Astrophilately represents collection of philatelic material related to space exploration. It does not develop a theme, it is a philatelic study of the scientific and technical progress achieved in conquest of space, including stratosphere research, early rocketry and the precursors to the various types of spacecraft, chronologically recording the relative events within the different programmes.
An astrophilatelic collection may encompass all aspects or relate to a self contained section only to the following: (1) from the period of pioneers to conquest of space; (2) rocket mail; (3) space programmes of USA, USSR/Russia, Europe and/or other countries; (4) unmanned space programmes; (5) manned space programmes.
History of Manned Space Flights
I collect astrophilatelic material related to the history of manned space flights.
In genereal, appropriate astrophilatelic material that documents history of manned space flights are envelopes and cards cancelled by the post office at the place and on the exact date of the manned space flight events (launching, landing, events after the takeoff).
In more detail, appropriate astrophilatelic material that documents history of USA manned space flights are envelopes and cards recording takeoffs (launches), landings or other space activities shall be postmarked with the exact date on which they took place. Where the post office was closed at the time when launches, landings or other space activities took place, the postmark of the next working day is valid. Postmarks for launches should be shown only from the post office nearest to the site of the launch. From 1965 - 75 an official NASA cachet was applied to some covers and cards at the post office in Kennedy Space Centre (KSC). Envelopes and cards recording splashdowns (landings) should have the postmark of the post office on board of the main recovery ship with the date of recovery of the astronauts and/or space capsule. Additional official cachets, referring to the mission, are also applied on recovery ships covers. Space Shuttle landings shall be recorded by the postmark of the post office nearest to the landing site. For the various events after the takeoff, the postmarks of the corresponding mission control centre responsible for the supervision are valid. Envelopes and cards with the official cachet are of primary interest.
Appropriate astrophilatelic material that documents history of USSR/Russia manned space flights prior to April 1975 are postal stationery, envelopes and cards with special cancellations referring to the mission and duration of flight time. From April 1975 onwards official postmarks are available from the Cosmodrome Baikonur recording the launch of manned spaceships. The postmarks of the Cosmodrome are preferable to those of the official trading company. Postmarks for launches (after April 1975) should be shown from the post office nearest to the launching sites (Cosmodrome) with date of the event. Space Mail is philatelic material flown aboard a spacecraft. Since 1978 post offices are in function in space stations. For the various events after the takeoff, the postmarks of the corresponding mission control centre responsible for the supervision are valid. Landings of spacecraft shall be recorded by the postmark of the post office nearest to the landing place.
Flown covers are important part of astrophilatelic collection that documents history of manned space flights. Flown covers exist from Apollo Moon flights, Space Shuttle STS 8 and Space mail carried from and to Salyut, Mir and ISS orbital stations. Space mail of the USSR/Russia should show the special marks only available in the space stations and/or official postmarks applied at the post offices in the Salyut and Mir orbital stations.
