Mark Schuler (American, B. 1951) "Hermes Spaceplane" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Great Britain 37p Europe in Space stamp issued April 23, 1991.

In the ancient Greek religion, Hermes was the messenger of the gods. The god of travelers and roads, Hermes also conducted souls to the netherworld. The name Hermes therefore serves as a fitting moniker for the European Space Agency's first spaceplane, scheduled for development and deployment in the late 1990s. Designed to carry out a variety of missions, Hermes' primary mission will be to service the Space Station Freedom's Columbus Free-Flying Laboratory. Every six months, Hermes will enter orbit to dock at the laboratory for approximately seven days. The shuttle crews will initiate experiments, perform laboratory maintenance and transport equipment to and from the craft's three-ton capacity payload bay. If necessary, the crews may perform extra-vehicular activities using the HERA -- Hermes robotic arm. A technological project with enormous potential for large-scale European research and development expansion, Hermes will move the ESA into realms heretofore dominated by the scientific communities of the United States and Soviet Union.

Image Size: 14.5 x 12.75 in.
Overall Size: 20 x 18 in.
Unframed. (B13199)

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20 x 18 in