(GOCE) The Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer

(GOCE) The Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer

This is a free boomerang advertising postcard for the UK's Space programs.

Vanguard and the 'Baby Moon', Patrick Air Force Base

Baby Moon

Air Force Missile Test Center
Patrick Air Force Base, Florida
U.S. Navy Vanguard - Satellite Vehicle

The Vanguard blasts off from its launching stand at Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying in its nose a small earth satellite.  This "baby moon" is now circling the earth as part of United States participation in the International Geo-physical Year.  The Vanguard, undertaken by the Naval Research Laboratory, is one of the rockets now being tested at the Air Force Missile Test Center.

A Pair of Piggyback Satellites and LOFTI

A pair of "piggyback" satellites - Transit 3-B and its small companion LOFTI - before being fired into orbit together from the Air Force Missile Test Center's launch site at Cape Canaveral.
(U. S. Air Force Photo)

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This was launched in 1961. 

NASA Echo Satellite

The NASA Echo satellite - which unfolded from its canister into a 100-foot aluminized balloon to reflect radio signals - mated to the final stage of a Thor-Delta rocket at Cape Canaveral, launch site of the Air Force Missile Test Center (U.S. Air Force Photo).

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Echo 1 was launched on August 12, 1960.

Echo 2 (not on the postcard) was launched on a Thor-Agena rocket in 1964. 

Dale Gardner, Joseph Allen, Satellite For Sale

Dale Gardner, Joseph Allen show sign above item for sale; A slightly used satellite.
Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Color Photo by NASA

This postcard is of Mission STS-51-A.

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STS-51-A launched on November 8, 1984 and marked the first time a shuttle deployed two communications satellites, and retrieved from orbit two other communications satellites. The Canadian Anik D2 and Syncom IV-1 satellites were both successfully deployed by the crew of Discovery. Palapa B2 and Westar 6, meanwhile, had been deployed during the STS-41-B mission earlier in the year, but had been placed into improper orbits due to the malfunctioning of their kick motors (hence, the for sale signs); they were both safely recovered and returned to Earth during STS-51-A.

Thor-Able Star Missile, Satellite Launch

Thor-Able Star Missile shown here ready for launching from its pad at Cape Canaveral is primarily a navigational aid satellite.

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Nineteen Thor-Ablestars were launched between 1960 and 1965. 

Florida From Space

Florida.  It's a vacation wonderland, even from Space!

Photo courtesy of NASA

2008

An Antenna for International Communications Via Satellites

Andover, Maine
This giant 380-ton antenna is located inside an 18-story "Bubble," or radome, at the Andover earth station.  It is used for sending and receiving all forms of international communications via commercial satellite.  COMSAT, AT&T, RCA, ITT and WUI own the facility, which is managed and operated by COMSAT. 

Vanguard Satellite and Launching Vehicle

Mock-up of VANGUARD satellite scientific experiment sitting on top of third stage of the launching vehicle.  A six inch satellite was put into ORBIT on March 17, 1958 (still in orbit).

Patrick Air Force Base, Florida

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Vanguard 1 was the fourth artificial Earth orbital satellite launched (after Sputnik 1, Sputnik 2, and Explorer 1), but the first satellite to be solar powered.  Although communication with it was lost in 1964, it remains the oldest manmade satellite still in orbit.

Alabama Space and Rocket Center, Spaceship Lunar Odyssey

Alabama Space and Rocket Center
Huntsville, Alabama

World's Largest Space Museum
Tranquility Base

Passengers experience 'g' forces and a simulated form of weightlessness aboard Spaceship Lunar Odyssey, at the Alabama Space and Rocket Center.  The futuristic spacecraft flies 46 passengers on simulated flights to the moon everyday from the world's largest space exhibit, located in Huntsville, Alabama.