SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY - STS - 26 CREW - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: COLONEL RICHARD "DICK" COVEY, MIKE (JOHN M.) LOUNGE, COLONEL DAVID C. HILMERS, GEORGE D. NELSON, CAPTAIN FREDERICK "RICK" HAUCK - HFSID 296033

SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY STS-26 CREW
Commemorative envelope from the "Return to Flight" mission, the first flight since the Challenger disaster. The 5 crewmembers, all space veterans, have signed: Hauck, Covey, Lounge, Nelson and Hilmers
Commemorative Envelope Signed: "Rick Hauck", "Dick Covey", "George Nelson", "Dave Hilmer", "Mike Lounge", 6½x3½. Postmarked Kennedy Space Center, October 3, 1988. Space Shuttle Mission STS-26, the 26th shuttle mission (returning NASA to the original numbering system) and the seventh for Discovery, was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on September 29, 1988, and returned Edwards Air Force Base on October 3. This was the "Return to Flight" mission, the first since the Challenger disaster of January 28, 1986. For the first time since the initial lunar landing of Apollo XI, all members of the crew were veterans of at least one prior space mission. Although the flight deployed a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite and performed 11 scientific experiments, its primary mission was to test the safety systems implemented in response to Challenger, including the first bail-out capacity since STS-3, and new launch and entry flight suits. NASA also returned to the original mission numbering system. FREDERICK H. HAUCK (b.1941) was mission Commander, RICHARD O. COVEY (b.1946) the Pilot. The Mission Specialists were MIKE LOUNGE (1946-2011), DAVID C. HILMERS (b.1950) and GEORGE D. NELSON (b.1950). "Dick Covey" signature lightly haloed, but remains legible. Otherwise, fine condition.