February 2022 Auction Ends Thursday, February 24th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2022
Interesting typed letter signed by space architect Wernher von Braun from 1964 regarding the launch of Explorer I, the first U.S. satellite. Stamped 22 February 1964, von Braun writes as Director of the Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama to a member of the Junior Philatelic Americans. Letter on NASA stationery reads in part,
''There is such a story behind the launching of Explorer I, which you asked about. Our rocket team here at Huntsville...is understandably proud of our role in this milestone in space. In 1958 we were part of the U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal, and I was Director of Development Operations Division for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency. We had enjoyed considerable success in the development of the Redstone and Jupiter missiles, when the Soviets launched Sputnik I, the first man-made earth satellite, that marks the birth of the Space Age.
The United Stated had underway Project Vanguard, designed to launch an earth satellite...The Vanguard launch vehicle was being designed and tested, but was not operational.
We at ABMA [Army Ballistic Missile Agency] were pretty far along in development of the Redstone, which had already earned the nickname of 'Old Reliable.' And besides that, we had placed two clusters of solid propellant rockets atop the Redstone to form the three-stage Jupiter C launch vehicle for testing re-entry of a nose cone into the earth's atmosphere. We had fired a small-scale nose cone into space and had recovered it 3,000 miles down the Atlantic Missile Range. Then we knew that we could place a satellite into orbit simply by adding just one more solid-propellant rocket to our Jupiter C test vehicle.
About one month after Sputnik I we were given the go-ahead on this project. And within 87 days the 30.8-pound Explorer I was boosted by the Jupiter C to the path which it is still traveling around the earth...Six years later, on January 29, 1964, the Saturn I placed into orbit 37,700 pounds, dramatically demonstrating this advance in rocketry...Your collection of stamps will reflect many more milestones in the future as man advances into space...[signed] Wernher von Braun''.
Two page letter on two sheets measures 8'' x 10.5'', boldly signed by von Braun. Folds, light creasing, and one small spot of foxing at top edge. Overall in very good condition. Accompanied by PSA/DNA COA.
Wernher von Braun Letter Signed from 1964 Describing the Launching of Explorer 1 -- ''...the birth of the Space Age...'' -- With PSA/DNA COA
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