Details:

The Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) autographed commemorative cover honoring the rollout of the Space Shuttle Enterprise, signed by Fred Haise, Joe Engle, Owen Garriott, Richard H. Truly, and C. Gordon Fullerton. Postmarked at Palmdale, California, on September 17, 1976, the cover features an illustration of the Space Shuttle Enterprise and commemorates the vehicle’s public rollout at the Rockwell International facility, marking the beginning of the Space Shuttle era. The five signatures represent an extraordinary assembly of astronauts intimately connected with the shuttle’s earliest development and flight testing. Haise, Engle, Truly, and Fullerton all served as approach and landing test pilots for Enterprise, while Garriott was among NASA’s pioneering scientist-astronauts whose later Space Shuttle missions helped demonstrate the vehicle’s scientific capabilities.

Fine condition.

Fred Haise (b. 1933) is best remembered as the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 13, whose crew safely returned to Earth following the spacecraft’s near-catastrophic explosion. Following Apollo, he became one of the principal pilots for the Space Shuttle Enterprise Approach and Landing Tests.

Joe Engle (1932–2024) was an X-15 test pilot who earned astronaut wings before joining NASA. Originally assigned to Apollo 17 before the mission was canceled, he later commanded STS-2, becoming one of the first Space Shuttle commanders and serving as one of Enterprise’s ALT pilots.

Owen Garriott (1930–2019) was a pioneering scientist-astronaut who flew aboard Skylab 3 and STS-9, conducting groundbreaking research in space and helping establish the Space Shuttle as a platform for scientific experimentation.

Richard H. Truly (1937–2024) flew the final ALT free-flight of Enterprise before piloting STS-2 and commanding STS-8. He later served as the eighth Administrator of NASA from 1989 to 1992.

C. Gordon Fullerton (1936–2013) served as one of the Space Shuttle Enterprise approach and landing test pilots before commanding STS-3 and STS-51-F. Widely respected as one of NASA’s premier research and test pilots, he later spent decades advancing aeronautics research at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11519 1416856-1