Deutsche Bundespost NASA-ESA Mission with Dr Ulf Merbold

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST issued a 40 Pfennig stamp  the Space Shuttle orbiter showing its solid rocket boosters.  The design was associated with the "Industrie 4.0 Weltraumlabor" (Industry 4.0 Space Laboratory) theme. The cancellation postmark originated from Houston, TX, dated 28 November 1983. It was issued in conjunction with the STS-9 joint NASA-ESA mission aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. The STS-9 mission focused on scientific research in microgravity. 

It was the first flight of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Spacelab module. Ulf Merbold was the first non-US citizen and West German to fly on a NASA space mission. 

The USPS 13c stamp of the US Flag over Independence Hall on this postcard was from the Bicentennial Series, first issued on 12 April 1976. It featured the 13-star Betsy Ross flag above a depiction of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.