OSIRIS-REx sample return FDC, USA

First-Day covers I made for the US OSIRIS-REx stamp that commemorated the successful return of an asteroid sample from space. NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft was launched in September 2016. It took two years to reach the half km wide Asteroid 101955 Bennu. Then spent two years orbiting and studying the asteroid. After a quick touchdown to collect a sample, it left Bennu for a 7 month trip back to Earth.

As OSIRIS-Rex flew by the Earth it released it's 80x50 cm return capsule which landed in the Utah desert at 8:52AM MDT on 24 September 2023 carrying a 70g sample of asteroid rock and dust.

Another Year or the Dragon FDC from Japan

This time it's the Yokohama first-day postmark (横浜 in the text at the bottom of the postmark). The stamps are added value lottery stamps. 

Year of the Dragon FDC, Japan.

From Osaka. The Year of the Dragon starts on February 10th, 2024 and ends on January 28th, 2025. The stamps were designed by stamp artist Ayumi Yoshikawa. On the right is a toy dragon woodblock print by Japanese artist Kawasaki Kyosen. And on the left is an added value lottery stamp.

100th Anniversary of the First Planetarium Projector, FDC

The stamp commemorates 100 years since the worlds first planetarium projector was introduced. The first official public event was at the Deutsches Museum in Munich on October 21, 1923. My flatbed scanner could not capture the metallic foil finish on the stamp. But it is much more apparent in this image taken with my phone.

Vienna, Austria

A Europa 2023 stamp on the right on this cover from Austria. And seven 10c make-up stamps that feature the Bodensee (Lake Constance) lace bonnet.

Finland in NATO and Finnair

On the left is a stamp from celebrating Finland's NATO membership. The stamp was issued on September 9th which was the 350th anniversary of Finnish postal service Posti. And on the right is a stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of Finnish airline Finnair on November 1st.