Saturn-SA-6

Saturn-Apollo and
Apollo-Saturn
[un-manned only]
program spacecraft

Apollo-Saturn AS-203
Saturn-SA-6Apollo-Saturn AS-203

This page contains philatelic information on the Saturn-Apollo and Apollo-Saturn [un-manned only] program spacecraft. Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the spacecraft 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.

This page includes only those Saturn-Apollo and Apollo-Saturn missions which resulted in an orbited payload AND which were un-manned missions. Sub-orbital Saturn-Apollo and Apollo-Saturn [un-manned only] launches are included in the research rockets 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)
Saturn-Apollo and Apollo-Saturn
[un-manned only]
Saturn-Apollo
[un-manned only]
Saturn-Apollo and Apollo-Saturn
[un-manned only]
Saturn-Apollo (on other than Saturn-Apollo launch covers)
Apollo-Saturn
[un-manned only]
Apollo-Saturn (on other than Apollo-Saturn launch covers)
Apollo (S-4B)
[un-manned only]
(later) Apollo (S-4B)
[un-manned only]


Below is a list of Saturn-Apollo and Apollo-Saturn [un-manned only] program spacecraft postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
Saturn-Apollo and Apollo-Saturn [un-manned only]
Comoro IslandsC158 (Mi772)
iC158

Imperforate
1986(possible) Apollo-Saturn AS-203
Comoro IslandsC158a (BL none)On stamp of imperforate SS1 (iC158)
Cuba860 (Mi919)From block of 5 (862a (858-862 + label)) (Mi918-922), or from MS20 (862b (4x (858-862))) (Mi918-922)1964(possible) Saturn-SA-6
Cuba861 (Mi921)(possible) Saturn-SA-5
Germany (West)None(Blue printed) cachet on cover, also back1963Saturn SA-5 (also known as the S-4 satellite)
Oman StateNone f (Mi none)One of MS8 (a-h)1979(possible) Saturn-SA-6
Satellite Beach FL (USA)Localset-D-3 (green)1965"S-4 satellite" (Saturn-SA-5)
Satellite Beach FL (USA)Local o/pset-D-3 (green) overprinted in gold1965"S-4 satellite" (Saturn-SA-5)
Sri Lanka1250b (Mi1203)One of pair (1250 (a-b)) (Mi1202-1203)1999(possible) Apollo-Saturn AS-203
United StatesNone(Pictorial) meter on cover1966The "Saturn S-IVB" was the second stage of the launch rocket in orbital mission AS-203 (5 July 1966) and in sub-orbital missions AS-201 (26 Feb 1966) and AS-202 (25 Aug 1966)
United States1529 cover (Mi1136 cover)(Motor City Stamp and Cover Club Station) cancel on cover1975Saturn-SA-6
United States1556 cover (Mi1164 cover)(Motor City Stamp and Cover Club Station) cancel on cover1975Saturn-SA-6
United States1557 cover (Mi1170 cover)(Motor City Stamp and Cover Club Station) cancel on cover1975Saturn-SA-6
Yemen Arab Republic263B (Mi947)
i263B (Mi954)
Also detail; also imperforate MS12 (12x i263B), (half of MS12 (6x i236B))1969(possible) Apollo-Saturn AS-203 (with the aft interstage ring still attached and covering the J-2 motor nozzle); (not "Gemini-3" as in the text)
Yemen Arab RepublicC90ab (Mi1703)One of MS4 (C90a (b-e)) (BL218)1982(possible) Apollo-Saturn AS-203
Yemen Arab RepublicC90ab proofChromalin proof
Yemen Arab RepublicC103 (Mi1726)1982(possible) Apollo-Saturn AS-203
Yemen Arab RepublicC103 dsDeluxe sheet (C103)


Below is a list of Saturn-Apollo and Apollo-Saturn [un-manned only] program spacecraft launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).

CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
Saturn-Apollo [un-manned only]
1964-01-29: Saturn-SA-5
United States1964-01-29Satellite Beach FL(Centennial) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
United States1964-01-29Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
United States1964-01-29Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
United States1964-01-29Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)(Sokalsky dark blue, and red rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
United States1964-01-29Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)(Sokalsky dark purple) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
United States1964-01-29Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)(Sokalsky black) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
United States1964-01-29
1963-05-09
Cape Canaveral FL
Vandenberg AFB, CA
(Rank velvet) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
MIDAS-7 and ERS-5/6 and DASH-1 and WestFord-2 launch
United States1964-01-29
1963-10-17
Cape Canaveral FL
Cape Canaveral FL
(Rank velvet) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
US-ERS-12 and Vela-1/2 launch
United States1964-01-29
1964-05-28
Cape Canaveral FL
Satellite Beach FL
(Rank, based on a Boudwin rubber-stamp design) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
Saturn-SA-6 launch
United States1964-01-29
1964-09-18
Cape Canaveral FL
Satellite Beach FL
(Rank) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
Saturn-SA-7 launch
United States1964-01-29
1964-09-18
Cape Canaveral FL
Satellite Beach FL
(Rank) cachet (different, and signature) on coverSaturn-SA-5 launch
Saturn-SA-7 launch
1964-05-28: Saturn-SA-6
United States1964-05-28Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-6 launch
United States1964-05-28Cape Canaveral FL(C. Swanson purple rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-6 launch
United States1964-05-28Patrick AFB, FL(SpaceCraft orange and black) cachet on cover, also insertSaturn-SA-6 launch
United States1964-05-28Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft orange and black) cachet on cover, also insertSaturn-SA-6 launch
United States1964-05-28Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft orange and black) cachet (and signature) on cover, also insertSaturn-SA-6 launch
United States1964-05-28Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft red and black) cachet on cover, also insertSaturn-SA-6 launch
United States1964-05-28Cape Canaveral FL(Sokalsky purple) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-6 launch
United States1964-05-28Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-6 launch
United States1964-05-28
1964-01-29
Satellite Beach FL
Cape Canaveral FL
(Rank, based on a Boudwin rubber-stamp design) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-6 launch
Saturn-SA-5 launch
1964-09-18: Saturn-SA-7
United States1964-09-18Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-7 launch
United States1964-09-18Cape Canaveral FL(C. Swanson purple rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-7 launch
United States1964-09-18Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft) cachet on cover, also insertSaturn-SA-7 launch
United States1964-09-18Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-7 launch
United States1964-09-18Cape Canaveral FL(Vandy? black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-7 launch
United States1964-09-18
1964-01-29
Satellite Beach FL
Cape Canaveral FL
(Rank) cachet on coverSaturn-SA-7 launch
Saturn-SA-5 launch
United States1964-09-18
1964-01-29
Satellite Beach FL
Cape Canaveral FL
(Rank) cachet (different, and signature) on coverSaturn-SA-7 launch
Saturn-SA-5 launch
Saturn-Apollo (on other than Saturn-Apollo launch covers)
United States1963-12-12Cape Canaveral FL(Sokalsky black, and red rubber-stamp) cachet on Titan-2 (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover, also detailSaturn-SA-6
Apollo-Saturn [un-manned only]
1966-02-26: Apollo-Saturn AS-201 [sub-orbital]
See the research rockets page for postal items related to this sub-orbital mission
1966-07-05: Apollo-Saturn AS-203
United States1966-07-05Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)(Centennial) cachet on coverApollo-Saturn AS-203 launch; a Saturn-1B first stage boosted a Saturn-IVB upper stage into orbit to verify its liquid hydrogen fuel management and engine restart capability in weightlessness; no Apollo spacecraft was carried
United States1966-07-05Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)(Centennial) cachet on cover
United States1966-07-05Cape Canaveral FL(Orbit Covers, no logo) cachet on cover
United States1966-07-05Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel)(Red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1966-07-05Kennedy Space Center FL (hand cancel)(Red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1966-07-05Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insert
United States1966-07-05Cape Canaveral FL(Artopages) cachet on cover
United States1966-07-05Cape Canaveral FL(Red and green printed) cachet on cover (probable fake, based on differences between its cancel and known real cancels)
United States1966-07-05Cape Canaveral FL(HJM black) cachet on cover
United States1966-07-05
1966-08-25
Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)
Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)
(Rank velvet) cachet on coverApollo-Saturn AS-203 launch; a Saturn-1B first stage boosted a Saturn-IVB upper stage into orbit to verify its liquid hydrogen fuel management and engine restart capability in weightlessness; no Apollo spacecraft was carried

Apollo-Saturn AS-202 launch
Apollo-Saturn AS-203 (anniversaries)
United States2021-07-05Kennedy Space Center FL(Ranski) cachet on cover, also back55th anniv. Apollo-Saturn AS-203 launch
1966-08-25: Apollo-Saturn AS-202 [sub-orbital]
See the research rockets page for postal items related to this sub-orbital mission
1967-11-09: Apollo-Saturn AS-501 (Apollo-4)
Malagasy Republic1967-11-09Tananarive(Black rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on coverApollo-Saturn AS-501 (Apollo-4) Command and Service Module (CSM) test and photographic mission1; the CSM was boosted to 18,256 km and then descended back to Earth in a realistic simulation of re-entry from a translunar orbit; (in the two covers with the "Kennedy Space Center FL" cancel location highlighted in blue, the text "Apollo manned flight" and "AS 204" is incorrect)
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL(Rank velvet) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL(Rank velvet) cachet (slightly different) on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL(Harry Gordon magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL(Harry Gordon magenta and purple rubber-stamp and sticker) cachet on (airmail) cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet (and signature) on cover
United States1967-11-09Colorado Springs CO(Purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Jupiter FL(Magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL(Orbit Covers) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL(Orbit Covers) cachet (and signature) on cover
United States1967-11-09Kennedy Space Center FL(Magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Kennedy Space Center FL(Green and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL(Astro Covers, no logo) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Kennedy Space Center FL(KSC NASA? red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09USS Bennington(US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)(Whitney blue and magenta) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)(Whitney blue and black and magenta) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)(Whitney blue and magenta) cachet on cover
United States1967-11-09Cape Canaveral FL(Orange and blue printed) cachet on cover (probable fake, based on differences between its cancel and known real cancels)
United States1967-11-09Waimea HI(Black and green and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
Apollo-Saturn AS-501 (events)
United States1967-11-27 (delayed at port?)Patrick AFB, FL(Red printed and black typed) cachet on coverApollo-Saturn AS-501 (Apollo-4) event?
Apollo-Saturn AS-501 (anniversaries)
United States2017-11-09Sagamore Beach MA(Coverscape) cachet on cover50th anniv. Apollo-Saturn AS-501 (Apollo-4) Command and Service Module (CSM) test and photographic mission1; the CSM was boosted to 18,256 km and then descended back to Earth in a realistic simulation of re-entry from a translunar orbit
1968-01-22: Apollo-Saturn AS-204 (Apollo-5)
United States1968-01-22Cape Canaveral FL(Whitney black and red) cachet on (airmail) coverApollo-Saturn AS-204 launch; a Saturn-1B rocket lifted the Apollo LM (lunar module) into orbit in its first un-manned test flight; the LM's ascent and descent engine systems, and its ability to separate the ascent and descent stages, were tested in the space environment
United States1968-01-22Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)(Orbit Covers) cachet on cover
United States1968-01-22Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)(Orbit Covers) cachet on cover
United States1968-01-22Cape Canaveral FL(Astro Covers) cachet on cover
United States1968-01-22Cape Canaveral FL(Astro Covers) cachet (different) on cover
United States1968-01-22Cape Canaveral FL(Harry Gordon) cachet on cover
United States1968-01-22Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet (and signature) on cover, also insert
United States1968-01-22Kennedy Space Center FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson and extra blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover, also insert
United States1968-01-22WSMR, NM(Harry Gordon? magenta and purple rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on (airmail) cover
United States1968-01-22Cape Canaveral FL(Purple rubber-stamp and sticker) cachet on cover
United States1968-01-22Vandenberg AFB, CA(Boudwin?/Vandy? blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-01-22Kennedy Space Center FL(KSC NASA? blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-01-22Cape Canaveral FL(Rank velvet) cachet on cover
1968-04-04: Apollo-Saturn AS-502 (Apollo-6)
United States1968-04-04Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)(Orbit Covers) cachet on coverApollo-Saturn AS-502 (Apollo-6) mission to test various rocket and spacecraft systems. While the rocket was orbiting Earth, its special 70-mm camera obtained some spectacular color stereo photographs which were later found to be excellent for cartographic, topographic and geographic studies of continental areas, coastal regions, and shallow waters. The camera photographed sections of the United States, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, and the western Pacific, and had a haze-penetrating film and filter combination that provided better color balance and higher resolution than any photographs obtained during the Mercury and Gemini flights.
United States1968-04-04Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)(Orbit Covers) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Cape Canaveral FL(Centennial) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Cape Canaveral FL(Whitney green and black) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Cape Canaveral FL(Whitney green and black) cachet on (airmail) cover
United States1968-04-04Cape Canaveral FL(Harry Gordon magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Patrick AFB, FL (machine cancel)(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, and insert
United States1968-04-04Patrick AFB, FL (hand cancel)(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, and insert
United States1968-04-04Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel)(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet (and signature) on cover, and insert
United States1968-04-04Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel)(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet (and signature, different) on cover, and insert
United States1968-04-04Grand Forks ND(Magenta and black rubber-stamp and sticker) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Wallops Island VA(Magenta rubber-stamp and sticker) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Barstow CA(Magenta and black rubber-stamp and sticker) cachet (and signature) on cover
United States1968-04-04WSMR, NM(Magenta rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on cover
United States1968-04-04USS Du Pont(US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Kennedy Space Center FL(KSC NASA? blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04USS Okinawa(Beck/B748: US Navy green and silver and black printed) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04USS Okinawa(Beck/B747: US Navy green and silver and black printed) cachet (slightly different) on cover
United States1968-04-04USS Okinawa(US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04USS Okinawa(US Navy magenta rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Vandenberg AFB, CA(Swanson/DuBeau? cyan rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04USS Chikaskia(US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04USS Chikaskia(US Navy black and red rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover
United States1968-04-04USS York County(US Navy brown and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04USS York County(US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04USS York County(US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover
United States1968-04-04Cape Canaveral FL(Black printed) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Cape Canaveral FL(Black printed) cachet (different) on cover
United States1968-04-04Vandenberg AFB, CA(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Greenbelt MD(NASA/GSFC purple typed and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Fairbanks AK(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04Corpus Christi TX(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
United States1968-04-04USS Austin(US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover
Apollo-Saturn (on other than Apollo-Saturn launch covers)
United States1968-01-07Kennedy Space Center FL(Blue and red rubber-stamp and sticker) cachet on Surveyor-7 launch coverApollo-Saturn AS-204 (Apollo-5) launch (cachet subject and date in text does not match cancel date)
(later) Apollo (S-4B) [un-manned only]
1971-01-31: Apollo-14 (S-4B)
United States1971-02-04Houston TX(Space Voyage) cachet on Apollo-14 event cover"S-4B (third stage) [intentionally] crashes for Moonquake study"
1971-07-26: Apollo-15 (S-4B)
United States1971-07-29Houston TX(Space Voyage) cachet on Apollo-15 event cover"S-4B (third stage) [intentionally] crashes for Moonquake study"
United States1971-07-29Kennedy Space Center FL(Space Voyage) cachet on Apollo-15 event cover
1972-04-16: Apollo-16 (S-4B)
United States1972-04-19Kennedy Space Center FL(Space Voyage) cachet on Apollo-16 event cover"third stage of Saturn (S4B) [intentionally] crashes for Moonquake study"
1972-12-07: Apollo-17 (S-4B)
United States1972-12-10Houston TX(Space Voyage) cachet on Apollo-17 event cover"S-4B (third stage) [intentional] crash for Moonquake study"

1To demonstrate the structural and thermal integrity of the space vehicle and to verify adequacy of the Block II heatshield design for entry at lunar return conditions; also, a 70 mm still camera photographed Earth's surface every 10.6 seconds, taking 715 good-quality high-resolution pictures. Here are two examples of those photographs: image1 and image2


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Updated: 2023-09-10