STS-72 launch crew – KSC cover

STS-72 Launch Cover with Mission Patch – Hand-Signed by the Entire Crew

A standout collectible from NASA’s mid-1990s Shuttle era. This official STS-72 launch cover, postmarked at Kennedy Space Center, features the embroidered mission patch affixed and is hand-signed by all six members of the Space Shuttle Endeavour crew.

Launched in January 1996, STS-72 was a key international and technological mission, involving the retrieval of the Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU) and the deployment of the OAST-Flyer satellite. The mission also featured two complex EVAs (spacewalks) to test hardware for future assembly tasks on the International Space Station.

Crew Signatures Include:

• Brian Duffy (Commander)

• Brent W. Jett Jr. (Pilot)

• Leroy Chiao (Mission Specialist)

• Daniel T. Barry (Mission Specialist)

• Winston E. Scott (Mission Specialist)

• Kōichi Wakata (Mission Specialist – JAXA, Japan)

Key Features:

• Official STS-72 launch-day cover, postmarked at KSC

• Mission patch affixed to the cover

• Hand-signed by the full 6-member crew, including international astronaut Koichi Wakata

• Excellent condition – ideal for framing or inclusion in any serious Shuttle-era collection

A rare and complete crew-signed artifact representing a mission of international collaboration, technical achievement, and preparation for the future of the ISS.