USA Arcane Satelite Mail Schmiedl

Commemorative postcard USA-Geheimsatelit, Start: 12. 06. 1963 with 70 Groschen stamp and vignette, hand signed by Schmiedl. Only 50 postcards have been mailed, this one with nr. 11.

Krieglach-cancellation. Good condition.

Friedrich Schmiedl (11902 – 11994) was an Austrian rocket designer; known particularly for his development of rocket mail.

Schmiedl began experiments with solid-fuel rockets in 1918. On 2 February 1931 he launched a rocket from Schöckl-mountain, which contained 102 letters. It was operated by remote control and landed by parachute at St Radegund, a village about 3 km away. More successful launches were subsequently made, to St Radegund and to Kumberg, a village about 6 km away. Philatelists became interested in collecting letters which had been sent by rocket. Schmiedl envisaged that mail could be sent between towns by rocket; however the Austrian Post Office was not persuaded.