Delivering Outer Space Mail

THIS DAY IN UNO HISTORY 11-19-60: UNO graduate and U.S. Air Force Capt. Gene W. Jones pilots Pelican Two, a C-119, during a mid-air snatch over the Pacific Ocean of the capsule ejected from the Discoverer XVII satellite. The capsule launched Nov. 12 that year and traveled approximately 1 million miles during 31 orbits of Earth.

The capsule carried stamped letters that became the first “outer space mail” ever delivered, including a letter from Jones to Bill Ronson of New York City.

Jones and his crew repeat the difficult procedure Dec. 7, capturing the capsule of Discoverer XVIII, 1960.