Rockwell International
Cards celebrating the Space Shuttle, astronauts, and Mission Control staff.
Made by Rockwell International, these amazing cards commemorate the creation of the Space Shuttle. According to NASA, “the Rockwell International Space Shuttle was the first manned, re-usable spacecraft constructed for NASA.” The Space Shuttle launched in 1981, so the cards are presumably from around that year.
There are a couple of charming egalitarian features to this deck. First, the queens are astronauts, just like the kings. Second, the jacks appear to be Mission Control personnel; I like that the deck takes the time to recognize the people without whom the astronauts wouldn’t be able to get off the ground. The Ace of Spades features the Space Shuttle while the jokers are robots that look suspiciously like R2-D2 from Star Wars.
Rockwell International Playing Cards made by Rockwell International to commemorate the creation of the Space Shuttle, launched in 1981.
Link
Wikipedia : Rockwell International ►
By Lev Golinkin
United States • Member since May 26, 2026
I'm a US-based author and journalist. I've been collecting playing cards since I was about 8 years old, when I got mesmerized by the various decks that were used in Soviet Ukraine, where I'm from. I collect mainly European decks such as those by Dondorf, Grimaud, and Piatnik. I love courts above all else, and am drawn toward historical and artistic decks.
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