SPARTAN-101

Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research
Tool for AstroNomy (SPARTAN)
series satellites

SPARTAN-101 (patch)
SPARTAN-101SPARTAN-101 (patch)

This page contains philatelic information on the Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for AstroNomy (SPARTAN) 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.

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)
SPARTAN SPARTAN SPARTAN


Below is a list of Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for AstroNomy (SPARTAN) series satellite postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for AstroNomy (SPARTAN)
BeninUnknown a (Mi none)One of MS6 (a-f) [known illegal issue]2003SPARTAN-201-F2 (in the STS-64 mission, in Challenger's cargo bay but mostly hidden behind the LITE (the LIDAR-in-Space Technology Experiment that looks like a white barrel); the stamp design is taken from this photo; the full satellite is seen in this photo of SPARTAN-201-F2 just before it was deployed
United States3188e fdc (Mi3175 fdc)(Space Voyage red and tan and brown) cachet on FDC1999SPARTAN-201-F5 / "STS-95"
United States3189i fdc (Mi3233 fdc)(Space Voyage red and tan and black) cachet on FDC1999
United States3190a fdc1 (Mi3243 fdc1)(Space Voyage red and peach and purple) cachet on FDC (Mission Control Station pictorial cancel)2000
United States3190a fdc2 (Mi3243 fdc2)(Space Voyage red and peach and purple) cachet on FDC (STS-103 Station pictorial cancel)
United States3190a fdc3 (Mi3243 fdc3)(Space Voyage red and peach and black) cachet on FDC (Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX cancel)
United States3190a fdc4 (Mi3243 fdc4)(Space Voyage red and pink and purple) cachet on FDC (STS-103 Station pictorial cancel)
United States3191h fdc (Mi3295 fdc)(Space Voyage red and peach and black) cachet on FDC2000


Below is a list of Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for AstroNomy (SPARTAN) series satellite launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).

CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for AstroNomy (SPARTAN)
1985-06-17: SPARTAN-101 (and Morelos-1 and Telstar-3D and Arabsat-1B deployed by STS-25 (51G))
United States1985-06-17Kennedy Space Center FL(Green and yellow and black printed) cachet on coverSTS-51G launch; Morelos-1 deployed
United States1985-06-17Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-51G launch; Morelos-1 deployed
United States1985-06-17Kennedy Space Center FL(RSDSC) cachet on cover, also insert and insert backSTS-51G launch; Morelos-1 deployed
United States1985-06-17Kennedy Space Center FL(Centennial) cachet on coverSTS-51G launch; Morelos-1 deployed
United States1985-06-17Kennedy Space Center FL(Centennial) cachet (different) on coverSTS-51G launch; Morelos-1 deployed
United States1985-06-17Kennedy Space Center FL(Ranski) cachet on coverSTS-51G launch; Morelos-1 deployed
United States1985-06-17Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.101) cachet on coverSTS-51G launch; Morelos-1 deployed
United States1985-06-17
1984-04-06
Kennedy Space Center FL (hand cancel)
Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel)
(Purple and brown rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover, also backSTS-51G launch; Morelos-1 deployed
STS-41C launch
United States1985-06-17
1985-11-27
Houston TX
Houston TX
(SCCS) cachet on coverSTS-51G launch; Morelos-1 deployed
Aussat-A2 deployed; Morelos-2 deployed
United States1985-06-18Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverArabsat-1B deployed
United States1985-06-18Houston TX(Space Voyage) cachet on coverArabsat-1B deployed
United States1985-06-18Houston TX(Space Voyage) cachet (and signature) on coverArabsat-1B deployed
United States1985-06-18Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on coverArabsat-1B deployed
United States1985-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Quadracolor?) cachet on coverArabsat-1B deployed
United States1985-06-19Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverTelstar-3D2 deployed
United States1985-06-19Houston TX(Cyan and black printed) cachet on coverTelstar-3D2 deployed
United States1985-06-19Houston TX(SCCS) cachet on coverTelstar-3D3 deployed
United States1985-06-19Houston TX, Nassau Bay Branch(AT&T) cachet on coverTelstar-3D2 deployed
United States1985-06-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Centennial) cachet on coverTelstar-3D2 deployed
United States1985-06-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Ranski) cachet on coverTelstar-3D3 deployed
United States1985-06-20Houston TX(SCCS) cachet on coverSPARTAN-101 deployed
United States1985-06-20Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.102) cachet on coverSPARTAN-101 deployed
United States1985-06-20
1985-06-22
Houston TX
Houston TX
(SCCS) cachet on coverSPARTAN-101 deployed
SPARTAN-101 recovered
United States1985-06-20
1985-06-22
Cape Canaveral FL
Cape Canaveral FL
(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSPARTAN-101 deployed
SPARTAN-101 recovered
United States1985-06-21Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.103) cachet on cover"SPARTAN-1 astronomy platform"
United States1985-06-24Edwards CA(Space Voyage) cachet on coverSTS-51G landing
United States1985-06-24Edwards CA(Centennial) cachet on coverSTS-51G landing
United States1985-06-24Edwards AFB, CA(Ranski) cachet on coverSTS-51G landing
United States1985-06-24Edwards AFB, CA(Zaso silk/IASP no.104) cachet on coverSTS-51G landing
1986-01-28: SPARTAN-203 / HCED (and TDRS-2 were to be deployed by STS-33 (51L)) [failed]
United States1986-01-28Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-51L launch disaster [failed]
United States1986-01-28Akron OH(Space Voyage brown and purple) cachet on coverSTS-51L launch disaster [failed]; "SPARTAN-Halley satellite and TDRS fall into sea"
United States1986-01-28WSMR Branch, NM(Space Voyage green and purple) cachet on coverSTS-51L launch disaster [failed]; "SPARTAN-Halley satellite and TDRS fall into sea"
United States1986-01-28Sunnyvale CA(Space Voyage) cachet (different) on coverSTS-51L launch disaster [failed]; "TDRS and ... fall into ocean"
United States1986-01-28Houston TX(Space Voyage) cachet (different) on coverSTS-51L launch disaster [failed]
United States1986-01-28Satellite Beach FL(Whitney magenta and purple) cachet on coverSTS-51L launch disaster [failed]
United States1986-01-28Kennedy Space Center FL(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet (and signatures) on coverSTS-51L launch disaster [failed]
United States1986-01-28Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.129) cachet on coverSTS-51L launch disaster [failed]
United States1986-01-28
1981-11-12
Kennedy Space Center FL
Kennedy Space Center FL
(Black printed) cachet (and signature) on coverSTS-51L launch disaster [failed]
STS-2 launch
United States1986-01-31Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.134) cachet on coverSTS-51L memorial services: "Ellison Onizuka", also "TDRS/IUS"
United States1986-01-31Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.135) cachet on coverSTS-51L memorial services: "Ron McNair", also "SPARTAN/Halley satellite"
United States1986-02-01Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.130) cachet on coverSTS-51L memorial services: "Dick Scobee", also "Solar Max"
United States1986-02-01Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.132) cachet on coverSTS-51L memorial services: "Judith Resnick"
SPARTAN-203 / HCED (and TDRS-2 were to be deployed by STS-33 (51L)) (anniversary)
United States1987-01-28Cape Canaveral FL(Black printed) cachet on cover1st anniv. STS-51L launch disaster
1993-04-08: SPARTAN-201-F1 (and ATLAS4-2 payload1 deployed by STS-56)
United States1993-04-08Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk, including mission patch) cachet on coverSTS-56 launch
United States1993-04-08Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Colorano silk, mission patch) cachet on coverSTS-56 launch
United States1993-04-08Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-56 launch
United States1993-04-08Air Force Postal Service(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-56 launch
United States1993-04-08Wallops Island VA(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-56 launch
United States1993-04-08Titusville FL(Titusville Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-56 launch
United States1993-04-08Kennedy Space Center FL(Mission patch) cachet on coverSTS-56 launch
United States1993-04-08Kennedy Space Center FL(Burton) cachet on coverSTS-56 launch
United States1993-04-09Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Multi-color printed) cachet on coverNOAA-11 ozone observations made coincident with the Shuttle's SSBUV observations3
United States1993-04-11Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSPARTAN-201-F1 deployed
United States1993-04-11
1993-04-13
Houston TX
Houston TX
(Cyan and black printed) cachet on coverSPARTAN-201-F1 deployed
SPARTAN-201-F1 retrieval
United States1993-04-17Marshall Space Flight Center AL(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-56 landing
United States1993-04-17Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk, including mission patch) cachet on coverSTS-56 landing
1994-09-09: SPARTAN-201-F2 (deployed by STS-64)
United States1994-09-09Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel)(Mission patch) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-64 launch
United States1994-09-09Kennedy Space Center FL (hand cancel)(Mission patch) cachet (slightly different) on cover. also insertSTS-64 launch
United States1994-09-09Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-64 launch
United States1994-09-09Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet (different) on coverSTS-64 launch
United States1994-09-13Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Black printed) cachet on coverSPARTAN-201-F2 deployed
1995-03-02: SPARTAN-204 (and ODERACS-1 deployed by STS-63)
United States1995-02-02Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-63 launch
United States1995-02-03Kennedy Space Center FL(Mission patch) cachet on cover, and insertSTS-63 launch
United States1995-02-03Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-63 launch
United States1995-02-03Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-63 launch
United States1995-02-03
1995-02-03
Kennedy Space Center FL
Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX
(Cyan and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-63 launch
United States1995-02-04Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Multi-color printed) cachet on coverSpacehab-3 activated
United States1995-02-06Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverrendezvous with MIR
United States1995-02-07Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on cover"SPARTAN-204 satellite released"
United States1995-02-09Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverEVA - Astronauts Foale and Harris took turns "moving the 2800 lb SPARTAN satellite with a generic tool"
United States1995-02-09Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on cover"SPARTAN-204 satellite re-captured ... using the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm"
United States1995-02-11Greenbelt MD(GSFC Shuttle Tracking Team blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-63 landing
United States1995-02-11Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-63 landing
1995-09-07: SPARTAN-201-F3 (and WSF-2 deployed by STS-69)
United States1995-09-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Mission patch) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-69 launch
United States1995-09-07Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-69 launch
United States1995-09-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Titusville Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-69 launch
United States1995-09-10Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSPARTAN-201-F3 recovered
United States1995-09-10Nasaau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Black printed) cachet on coverSPARTAN-201-F3 recovered
United States1995-09-11Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSPARTAN-201-F3 deployed
1996-01-11: SPARTAN-206 / OAST Flyer (deployed and SFU recovered by STS-72)
United States1996-01-11Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel)(Mission patch) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-72 launch
United States1996-01-11Kennedy Space Center FL (hand cancel)(Mission patch) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-72 launch
United States1996-01-11Downey CA(Space Station pictorial) cancel and (mission patch) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-72 launch
United States1996-01-11Kennedy Space Center FL(Titusville-Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-72 launch
United States1996-01-11Greenbelt MD(GSFC Shuttle Traching Team blue rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on coverSTS-72 launch
United States1996-01-11Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-72 launch
United States1996-01-11Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-72 launch
United States1996-01-11Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk) cachet (different) on coverSTS-72 launch
United States1996-01-11Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet (different) on coverSTS-72 launch
United States1996-01-11Cape Canaveral FL(Artopages) cachet on coverSTS-72 launch
United States1996-01-11
1996-01-20
Kennedy Space Center FL
Kennedy Space Center FL
(Mission patch) cachet on coverSTS-72 launch
STS-72 landing
United States1996-01-13Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSFU recovered
United States1996-01-13Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSFU recovered
United States1996-01-15Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on cover"first extravehicular activity"
United States1996-01-17Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on cover"second extravehicular activity"
United States1996-01-18Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on cover"Japanese Astronaut Koichi Wakata"
United States1996-01-20Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-72 landing
1996-05-19: SPARTAN-207 / IAE (and PAMS-STU deployed by STS-77)
United States1996-05-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Mission patch) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-77 launch; "A small satellite will be deployed from a canister" (in insert text) refers to PAMS-STU
United States1996-05-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-77 launch
United States1996-05-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet (different) on coverSTS-77 launch
United States1996-05-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet (different) on coverSpacehab-4 in cargo bay
United States1996-05-20Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on cover"Inflatable Antenna Experiment" (IAE)
United States1996-05-29Greenbelt MD(GSFC Shuttle Tracking Team blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-77 landing
United States1996-05-29Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-77 landing
United States1996-05-29Kennedy Space Center FL(Titusville Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on coverSTS-77 landing
1997-11-18: SPARTAN-201-F4 (and AERCam-Sprint deployed by STS-87)
United States1997-11-19Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-87 launch
United States1997-11-19Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel)(Mission patch) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-87 launch
United States1997-11-19Kennedy Space Center FL (hand cancel)(Mission patch) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-87 launch
United States1997-11-21Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSPARTAN-201-F4 deployed
United States1997-11-24Greenbelt MD(GSFC Shuttle Tracking Team blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSPARTAN-201 captured
United States1997-12-03Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on cover"Space Walk #2" / "EVA"
United States1997-12-03Greenbelt MD(GSFC Shuttle Tracking Team blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover"EVA"
United States1997-12-03Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet (different) on coverAERCam-Sprint deployed
United States1997-12-05Greenbelt MD(GSFC Shuttle Tracking Team blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-87 landing
United States1997-12-05Moffett Field CA(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-87 landing
1998-10-29: SPARTAN-201-F5 (and OSCAR-34 and HOST payload1 deployed by STS-95)
United States1998-10-29
1998-10-03
Kennedy Space Center FL
Anniston AL
(Black printed) cachet on coverSTS-95 launch; SPARTAN-201-F5 deployed; OSCAR-34 deployed
Calcopex station
United States1998-10-29
1998-10-29
Kennedy Space Center FL
Kennedy Space Center FL
(NASA) cachet on cover, also insert and insert backSTS-95 launch; SPARTAN-201-F5 deployed; OSCAR-34 deployed
United States1998-10-29
2000-05-02
Kennedy Space Center FL
Escondido CA
(Space Voyage) cachet on coverSTS-95 launch; SPARTAN-201-F5 deployed; OSCAR-34 deployed
USA 3191h fdc

1Payloads, as opposed to satellites, are neither deployed from, nor recovered to, the Shuttle cargo bay.
2There is disagreement among various sources on whether this should be called Telstar-3D or Telstar-3B! See Boeing's Telstar-3 - AT&T's Advanced New Communications Satellite.
3See https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/s/ssbuv for a list of all the Shuttle missions that included SSBUV ozone observations along with the various satellites that made coincident ozone observations.
4ATLAS: ATmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science


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