STS-51 J crew – mission patch cover

STS-51J Kennedy Space Center Launch Cover – Hand-Signed by the Complete Crew

Authentic Kennedy Space Center (KSC) launch day cover postmarked October 3, 1985, commemorating the maiden flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-51J). Personally autographed by all five crew members:

• Commander: Karol J. “Bo” Bobko

• Pilot: Ronald J. Grabe

• Mission Specialist: David C. Hilmers

• Mission Specialist: Robert L. Stewart

• Mission Specialist: William A. Pailes

Mission Significance:
STS-51J was the second dedicated Department of Defense mission in the Shuttle program and the first flight of Atlantis. Specific payload details remain classified, but the mission marked the beginning of a distinguished service career for Atlantis, which would later play key roles in Shuttle–Mir and International Space Station assembly flights.

Condition:
Excellent — crisp KSC launch day cancellation, clean mission cachet, and bold, well-placed signatures from the entire crew.

Collector’s Note:
Complete crew-signed launch covers from STS-51J are relatively scarce, especially given the classified nature of the mission, making them a unique piece of Shuttle-era history.