Apollo 11's 50th Anniversary Postcard for International Postcard Week

Happy International Postcard Week - October 6-12, 2019

This postcard is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

For this years postcard, I decided to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.  It is amazing how far we have come in 50 years!  Back then you needed an entire room for a computer, now you can hold one in the palm of your hand.

Take care,
Brenda

On the font is:
Neil Armstrong, Michael Conllins and Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin.

This postcard was postmarked with two 2019 'First Moon Landing' stamps.

Apollo 11 Insignia

Apollo 11

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.
The official Apollo 11 Insignia

This postcard is unused.

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The Apollo 11 mission emblem was designed by Michael Collins, who wanted a symbol for "peaceful lunar landing by the United States". At Lovell's suggestion, he chose the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, as the symbol. Tom Wilson, a simulator instructor, suggested an olive branch in its beak to represent their peaceful mission. Collins added a lunar background with the Earth in the distance.

Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins decided not to put their names on the patch, so it would "be representative of everyone who had worked toward a lunar landing".

Apollo 8 Astronauts, Lovell, Anders and Borman

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.

The prime crew for the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations Apollo 8 Moon Orbital flight posed by the Apollo mission simulator are astronauts (Left to Right) James A. Lovell, Jr., Command Module (CM) Pilot, William A. Anders, Lunar Module (LM) Pilot, and Frank Borman, Commander.

This postcard is unused. 

Apollo 17 Liftoff in 1972

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A

The Apollo 17 space vehicle lifted off from Launch Complex 39 A, at 12:33 EST Dec. 7th 1972.

Color photo by NASA

The Telescope at Parkes Observatory in Australia

Siding Spring
Coonabarabran
NSN 2357

A receiving dish of the Australia Telescope Parkes, NSW

Photo (CSIRO)

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The Parkes Observatory (also known informally as "The Dish") is a radio telescope observatory, located 20 kilometres north of the town of Parkes, New South Wales, Australia.

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The sender writes:
If it was not for the Parks Space Receiver Station your 1969 moon landing would have been different...

Here is what I found:
When Buzz Aldrin switched on the TV camera on the Lunar Module, three tracking antennas received the signals simultaneously. They were the 64-metre Goldstone antenna in California, the 26-metre antenna at Honeysuckle Creek near Canberra in Australia, and the 64-metre dish at Parkes.

In the first few minutes of the broadcast, NASA alternated between the signals being received from its two stations at Goldstone and Honeysuckle Creek, searching for the best quality picture.

A little under nine minutes into the broadcast, the TV was switched to the Parkes signal. The quality of the TV pictures from Parkes was so superior that NASA stayed with Parkes as the source of the TV for the remainder of the 2.5 hour broadcast.
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Here is a better view of the stamp . . .

Australia stamp 1992

International Space Year

Spiral Galaxy NGC 2997

1.20

NASA Apollo Saturn-V

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.

Aerial view, NASA APOLLO Saturn-V 500 F. facility vehicle, arrives at launch complex 39 A.

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SA-500F was a dummy Saturn V used to test facilities at Launch Complex 39 during 1966.

Apollo Saturn V at Kennedy Space Center Complex 39 A

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.

NASA Apollo Saturn V, 500 F facility vehicle enroute from NASA's vehicle assembly building to launch complex 39 A.

Color Photo by NASA

NASA Tours Conducted by TWA, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

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I believe this is from 1966. 

The Lunar Module and Half of Planet Earth

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.

With a half Earth in the background, the lunar module ascent stage with moon-walking astronauts, Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., approaches for a rendezvous with the Apollo 11 command module manned by Michael Collins.

Color Photo by NASA

NASA Tours Conducted by TWA, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Apollo 8 Earth View with Bible Verse

". . . Hanging the earth upon nothing;" Job 26:7

Apollo 8 Earth View -
A striking view from the Apollo 8 spacecraft showing nearly the entire Western Hemisphere, from the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, including nearby Newfoundland, extending to Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America.  (Hold Picture With Earth At Top Center) Central America is clearly outlined.  Nearly all of South America is covered by clouds, except the high Andes Mountain chain along the west coast.  A small portion of the bulge of west Africa shows along the sunset terminator at upper right.

Color by NASA

This is an unused vintage postcard.

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Apollo 8, the second human spaceflight mission in the United States Apollo space program, was launched on December 21, 1968.

My guess is that in 1968 there were not a lot of great pictures of the earth and that is why there is such written detail on this postcard.  I believe 'The Blue Marble' is the first picture of the entire planet earth that was taken and that was in 1972. 

Apollo 15, James Irwin and Lunar Rover on the Moon with Falcon

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.
Astronaut James B. Irwin with Lunar Roving Vehicle, part of Lunar Module "Falcon" on left, St. George Crater is about 5 kilometers in distance behind Irwin's head.

Color Photo by NASA

This postcard is from NASA Tours, Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

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Apollo 15 began on July 26, 1971, and ended on August 7.

Project Apollo - Lunar Landing Mission

Lunar Landing Mission
Return to Earth

Re-entry at 25,000 MPH
Maneuver in Atmosphere
Landing at Preselected Site

Project Apollo
This project is concerned with the development of a three-man space craft for up to two weeks' orbit about the earth, flights around the moon, and manned lunar landing.  This view shows an artist's conception of the lunar landing mission.

Color by NASA

Splashdown, Return of Apollo 11 Astronauts

Splashdown.
A safe return and splash down for Apollo 11 astronauts.

This is a reproduction postcard.  Apollo 11 was 1969 and this was printed in 1993. 

Apollo 11, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. on the Moon

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.

Surrounded by Man's first footprints on the lunar surface, Apollo 11 lunar pilot, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., erects a solar wind experiment near the Tranquility Base established by Eagle.

Color Photo by NASA
NASA Tours conducted by TWA

Artist Rendition of Saturn V Apollo after Lift-off

John F. Kennedy Space Center
Artist's rendition of NASA's Saturn V Apollo seconds after lift-off carrying three astronauts on its maiden voyage to the moon.  The Kennedy Space Center and Cape kennedy is visible in the background.

Apollo 7 atop a Saturn IB Rocket

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.
The Apollo 7 spacecraft, atop a Saturn IB rocket, lifts off from Complex 34.  The spacecraft achieved orbit to begin an 11-day mission.   The flight is intended to qualify Apollo for a manned flight to the moon.

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The launch was on October 11, 1968.

Apollo 11 Astronauts, Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.

The prime crew for Apollo 11, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin, watch as the space vehicle scheduled  to carry them to the moon was positioned on the launch pad.

Apollo 17 Astronauts and the Lunar Roving Vehicle

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.

The Apollo 17 crew pose on the Lunar Roving Vehicle.  Apollo 17 Commander Eugene A. Cernan sits at the controls, Dr. Harrison "Jack" Schmitt left, and Command Module Pilot Donald A Evans.

Color Photo by NASA
NASA Tours conducted by TWA at Kennedy Space Center

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Apollo 17 was the final mission of the United States' Apollo program.  It launched on December 7, 1972.

Apollo 15 and The Lunar Roving Vehicle

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.
Apollo 15 Commander David Scott, right and Lunar Module Pilot James Irwin participate in a suited Simulated mission run on the Lunar Roving Vehicle.

Color Photo by NASA
NASA Tours Conducted by TWA, Kennedy Space Center

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Apollo 15 was the ninth manned mission in the United States' Apollo program and the fourth to land on the Moon.  The mission began on July 26, 1971 and ended on August 7.

The Apollo 15 Insignia / Emblem with Scott, Worden, Irwin

Apollo 15
Scott Worden Irwin

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.
The Official Apollo 15 Emblem

This postcard is from NASA Tours Conducted by TWA at Kennedy Space Center.

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Apollo 15 was the ninth manned mission in the United States' Apollo program, the fourth to land on the Moon, and the eighth successful manned mission. It  began on July 26, 1971, and ended on August 7.

David Scott
Alfred Worden
James Irwin

Saturn IB, Apollo 7

John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.
Saturn IB space vehicle carrying Apollo 7 Astronauts Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Donn F. Eisele and Walter Cunningham lifts off from Launch Complex 34.  Camera captures rocket clearing its 240-foot-high umbilical tower.