Automated Transfer Vehicle to take off in February

By Jürgen Peter Esders, International Director, Europe

In the 2nd half of February, the European Space Agency will launch the first of its Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV), “Jules Verne”. “Jules Verne” will be launched on an Ariane V rocket from the launch base at Kourou in French Guyana. The spacecraft will complement the Russian Progress as a freighter to the International Space Station.

Collectors documenting the International Space Station will want to obtain covers for this launch. Several associations, usually associated with European space institutions and companies, are issuing covers for Ariane launches. The following list tries to document most of the sources for printed space covers for Ariane:

Club Philatélique du CSG Michel Vasse B.P. 306 97378 Kourou Cedex Guyane Française/French Guyana	Local servicer and stamp dealer. Provides rubber stamp cachets on appropriately stamped and addressed covers. No fee. May take long. Also sells printed covers.
Association Philatélique Arianespace M. J-P Lespayandel La Rudie 16350 Champagne-Mouton France	Stamp club of Ariane’s mother company, Arianespace. Printed covers for €2.50 ea., plus postage
Association Philatélique du CNES 18 Avenue Edouard Belin 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9 France	French space agency CNES. Note that Toulouse maintains the control center for ATV. Produces folders of 2 to 3 covers for each Ariane flight (€6.80 for a folder of 3)
Association Philatélique du CE Snecma Propulsion Solide Les 5 chemins 33187 Le Haillan Cedex France	Formerly called SEP, the company produces the solid combustibles for Ariane. Club membership required (annuel fee €9), covers are €2.70 ea.
Erno-Philatelie Dieter Cordssen Pappelstrasse 9 28857 Syke Germany e-mail: didoco@web.de	EADS Bremen (formerly ERNO) built the European Columbus module Covers with printed photo cachets for €2 ea. Olus postage
Editions Philatéliques Européennes Jean-Luc Staedel BP 30253 67007 Strasbourg France Website: http://www.europafdc.eu/boutique/index.php	French stamp dealer located in the building of the European Parliament at Strasbourg. Offers nicely illustrated cacheted covers at €6 ea.
Espace Lollini 3 Av. Michel de Cimiez Villa Cimarosa 06000 Nice, France Website: http://www.espacelollini.com	French space dealer. Ariane covers are €5 ea.