, CA(Sarzin) cachet on coverNimbus-5 launch
United States1972-12-10Vandenberg AFB, CA(DuBeau?/Swanson blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-5 launch (but ESRO-2A depicted)2
United States1972-12-10Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(DuBeau?/Swanson blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverNimbus-5 launch (but ESRO-2A depicted)2
United States1972-12-10Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(Polar Covers and black rubber-stamp below cancel with "Nov" month error) cachet on cover, also insertNimbus-5 launch
United States1972-12-10Vandenberg AFB, CA(Centennial) cachet on coverNimbus-5 launch
United States1972-12-10Vandenberg AFB, CA(Riser/Andromeda/Cygnus Cover no.40) cachet on (airmail) cover, also insert1 and insert2 (partial)Nimbus-5 launch
United States1972-12-10Vandenberg AFB, CA(Black printed) cachet on coverNimbus-5 launch
Australia1972-12-11Canberra City ACT(Cyan rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-5 launch
United States1972-12-11Greenbelt MD(GSFC Stamp Club) cachet on coverNimbus-5 launch
United States1972-12-11Greenbelt MD(GSFC Stamp Club) cachet (and signature) on coverNimbus-5 launch
Australia1972-12-12Woomera SA(WRE) cachet on coverNimbus-5 launch
Australia1972-12-12Woomera SA(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet (different) on coverNimbus-5 launch
1975-06-12: Nimbus-6
United States1975-06-12Vandenberg AFB, CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverNimbus-6 launch
United States1975-06-12Vandenberg AFB, CA(Blue printed) cachet on coverNimbus-6 launch
United States1975-06-12Lompoc CA, Vandenberg AFB(Blue printed) cachet on coverNimbus-6 launch
United States1975-06-12Greenbelt MD(GSFC STDN blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-6 launch
United States1975-06-12Greenbelt MD(GSFC Stamp Club) cachet on coverNimbus-6 launch
United States1975-06-12Vandenberg AFB, CA("Swanson" blue rubber-stamp, based on SpaceCraft Type-B general-purpose cachet) on coverNimbus-6 launch
United States1975-06-12Vandenberg AFB, CA(Centennial) cachet on coverNimbus-6 launch
United States1975-06-12Vandenberg AFB, CA(Orbit Covers) cachet on coverNimbus-6 launch
1978-10-24: Nimbus-7 (and CAMEO)
United States1978-10-24GSFC, MD(GSFC Stamp Club) cachet on coverNimbus-7 launch
United States1978-10-24GSFC, MD(GSFC multi-satellite blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-7 launch
United States1978-10-24Vandenberg AFB, CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverNimbus-7 launch
United States1978-10-24Vandenberg AFB, CA(Space Voyage) cachet (different) on coverNimbus-7 launch (but CAMEO depicted)
United States1978-10-24Vandenberg AFB, CA(NASA KSC-WOSO magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-7 launch
United States1978-10-24Vandenberg AFB, CA(NASA KSC-WOSO magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverNimbus-7 launch
United States1978-10-24Vandenberg AFB, CA(NASA KSC-WOSO magenta rubber-stamp) cachet (and signatures) on coverNimbus-7 launch
United States1978-10-24Vandenberg AFB, CA(NASA KSC-WOSO purple rubber-stamp) cachet on coverNimbus-7 launch
Nimbus (on other than Nimbus launch covers)
United States1965-06-24Vandenberg AFB, CA(Sarzin) cachet on Transit-O4 launch coverNimbus ("secret satellite")
United States1968-11-08Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on Pioneer-9 and TETR-2 launch cover, also annotated
Germany (West)1969-03-03Bochum(Institut für Satelliten und Weltraumforschung Sternwarte Bochum/BRD) cachet on Apollo-9 launch/tracking coverNimbus-1/2 type
Australia1969-07-25Woomera SA(Black and purple rubber-stamp) cachets on (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover"Nimbus-3"
Australia1969-07-25Woomera SA(Black and blue and red rubber-stamp) cachets (and signatures) on (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover
Australia1969-07-25Woomera SA(Black and purple and red rubber-stamp) cachets (and signatures) on (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover"Nimbus-3"
Germany (West)1972-04-16Bochum(Green printed) cachet (and signature) on Apollo-16 launch cover, also detail
United States1972-10-16Palestine TX(Riser blue rubber-stamp) cachet on stratospheric balloon coverStratospheric balloon optical atmospheric properties mission, using "the Nimbus satellite selective chopper radiometer"
Australia1972-12-07Tharwa ACT(Black printed) cachet on Apollo-17 launch coverNimbus (top center of cachet)
French Guiana1975-06-11Kourou(Lollini silk) cachet on (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover"Nimbus"-B/3 type1
French Guiana1975-06-11Kourou(Lollini) cachet on (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover"Nimbus-6"
Australia1975-07-15Torrens ACT(Purple rubber-stamp) cachet on Apollo-ASTP launch and Soyuz-19 ASTP launch coverNimbus (top center of cachet)
Germany (West)1975-07-21Bochum(Black rubber-stamp and red printed) cachet on ASTP (Soyuz returns to earth, Apollo remains in orbit) cover, also annotated cachet
Germany (West)1975-08-27Bochum(Red-brown printed and green rubber-stamp) cachet on Symphonie-2 launch cover, also annotated cachet
French Guiana1975-10-03Kourou(CPK) cachet on isentropic balloon launch cover"Nimbus-F" (Nimbus-6, but fantasy depiction)
United States1976-03-16Auburn MA(GSFC Stamp Club blue printed) cachet on 50th anniv. first liquid fuel rocket flight/launch cover"Nimbus"
United States1976-06-30WSMR, NM(WSMR red rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on (sub-orbital) rocket launch (airmail) coverAerobee-170 solar irradiance measurement experiment "to calibrate solar panels on Nimbus-6"
United States1978-05-20GSFC, MD(GSFC multi-satellite blue rubber-stamp) cachet (same design as two above) on Pioneer-12 launch cover"Nimbus"
United States1983-01-25Greenbelt MD(GSFC multi-satellite blue rubber-stamp) cachet (same) on IRAS and PIX-2 launch cover"Nimbus"
United States1985-04-01Washington DC(Purple printed) cachet on TIROS-1 anniversary cover"Nimbus" (in text only)
United States1996-03-09Kennedy Space Center FL(Blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on STS-75 landing cover, also detailNimbus (or Landsat-1/2/3 type)

1Nimbus-B/3 type can be identified by one of two SNAP-19 radioisotope thermonuclear generators located above the instrumented base of the satellite.
2This Swanson blue rubber-stamp cachet has radial antennas like those on ESRO-2A.


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