S1905

Space Exploration

Mars, Viking Orbiter

Collins Cover Announcement 

SPACE EXPLORATION

Mars /Viking

Mars has always been the planet that man has thought might be the most likely place in our solar system to harbor life forms other than earth. Although few scientists, if any, believed in Martian canals or ancient civilizations, the ideas still lingered. Dry and cold as it might be, was Mars a home to any type of life? The planet has an earth-like rotation of just over 24 hours. A year is 687 days long due to its distance from the sun. A thin, cold atmosphere supports clouds and dust storms. The Mariner spacecraft discovered that most of the surface is comprised of craters similar to the moon. Mars is basically a desert, devoid of water and life.

On June 19, 1976, Viking I established orbit around Mars. This probe was the product of about 10,000 people working for ten years and now its daily progress was being monitored by about 800 people. On July 20th after circling for a month, the lander unit separated from the spacecraft and began its descent. It landed on a rock-strewn surface and sent back fabulous photos and a wealth of scientific information. Viking II later joined its counterpart at a site some 4,600 miles distant. Both continued to transmit valuable data for years and were a true success story in our space program.

A manned mission to Mars is now a question of when. It will be the first planet that earthlings will visit. My prediction is July 4, 2026 with permanently staffed space stations, bases on the moon and eventual flights to other planets. The endless frontier of space challenges the imagination and mind of mankind.

Mars and the Viking Spacecraft. Item #S1905. $8.75.

Winter 2026 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 20 S1901 — S1910 — Solar System Space Stamps (set of ten covers) — /0/1/91

The USPS "Space Exploration" stamps, issued October 1, 1991, featured the nine planets and Earth's moon with their respective spacecraft, celebrating the solar system and kicking off National Stamp Collecting Month. The heavenly bodies shown are Mercury, Venus, Earth, (Earth's moon), Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

The USPS partnered with Paramount Studios to promote the stamps. The studio was celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Star Trek movies and television series. The stamp designs were unveiled on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, the space vehicle featured in the series.

These stamps show some of the spacecraft and the images of the planets they captured as they flew by. Discoveries continue to be made with the space probes that still travel our solar system."

Each of my ten hand-painted first day covers depicts one of the nine planets plus the Earth's moon. Since Pluto had not yet had a fly-by or been explored by any manmade craft, I depicted the US.S. Enterprise from the show Star Trek.