Sunday Stamps #5

A couple of First Day Covers from my collection.

Aussat 1986

First Day of Issue 24 Jan 1986, Melbourne VIC 3000

Back of Cover

During 1986, the whole of Australia will be covered for the first time by a comprehensive telecommunications system. Designed to complement Telecom's terrestrial network, Australia's National Satellite System (AUSSAT) will provide nationwide TV, radio and telecommunications services via three satellites launched successively by the NASA Space Shuttle and the European Space Agency's rocket system, ARIANE.

Halley's Comet

First Day of Issue 9 April 1986, Melbourne VIC 3000

Back of Cover

Clearly visible in Australia's skies in the early weeks of April 1986, Halley's Comet passed within 63,000,000km of Earth on it's way back to the outer reaches of the solar system after rounding the sun. The CSIRO radio telescope at Parkes, New South Wales, in it's 25th year of operation, was the sole receiver of information transmitted by Giotto, the probe sent to Halley's Comet by the European Space Agency.