Pioneer

Pioneer-series satellites
(non-planetary: Pioneer-0 — Pioneer-E)


Below is a checklist of Pioneer-series (non-planetary) satellite postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.). Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the satellites featured are given when available. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.

Farther below is a list of Pioneer-series (non-planetary) satellite launch covers, anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers.

The first part of the Pioneer series, Pioneer-0 — Pioneer-E (which failed), were primarily lunar, solar, and interplanetary satellites. Only these earlier Pioneer (non-planetary) satellites are included here. The later part of the series, Pioneer-10 — Pioneer-13, were for exploration of the planets, including specific missions of two Pioneers to Jupiter/Saturn and two Pioneers to Venus. Those later Pioneer (planetary) satellites are not covered in this checklist.

For Pioneer-series (non-planetary) launch information see the Pioneer-series table on the scientific/research satellites page.


CountryCatalog Number*Type of Item**Year of IssueNotes on Content
Pioneer (non-planetary)
BelgiumNoneIn (lower-right) margin of cinderella of 2 imperforates196?Pioneer-54
Bhutan406SS11984Pioneer-54
Bhutan407SS1
Burundi1331965Pioneer-54
Burundi133aOn stamp and in (center) margin of MS2 (131+133)
CamerounC841967Pioneer-6 (Pioneer-A) with folded antennas, date for Pioneer-1
Cuba18001973Pioneer-3/42
FujeiraMi701966Pioneer-54
FujeiraMi149Mi70 overprinted new currency1967Pioneer-54
FujeiraMi348Mi70 overprinted "Apollo-8"1969Pioneer-54
GambiaUnknown a (new issue)From MS62008Pioneer-1
GambiaUnknown b (new issue)
GambiaUnknown c (new issue)
GambiaUnknown a (new issue)From MS4
GambiaUnknown b (new issue)
GambiaUnknown ss (new issue)SS1
GambiaUnknown a (new issue)From MS42008Pioneer-3
GambiaUnknown b (new issue)
GambiaUnknown a (new issue)From MS6
GambiaUnknown b (new issue)
GambiaUnknown c (new issue)
GambiaUnknown ss (new issue)SS1
Ghana1641964Pioneer-0/1/21
Ghana165
Ghana166
Ghana166aOn stamp and in (left, lower-right) margin of imperforate MS4 (4x 166)Pioneer-0/1/21, Pioneer-54
Ghana1861964Pioneer-0/1/21
Ghana186aMS12 (12x 186)
Ghana187
Ghana187aMS12 (12x 187)
Ghana188
Ghana188aMS12 (12x 186)
Haitim1310 (Y723)*1973Pioneer-6/7/8/93 with folded antennas
Haitim1310 proof1Proof
Haitim1310 proof2Proof (different)
Haitim1310 proof3Proof (different)
Haitim1310 proof4Proof (different)
Haitim1310 proof5Proof (different)
Haitim1310 proof6Proof (different)
Haitim1369*m1310 overprinted1974Pioneer-6/7/8/93 with folded antennas
MongoliaC61965Pioneer-54
Montserrat891In (upper) margin of SS11996Pioneer-54
Nigeria143aIn (lower-left) margin of MS12 (12x 143)1963Pioneer-0/1/21
Nigeria144aIn (lower-left) margin of MS12 (12x 144)
PanamaC334a (BL36)
iC334a (BL37)
In (lower) margin of MS2 (C333-C334), changed colors on imperforate1965Pioneer-0/1/21
PanamaC336a
iC336a
In (lower-left) margin / (lower-left) margin of MS2 (C335-C336), changed colors on imperforate1965Pioneer-0/1/21
Paraguay922 (Mi1522)
i922 (Mi1530)
Changed colors on imperforate1966Pioneer-0/1/21
Paraguay926 (Mi1526)
i926 (Mi1534)
Changed colors on imperforate1966Pioneer-0/1/21
Paraguay926a (BL79)
i926a (BL80)
SS1 (926), changed colors on imperforate
Qatar4481975Pioneer-54
Rwanda136MS2 (136 (a-b))1965Pioneer-0/1/21
Sharjah44 (Mi56)1964Pioneer-54
Sharjah44A44 overprinted new currency1967Pioneer-54
Sharjah48b (BL4)Imperforate SS11964Pioneer-54
SharjahMi10001972Pioneer-3/42
United StatesNoneCachet on Discoverer-8 launch cover1959Pioneer-54
United StatesNoneCachet on Discoverer-11 launch cover1960Pioneer-54
United StatesNoneCachet on Explorer-S66 launch cover1964Pioneer-0/1/21, Pioneer-54
United States1556 fdcCachet on FDC1975Pioneer-1 — Pioneer-9
Yemen Arab RepublicMi921
Mi928
Changed colors on imperforate1969Pioneer-4, Pioneer-54

*Scott catalog number, unless prefixed with Mi or BL for Michel, or m for Minkus, or Y for Yvert; "i" prefix denotes imperforate version.
**FDC = first day cover; SS# = souvenir sheet, MS# = miniature sheet, where # = number of stamps in sheet, and the numbers in parentheses are the catalog numbers of the stamps in the sheet.

1Pioneer-0, 1, and 2 are all basically identical.
2Pioneer-3 and 4 are basically identical.
3Pioneer-6, 7, 8, and 9 are all basically identical.
4Both Pioneer-5 and Explorer-6 were "paddlewheel" satellites. It is believed that Explorer-6 contained two short antennas on its "top", whereas Pioneer-5 contained only a single short antenna. When there are no antennas on top, the distinction is unclear, but of the two, Pioneer-5 is assumed.


Below is a list of Pioneer-series (non-planetary) satellite launch covers, anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers.


CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
Pioneer (non-planetary)
United States1958-10-11Port Canaveral FL(Goldcraft) cachet on coverPioneer-1 launch
United States1958-11-08Port Canaveral FL(Goldcraft) cachet on coverPioneer-2 launch [failed]
United States1958-12-06Port Canaveral FL(Goldcraft) cachet on coverPioneer-3 launch
United States1959-03-03Port Canaveral FL(Goldcraft) cachet on coverPioneer-4 launch
United States1960-03-11Patrick AFB, FL(Typed/printed) cachet on coverPioneer-5 launch
United States1960-03-11Port Canaveral FL(Goldcraft) cachet on coverPioneer-5 launch
United States1960-03-11Port Canaveral FL(?) cachet on coverPioneer-5 launch
United States1960-03-11Port Canaveral FL(Printed) cachet on coverPioneer-5 launch
United States1960-03-11Port Canaveral FL(Rubber-stamp) cachet on coverPioneer-5 launch
United States1960-03-11Port Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverPioneer-5 launch
United States1960-09-25Port Canaveral FL(Rubber-stamp) cachet on coverPioneer-P30 launch [failed]
United States1960-12-15?Patrick AFB, FL(Rubber-stamp) cachet on coverPioneer-P31 launch [failed]
United States1965-12-16Cape Canaveral FL(Rubber-stamp) cachet on coverPioneer-6 launch
United States1965-12-16Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverPioneer-6 launch
United States1965-12-16Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverPioneer-6 launch
United States1966-08-17Cape Canaveral FL(Orbit) cachet on coverPioneer-7 launch
United States1966-08-17Patrick AFB, FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverPioneer-7 launch
United States1967-12-13Patrick AFB, FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverPioneer-8 launch
United States1967-12-13Cape Canaveral FL(?) cachet on coverPioneer-8 launch
United States1967-12-13Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverPioneer-8 launch (Ranger-3, 4, or 5 image)?
United States1968-11-08Patrick AFB, FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverPioneer-9 launch
United States1968-11-08Cape Canaveral FL(Sarzin) cachet on coverPioneer-9 launch
United States1968-11-08Cape Canaveral FL(Rubber-stamp) cachet on coverPioneer-9 launch
United States1969-08-27Cape Canaveral FL(SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on coverPioneer-E launch [failed]

1Ranger Block-2 version (Ranger-3, 4, or 5) image, not Pioneer-8 on this cover.


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Updated: 2008-11-13