SPAS-1

Shuttle PAllet Satellite
(SPAS) series

CRISTA-SPAS
SPASCRISTA-SPAS

This page contains philatelic information on the Shuttle PAllet Satellite (SPAS) series. Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the satellites featured are given when available. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.

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)
SPAS SPAS SPAS


Below is a list of Shuttle PAllet Satellite (SPAS) series postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
Shuttle PAllet Satellite (SPAS)
BeninUnknown f (Mi none)One of MS6 (a-f) [known illegal issue]2003STS-7/Challenger photographed by a camera mounted on the free-flying SPAS-1 during the STS-7 mission
DjiboutiUnknown (Mi?)On stamp and (left) margin from SS1, when rotated -63 deg and flipped horizontally2023"STS-7"/Challenger photographed by a camera mounted on the free-flying SPAS-1 during the STS-7 mission (and added to the stamp design)
Guinea Republic930a (BL141A)
i930a (BL141B)
In (lower) margin of SS1 (930)
In (lower) margin of imperforate SS1 (i930)
1985"Manipulator arm releasing SPAS-1" (in French text); depicted with Space Shuttle
Guinea-BissauUnknown (Mi?)On stamp from SS12023"STS-7"/"Challenger" photographed by a camera mounted on the free-flying SPAS-1 during the STS-7 mission
St. Vincent1165 (Mi1212)
i1165

Imperforate
1989Depicted with Space Shuttle
St. Vincent1165 specimenOverprinted "specimen"
United StatesNone(Space Voyage) cachet on cover, also detail1981
1986
"Sally Ride ... deploys and retrieves SPAS-1".


Below is a list of Shuttle PAllet Satellite (SPAS) series launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).

CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
Shuttle PAllet Satellite (SPAS)
1983-06-18: SPAS-1 (and Anik-C2 and Palapa-B1 deployed by STS-7)
Chile1983-06-18Santiago(Space Voyage red and purple and pink) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
Spain1983-06-18Madrid(Green printed) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Space Voyage orange and purple and tan) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Greenbelt MD(Space Voyage red and black and pink) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Centennial) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Houston TX(SCCS) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Greenbelt MD(Greenbelt STDN Station black rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Greenbelt MD(GSFC Shuttle Tracking Team blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Moffett Field CA(NASA Ames Research Center) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Moffett Field CA(NASA Ames Research Center) cachet on (airmail) coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Centennial-like) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Centennial-like) cachet (different) on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Centennial-like) cachet (different) on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Centennial-like) cachet (different) on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Red and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Red and purple rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet (and signatures) on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Houston TX(Multi-color printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(MBB/ERNO) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Blue mission patch) cachet on postal cardSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Houston TX(Boudwin black and green rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Houston TX(Boudwin black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Kennedy Space Center FL(Ranski) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Cape Canaveral FL(Ranski) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18Satellite Beach FL(Ranski) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18
1983-06-18
Houston TX
Kennedy Space Center FL
(Telesat Canada) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch
Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
United States1983-06-18
1981-09-13
Kennedy Space Center FL
Dearborn Heights MI
(Ranski) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
Farmpex Station pictorial cancel
United States1983-06-18
1983-06-24
Kennedy Space Center FL
Edwards AFB Station CA
(RSDSC) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
STS-7 landing
United States1983-06-18
1983-06-24
Kennedy Space Center FL
Edwards AFB Station CA
(RSDSC) cachet (and signatures) on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
STS-7 landing
United States1983-06-18
1983-06-24
Kennedy Space Center FL
Edwards AFB Station CA
(RSDSC red rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
STS-7 landing
United States1983-06-18
1983-06-24
Kennedy Space Center FL
Edwards CA
(Titusville-Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
STS-7 landing
United States1983-06-18
1983-10-08
Detroit MI
Dearborn Heights MI
(Sally Ride Paper Doll) cachet on coverSTS-7 launch; Anik-C2 (Telesat-7) deployed
Wolvpex Station pictorial cancel
United States1983-06-19Cape Canaveral FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.58) cachet on coverPalapa-B1 deployed; ("Amik-C" mis-spelled in text)
United States1983-06-19Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on coverPalapa-B1 deployed
United States1983-06-19Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)(Whitney purple) cachet on postal cardPalapa-B1 deployed
United States1983-06-19Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)(Whitney purple) cachet on (airmail) coverPalapa-B1 deployed
United States1983-06-19Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverPalapa-B1 deployed
United States1983-06-19Houston TX(NASA photo) cachet on coverPalapa-B1 deployed
United States1983-06-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Titusville-Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on coverPalapa-B1 deployed
United States1983-06-20Marshall Space Flight Center AL(Ranski) cachet on cover"STS-7 3rd day in flight" (unknown event)
United States1983-06-22Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSPAS-1 deployed to free flight (and later recovered and stowed back in the payload bay; while in free flight, SPAS-1 took this photo of Challenger, with Earth in the background
United States1983-06-22Houston TX(Zaso silk/IASP no.59) cachet on coverSPAS-1 deployed to free flight (and later recovered and stowed back in the payload bay; while in free flight, SPAS-1 took this photo of Challenger, with Earth in the background
United States1983-06-22Kennedy Space Center FL(KSC Philatelic Society) cachet on coverSPAS-1 deployed to free flight (and later recovered and stowed back in the payload bay; while in free flight, SPAS-1 took this photo of Challenger, with Earth in the background
United States1983-06-22
1981-05-21
Houston TX
Kennedy Space Center FL
(First Rank/Space Voyage) cachet on coverSPAS-1 deployed to free flight (and later recovered and stowed back in the payload bay; while in free flight, SPAS-1 took this photo of Challenger, with Earth in the background
USA 1914 FDC
United States1983-06-24Kennedy Space Center FL(Centennial) cachet on coverSTS-7 landing
United States1983-06-24Greenbelt MD(GSFC Shuttle Tracking Team blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-7 landing
United States1983-06-24Edwards AFB Station, CA(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-7 landing
United States1983-06-24Kennedy Space Center FL(Titusville-Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on coverSTS-7 landing
United States1983-06-24Edwards AFB Station, CA(Titusville-Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on coverSTS-7 landing
1984-02-03: SPAS-1A4 (and Westar-6 and Palapa-B2 deployed by STS-11 (41B))
Ascension Island1984-02-03Ascension(Space Voyage) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Kennedy Space Center FL(Space Voyage) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Downey CA(Pictorial) cancel and (RSDSC) cachet on cover, also insert and insert backSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Kennedy Space Center FL(RSDSC red rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on (airmail) coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.70) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)(Whitney magenta and blue) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)(Whitney magenta and blue) cachet (and signature) on (airmail) coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Greenbelt MD(GSFC Shuttle Tracking Team blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Boulder CO(NOAA SEL black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Houston TX(Black and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Houston TX(Ranski) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Kennedy Space Center FL(Ranski) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Cape Canaveral FL(Ranski) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Satellite Beach FL(Ranski) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Kennedy Space Center FL(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Washington DC(Black printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Washington DC(Black printed and black stickers) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Washington DC(Black printed and black stickers) cachet on (airmail) coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Washington DC(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Washington DC(Black printed) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Marshall Space Flight Center AL(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Marshall Space Flight Center AL(Magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Houston TX(Johnson Space Center Stamp Club) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Houston TX(Black printed and black typed) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Houston TX(NASA photo and mission patch) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03Houston TX(Zaso silk/IASP no.71) cachet on cover"Rehearsal for Solar Max [SMM] repair"
United States1984-02-03
1984-02-03
Houston TX
Kennedy Space Center FL
(Blue and red printed) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
United States1984-02-03
1984-02-05
Kennedy Space Center FL
Houston TX
(Blue mission patch and green rubber-stamp) cachet on postcardSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
(possible) attempt to initiate the planned SPAS-1A program of experiments
United States1984-02-03
1984-02-06
Kennedy Space Center FL
Houston TX
(Green and red printed) cachet on coverSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
Palapa-B2 deployed
United States1984-02-03
1984-02-11
Kennedy Space Center FL
Kennedy Space Center FL
(Green and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover, also backSTS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed
STS-41B landing
United States1984-02-06Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet (different) on coverPalapa-B2 deployed
United States1984-02-06Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on coverPalapa-B2 deployed
United States1984-02-06
1984-02-07
Houston TX, Nassau Bay Branch
Houston TX
(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on coverPalapa-B2 deployed
first flight of the MMU
United States1984-02-06
1984-02-07
Houston TX, Nassau Bay Branch
Houston TX
(Black and red-brown rubber-stamp) cachet on coverPalapa-B2 deployed
first flight of the MMU
United States1984-02-06
1984-11-12
Houston TX
Houston TX
(SCCS) cachet on coverPalapa-B2 deployed
Palapa-B2 recovered
United States1984-02-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on cover"First Flight - Manned Maneuvering Unit"
United States1984-02-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.72) cachet on cover"Space Shuttle - MMU Tests"
United States1984-02-11Greenbelt MD(GSFC Shuttle Tracking Team blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-41B landing
United States1984-02-11Kennedy Space Center FL(Zaso silk/IASP no.73) cachet on coverSTS-41B landing
United States1984-02-13Marshall Space Flight Center AL(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover(possible that the date '13' is an error, and should have been '3') (if that is the case, then this cover is for STS-41B launch; Westar-6 deployed)
1991-04-28: SPAS-2 (and GLOMR?/MPEC deployed by STS-39)
United States1991-04-28Kennedy Space Center FL(Mission patch) cachet on coverSTS-39 launch
United States1991-04-28Kennedy Space Center FL(Mission patch) cachet (and signatures) on coverSTS-39 launch; SPAS-2 deployed
United States1991-04-28Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-39 launch
United States1991-04-28Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk) cachet (different) on coverSTS-39 launch
United States1991-04-28Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet (different) on coverSTS-39 launch
United States1991-04-28
1992-04-30
Houston TX
Houston TX
(Purple rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-39 launch
"CIRRIS-1A [payload] activities"
United States1991-05-01Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSPAS-2 deployed
United States1991-05-01
1991-05-02
Houston TX
Houston TX
(Magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSPAS-2 deployed; SPAS-2 retrieval
United States1991-05-06Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTA-39 landing
United States1991-05-06Kennedy Space Center FL(Titusville Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on coverSTA-39 landing
1993-09-12: ORFEUS-SPAS-1 (and ACTS deployed by STS-51)
United States1993-09-12Kennedy Space Center FL(Black rubber-stamp mission patch) cachet on coverSTS-51 launch; ACTS deployed
United States1993-09-12Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-51 launch; ACTS deployed
United States1993-09-12
1993-09-12
Kennedy Space Center FL
Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX
(Green printed and cyan rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-51 launch; ACTS deployed
United States1993-09-13Houston TX(Black typed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverORFEUS deployed
United States1993-09-13Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverORFEUS deployed
United States1993-09-19Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverORFEUS captured
United States1993-09-21Houston TX(Black typed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover"Tenth day of flight"
United States1993-09-22Kennedy Space Center FL(Color photo and mission patch) cachet on coverSTS-51 landing
1994-11-03: CRISTA-SPAS-13 (and ATLAS1-3 payload2 deployed by STS-66)
United States1994-11-03Kennedy Space Center FL(ATLAS1 patch) cachet on coverSTS-66 launch
United States1994-11-03Kennedy Space Center FL(Titusville Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on coverSTS-66 launch
United States1994-11-03Wallops Island VA(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-66 launch
United States1994-11-03Houston TX(JSC green printed) cachet on coverSTS-66 launch
United States1994-11-03Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel)(Mission patch) cachet on coverSTS-66 launch
United States1994-11-04Kennedy Space Center FL (hand cancel)(Mission patch) cachet on coverCRISTA-SPAS-1 deployed
United States1994-11-04Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverCRISTA-SPAS-1 deployed
Germany1994-11-10Bonn(Red and blue and green printed) cachet on (airmail) cover"Ozonesonde" stratospheric balloon mission to obtain observations to validate remote-sensing data obtained by the "CRISTA-SPAS"-1 satellite during the "STS-66" mission (the balloon reached "34,771 m")
1996-11-19: ORFEUS-SPAS-2 (and WSF-3 deployed by STS-80)
United States1996-11-19WSMR, NM(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSTS-80 launch
United States1996-11-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-80 launch
United States1996-11-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet (different, and medallion) on coverSTS-80 launch
United States1996-11-19Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-80 launch
United States1996-11-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Mission patch) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-80 launch
United States1996-11-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Mission patch) cachet (slightly different) on coverSTS-80 launch
United States1996-11-25Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverWSF-3 berthing
United States1996-12-04Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverORFEUS-SPAS-2 captured
United States1996-12-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Brown printed) cachet on coverSTS-80 landing
United States1996-12-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Titusville Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-80 landing
United States1996-12-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-80 landing
1997-08-07: CRISTA-SPAS-23 (deployed by STS-85)
United States1997-08-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-85 launch; CRISTA-SPAS-2 deployed
United States1997-08-07Cape Canaveral FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-85 launch; CRISTA-SPAS-2 deployed
United States1997-08-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Mission patch) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-85 launch; CRISTA-SPAS-2 deployed
United States1997-08-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Titusville Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on cover, also insertSTS-85 launch; CRISTA-SPAS-2 deployed
United States1997-08-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Brown printed) cachet on coverSTS-85 launch; CRISTA-SPAS-2 deployed
United States1997-08-07Nassau Bay Branch, Houston TX(Blue printed) cachet on coverSTS-85 launch; CRISTA-SPAS-2 deployed
United States1997-08-08Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on cover"Manipulator flight demonstration"
United States1997-08-16Houston TX(Colorano silk) cachet on coverCRISTA-SPAS-2 captured
United States1997-08-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Colorano silk) cachet on coverSTS-85 landing

1ATLAS: ATmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science
2Payloads, as opposed to satellites, are neither deployed from, nor recovered to, the Space Shuttle cargo bay.
3CRISTA-SPAS-1 was deployed by STS-66 on day two of its mission. Flying at distance of about 40-70 km behind the shuttle, it collected data for eight days and then was retrieved and returned to the cargo bay. The CRISTA instrument gathered the first global information about medium- and small- scale disturbances in trace gases in the middle atmosphere which were later used in models of the atmosphere and Earth's energy balance. The complementary CRISTA-SPAS instrument, the Middle Atmosphere High Resolution Spectrograph Investigation (MAHRSI), measured the amounts of ozone-destroying hydroxyl and nitric oxide in the middle atmosphere and lower thermosphere at altitudes in the range of 40-120 km. MAHRSI yielded the first complete global maps of hydroxyl in the atmosphere. The CRISTA-SPAS-2 payload included three telescopes and four spectrometers. It was deployed on day one of the STS-85 mission to gather data about Earth's middle atmosphere. After more than 200 hours of free flight, CRISTA-SPAS-2 was retrieved by the shuttle on 16 August 1997. The three CRISTA telescopes collected 38 full atmospheric profiles of the middle atmosphere. The complementary instrument (the MAHRSI) provided observations similar to those obtained during the flight of CRISTA-SPAS-1 concerning the distribution of ozone in Earth's atmosphere. 22 sounding rockets and 40 balloons were launched from the ground to provide correlating data for CRISTA-SPAS-2. Some similar ground-based missions also took place during the flight of CRISTA-SPAS-1. Here is one example.
4No free flight was scheduled for SPAS-1A during the STS-41B mission; rather, the plan was to manipulate it with the RMS (Remote Manipulator System, or Canadarm) to gain experience in handling such an object with the RMS. It turned out that that was not possible due to an electrical problem with the RMS, so SPAS-1A remained stowed in the payload bay.


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