Wednesday 25 June 2008

STS-103 NASA Mission Patch

STS-103 NASA Mission Patch


Designed by the crewmembers, the STS-103 emblem depicts the Space Shuttle Discovery approaching the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) prior to its capture and berthing.


The purpose of the mission is to remove and replace some of the Telescope's older and out-of-date systems with newer, more reliable and more capable ones, and to make repairs to HST's exterior thermal insulation that has been damaged by more than nine years of exposure to the space environment.


The horizontal and vertical lines centered on the Telescope symbolize the ability to reach and maintain a desired attitude in space, essential to the instrument's scientific operation. The preservation of this ability is one of the primary objectives of the mission.


After the flight, the Telescope will resume its successful exploration of deep space and will continue to be used to study solar system objects, stars in the making, late phases of stellar evolution, galaxies and the early history of the universe. HST, as represented on this emblem was inspired by views from previous servicing missions, with its solar arrays illuminated by the Sun, providing a striking contrast with the blackness of space and the night side of Earth.


Patchman



Tuesday 24 June 2008

NASA Space Mission Patch - STS-93


NASA Space Mission Patch - STS 93.


The STS-93 mission patch, as designed by the five crew members. The STS-93 mission will carry the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) into low Earth orbit initiating its planned five-year astronomy mission.


AXAF is the third of NASA's great observatories, following the Hubble Space Telescope and the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. AXAF will provide scientists an order-of-magnitude improvement over current capabilities at X-ray wavelengths. Observations of X-ray emissions from energetic galaxies and clusters, as well as black holes, promise to greatly expand current understanding of the origin and evolution of our universe.
The STS-93 patch depicts AXAF separating from the Space Shuttle Columbia after a successful deployment. A spiral galaxy is shown in the background as a possible target for AXAF observations. The two flags represent the international crew, consisting of astronauts from both the United States and France.


Nick

STS-124 Mission Overview

NASA Space Shuttle Mission STS-124 Detailed Mission Overview



Image above: STS-124 crew members pose for a portrait in the Kibo Japanese Pressurized Module of the International Space Station. From the left (front row) are NASA astronauts Karen Nyberg, Garrett Reisman, both mission specialists; Mark Kelly, commander; Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17 flight engineer; and Ken Ham, pilot. From the left (back row) are Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, NASA astronauts Ron Garan and Mike Fossum, all mission specialists. Credit: NASA


Navy Cmdr. Mark E. Kelly commanded the STS-124 shuttle mission to deliver the Pressurized Module and robotic arm of the Japanese Experiment Module, known as "Kibo" (hope), to the International Space Station. Navy Cmdr. Kenneth T. Ham served as the pilot. Mission specialists included NASA astronauts Karen L. Nyberg; Air Force Col. Ronald J. Garan Jr.; and Air Force Reserve Col. Michael E. Fossum. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide also served as a mission specialist.


Astronaut Gregory E. Chamitoff flew to the station as a mission specialist on STS-124. He took Astronaut Garrett E. Reisman's place as an Expedition 17 flight engineer and will return to Earth on shuttle mission STS-126.


The STS-124 mission was the second of three flights that will launch components to complete the Kibo laboratory. The mission included three spacewalks. The lab's logistics module, which was installed in a temporary location during STS-123, was attached to the new lab.


STS-124 was the 26th shuttle mission to the International Space Station. Navy Cmdr. Stephen G. Bowen was previously named to the STS-124 crew but was reassigned to STS-126. The change allowed room for the STS-124 mission to rotate a space station resident.

Launch: May 31, 20085:02 p.m. EDT

Landing: June 14, 2008 11:15 a.m. EDT

Orbiter:Discovery Mission Number: STS-124(123rd space shuttle flight)

Launch Window: 10 minutesLaunch Pad:39A

Mission Duration: 13 days, 18 hours, 13 minutes, 7 secs

Landing Site: KSC Inclination/Altitude:51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Primary Payload: 26th station flight (1J), Kibo Pressurized Module, Japanese Remote Manipulator System

Nick


SPACEBOOSTERS Online Store

Monday 23 June 2008

Space Shuttle Overview: Discovery (OV-103)

Discovery (OV-103) was NASA's third space shuttle orbiter to join the fleet, arriving for the first time at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in November 1983.


After checkout and processing, it was launched on Aug. 30, 1984, for its first mission, 41-D, to deploy three communications satellites.


Since that inaugural flight, Discovery has completed more than 30 successful missions, surpassing the number of flights made by any other orbiter in NASA's fleet. Just like all of the orbiters, it has undergone some major modifications over the years. The most recent began in 2002 and was the first carried out at Kennedy. It provided 99 upgrades and 88 special tests, including new changes to make it safer for flight.













Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off Pad B at the Kennedy Space Center on September 12, 1993, to begin STS-51. Image credit: NASA


Discovery has the distinction of being chosen as the Return to Flight orbiter twice. The first was for STS-26 in 1988, and the second when it carried the STS-114 crew on NASA's Return to Flight mission to the International Space Station in July 2005.


The choice of the name "Discovery" carried on a tradition drawn from some historic, Earth-bound exploring ships of the past. One of these sailing forerunners was the vessel used in the early 1600s by Henry Hudson to explore Hudson Bay and search for a northwest passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific.


Another such ship was used by British explorer James Cook in the 1770s during his voyages in the South Pacific, leading to the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. In addition, two British Royal Geographical Society ships have carried the name "Discovery" as they sailed on expeditions to the North Pole and the Antarctic.


Destined for exploring the heavens instead of the seas, it was only fitting that NASA's Discovery carried the Hubble Space Telescope into space during mission STS-31 in April 1990, and provided both the second and third Hubble servicing missions (STS-82 in February 1997 and STS-103 in December 1999).










On February 21, 1997, the Space Shuttle Discovery touches down in darkness on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, bringing to a close the 10-day STS-82 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Image credit: NASA


During its many successful trips to space, Discovery has carried satellites aloft, ferried modules and crew to the International Space Station, and provided the setting for countless scientific experiments.


Construction Milestones

January 29, 1979 - Contract Award
August 27, 1979 - Start long lead fabrication of Crew Module
June 20, 1980 - Start fabrication lower fuselage
November 10, 1980 - Start structural assembly of aft-fuselage
December 8, 1980 - Start initial system installation aft fuselage
March 2, 1981 - Start fabrication/assembly of payload bay doors
October 26, 1981 - Start initial system installation, crew module, Downey
January 4, 1982 - Start initial system installation upper forward fuselage
March 16, 1982 - Midfuselage on dock, Palmdale
March 30, 1982 - Elevons on dock, Palmdale
April 30, 1982 - Wings arrive at Palmdale from Grumman
April 30, 1982 - Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
July 16, 1982 - Upper forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
August 5, 1982 - Vertical stabilizer on dock, Palmdale
September 3, 1982 - Start of Final Assembly
October 15, 1982 - Body flap on dock, Palmdale
January 11, 1983 - Aft fuselage on dock, Palmdale
February 25, 1983 - Complete final assembly and closeout installation, Palmdale
February 28, 1983 - Start initial subsystems test, power-on, Palmdale
May 13, 1983 - Complete initial subsystems testing
July 26, 1983 - Complete subsystems testing
August 12, 1983 - Completed Final Acceptance
October 16, 1983 - Rollout from Palmdale
November 5, 1983 - Overland transport from Palmdale to Edwards
November 9, 1983 - Delivery to Kennedy Space Center
June 2, 1984 - Flight Readiness Firing
August 30, 1984 - First Flight (41-D)


Upgrades and Features


Discovery benefited from lessons learned in the construction and testing of Enterprise, Columbia and Challenger. At rollout, its weight was some 6,870 pounds less than Columbia.


Beginning in the fall of 1995, the orbiter underwent a nine-month Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP) in Palmdale California. The vehicle was outfitted with a 5th set of cryogenic tanks and an external airlock to support missions to the International Space Station. It returned to the Kennedy Space Center, riding piggy-back on a modified Boeing 747, in June 1996.


Following STS-105, Discovery became the first of the orbiter fleet to undergo Orbiter Major Modification (OMM) period at the Kennedy Space Center. Work began in September 2002, and along with the scheduled upgrades, additional safety modifications were added as part of the preparations for Return to Flight.


Nick.


SPACEBOOSTERS Online Store

Space Shuttle Overview: Columbia (OV-102)

Space Shuttle Overview: Columbia (OV-102)

On April 12, 1981, a bright white Columbia roared into a deep blue sky as the nation's first reusable Space Shuttle. Named after the first American ocean vessel to circle the globe and the command module for the Apollo 11 Moon landing, Columbia continued this heritage of intrepid exploration. The heaviest of NASA's orbiters, Columbia weighed too much and lacked the necessary equipment to assist with assembly of the International Space Station. Despite its limitations, the orbiter's legacy is one of groundbreaking scientific research and notable "firsts" in space flight.














Columbia lifts off for the first time from Kennedy Space Center on April 12, 1981. Credit: NASA


Space Shuttle mission STS-9, launched in late November 1983, was the maiden flight for Spacelab. Designed to be a space-based science lab, Spacelab was installed inside the orbiter's cargo bay. Spacelab featured an enclosed crew work module connected to an outside payload pallet, which could be mounted with various instruments and experiments. From inside the lab, astronauts worked with the experiments on the pallet and within the crew module itself. The lab would go on to fly aboard the rest of the fleet, playing host throughout its accomplished lifetime to unprecedented research in astronomy, biology and other sciences. Spacelab ultimately finished where its career began; its 16th and final mission was hoisted into space aboard Columbia in 1998.


In addition to Columbia's STS-1 flight and Spacelab, the orbiter was also the stage for many other remarkable firsts. Germany's Dr. Ulf Merbold became the first European Space Agency astronaut when he flew aboard 1983's STS-9. The Japanese Space Agency and STS-65's Chiaki Mukai entered history as the first Japanese woman to fly in space in 1994. In a display of national pride, the crew of STS-73 even "threw" the ceremonial first pitch for game five of the 1995 baseball World Series, marking the first time the pitcher was not only outside of the stadium, but out of this world.






Columbia is hoisted from the floor of Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building in late 1980. Credit: NASA

Perhaps Columbia's crowning achievement was the deployment of the gleaming Chandra X-ray Observatory in July 1999. Carried into space inside the orbiter's payload bay, the slender and elegant Chandra telescope was released on July 23. Still in flight today, the X-ray telescope specializes in viewing deep space objects and finding the answers to astronomy's most fundamental questions.


Columbia and its crew were tragically lost during STS-107 in 2003. As the Space Shuttle lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 16, a small portion of foam broke away from the orange external fuel tank and struck the orbiter's left wing. The resulting damage created a hole in the wing's leading edge, which caused the vehicle to break apart during reentry to Earth's atmosphere on February 1.


Construction Milestones

July 26, 1972 - Contract Award
March 25, 1975 - Start long lead fabrication aft fuselage
November 17, 1975 - Start long-lead fabrication of crew module
June 28, 1976 - Start assembly of crew module
September 13, 1976 - Start structural assembly of aft-fuselage
December 13, 1976 - Start assembly upper forward fuselage
January 3, 1977 - Start assembly vertical stabilizer
August 26, 1977 - Wings arrive at Palmdale from Grumman
October 28, 1977 - Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
November 7, 1977 - Start of Final Assembly
February 24, 1978 - Body flap on dock, Palmdale
April 28, 1978 - Forward payload bay doors on dock, Palmdale
May 26,1978 - Upper forward fuselage mate
July 7, 1978 - Complete mate forward and aft payload bay doors
September 11, 1978 - Complete forward RCS
February 3, 1979 - Complete combined systems test, Palmdale
February 16, 1979 - Airlock on dock, Palmdale
March 5, 1979 - Complete postcheckout
March 8, 1979 - Closeout inspection, Final Acceptance Palmdale
March 8, 1979 - Rollout from Palmdale to Dryden (38 miles)
March 12, 1979 - Overland transport from Palmdale to Edwards
March 20, 1979 - SCA Ferry Flight from DFRF to Bigs AFB, Texas
March 22, 1979 - SCA Ferry flight from Bigs AFB to Kelly AFB, Texas
March 24, 1979 - SCA Ferry flight from Kelly AFB to Eglin AFB, Florida
March 24, 1979 - SCA Ferry flight from Eglin, AFB to KSC
November 3, 1979 - Auxiliary Power Unit hot fire tests, OPF KSC
December 16, 1979 - Orbiter integrated test start, KSC
January 14, 1980 - Orbiter integrated test complete, KSC
February 20, 1981 - Flight Readiness Firing

April 12, 1981

First Flight (STS-1)Upgrades and FeaturesColumbia is commonly referred to as OV-102, for Orbiter Vehicle-102. The orbiter weighed 178,000 pounds with its main engines installed.


Columbia was the first orbiter to undergo the scheduled inspection and retrofit program. In 1991, Columbia returned to its birthplace at Rockwell International's Palmdale, Calif., assembly plant. The spacecraft underwent approximately 50 upgrades there, including the addition of carbon brakes and a drag chute, improved nose wheel steering, removal of instrumentation used during the test phase of the orbiter, and an enhancement of its Thermal Protection System. The orbiter returned to Florida in February 1992 to begin processing for mission STS-50, launching in June of that year.


In 1994, Columbia was transported back to Palmdale for its first major tear-down and overhaul, known as the Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP). This overhaul typically lasts one year or longer and leaves the vehicle in "like-new" condition.


Its second OMDP came in 1999, when workers performed more than 100 modifications on the vehicle. The orbiter's most impressive upgrade likely was the installation of a state-of-the-art, Multi-functional Electronic Display System (MEDS), or "glass cockpit." The MEDS replaced traditional instrument dials and gauges with small, computerized video screens. The new system improved crew interaction with the orbiter during flight and reduced maintenance costs by eliminating the outdated and tricky electromechanical displays.



Nick.

SPACEBOOSTERS Online Store

Saturday 21 June 2008

STS-96 NASA Space Mission Patch

NASA Space Mission Patch STS-96

Designed by the crew members, this is the mission insignia for the STS-96 space flight, the second Space Shuttle mission dedicated to the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). The crew patch highlights the major themes of the Station Program: Earth-directed research, the advancement of human space exploration, and international cooperation.


The Space Shuttle Discovery is depicted shortly after reaching orbit as the crew prepares to carry out the first docking with the new Station. At this early stage in its construction, ISS consists of two modules: Zarya and Unity, shown orbiting Earth.


The triangular shape of the patch represents building on the knowledge and experience of earlier missions, while the three vertical bars of the astronaut emblem point toward future human endeavors in space.


The five-pointed star that tops the astronaut emblem in this depiction is symbolic of the five space agencies participating in the development of ISS: NASA, the Russian Space Agency, the European Space Agency, the National Space Development Agency of Japan, and the Canadian Space Agency.


The blend of red, white, and blue is a tribute to the nationalities of the crew members who are from the United States, Canada, and Russia.

Patchman

Wednesday 18 June 2008

NASA Mission Patch for STS-88

NASA STS-88 Mission Patch




Designed by the crew members, this patch commemorates the first assembly flight to carry United States-built hardware for constructing the International Space Station (ISS). This flight's primary task is to assemble the cornerstone of the Space Station: the Node with the Functional Cargo Block (fgb).




The rising sun symbolizes the dawning of a new era of international cooperation in space and the beginning of a new program: the International Space Station. The Earth scene outlines the countries of the Station Partners: the United States, Russia, those of the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan, and Canada. Along with the Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMA) and the Functional Cargo Block, the Node is shown in the final mated configuration while berthed to the Space Shuttle during the STS-88/2A mission.




The Big Dipper Constellation points the way to the North Star, a guiding light for pioneers and explorers for generations. In the words of the crew, "These stars symbolize the efforts of everyone, including all the countries involved in the design and construction of the International Space Station, guiding us into the future."




Patchman




NASA Mission Patch for STS-95

NASA Space Mission Patch for the STS-95




The STS-95 patch, designed by the crew, is intended to reflect the scientific, engineering, and historic elements of the mission.





The Space Shuttle Discovery is shown rising over the sunlit Earth limb, representing the global benefits of the mission science and the solar science objectives of the Spartan Satellite. The bold number '7' signifies the seven members of Discovery's crew and also represents a historical link to the original seven Mercury astronauts.




The STS-95 crew member John Glenn's first orbital flight is represnted by the Friendship 7 capsule. The rocket plumes symbolize the three major fields of science represented by the mission payloads: microgravity material science, medical research for humans on Earth and in space, and astronomy.




Patchman






NASA Mission Patch for STS-91

This is the crew patch for the STS-91 mission -- the ninth flight of the Shuttle-Mir Phase One docking missions. The crew will bring back Andrew S. W. Thomas, the last long-duration American crew member flown on the Russian Space Station Mir.






This mission marks the end of the Shuttle-Mir Phase One Program and will open the way for Phase Two: construction of the International Space Station (ISS). The crew patch depicts the rendezvous of the Space Shuttle Discovery with the Space Station Mir. The flags of the United States and Russia are displayed at the top of the patch and both countries are visible on the Earth behind the two spacecraft.




The names of the American crew members surround the insignia on the outer areas, with the name of cosmonaut Valeriy Ryumin in Cyrillic at the lower right. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) is an international payload planned to fly in the payload bay of Discovery.




Two thin golden streams flowing into the AMS represent charged elementary particles. The detection of antimatter in space will help scientists better understand the physics and origins of the universe.




Patchman




NASA Apollo 16 Space Mission Patch


NASA Mission Patch - Apollo 16


The Apollo 16 crew patch is dominated by an eagle perched atop a red, white and blue shield a superimposed on a lunar scene, surrounded by a blue circle of 16 stars with the crew's surnames completing the bottom are of the circle. Across the face of the shield is a gold symbol of flight outlined in blue, similar to that on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) agency seal and insignia.


The design was created by a NASA artist from ideas submitted by the three crew members: astronauts John W. Young, commander; Thomas K. Mattingly II, command module pilot; and Charles M. Duke Jr., lunar module pilot.


This is the official Apollo 16 emblem, a property of the government of the United States.


Patchman



NASA Mission Patch for STS-87

NASA Space Shuttle Mission Patch - STS 87




The STS-87 patch is shaped like a space helmet symbolizing the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) on the mission in support of testing of tools for the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). Earth is shown reflected on the backside of the helmet.







The Space Shuttle Columbia forms the interface between the Earth and the heavens, the back and front sides of the helmet in profile. The three red lines emerging from Columbia represent the astronaut symbol as well as the robot arm, which will be used to deploy and retrieve the Spartan satellite.




The letters 'ug' represent the payloads studying microgravity science in space on this United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-4) mission. Gold flames outlining the helmet visor represent the corona of the Sun, which will be studied by Spartan.




The flag of Ukraine is next to the name of the payload specialist who is the first person from that nation to fly on the Space Shuttle.




Patchman






NASA Mission Patch for STS-85

Mission Patch for STS-85




The mission patch for STS-85 is designed to reflect the broad range of science and engineering payloads on the flight. The primary objectives of the mission are to measure chemical constituents in Earth’s atmosphere with a free-flying satellite and to flight-test a new Japanese robotic arm designed for use on the International Space Station (ISS).





STS-85 is the second flight of the satellite known as Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-2 CRISTA-SPAS-02. CRISTA, depicted on the right side of the patch pointing its trio of infrared telescopes at Earth’s atmosphere, stands for Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere. The high inclination orbit is shown as a yellow band over Earth’s northern latitudes. In the Space Shuttle Discovery’s open payload bay an enlarged version of the Japanese National Space Development Agency’s (NASDA) Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD) robotic arm is shown.




Also shown in the payload bay are two sets of multi-science experiments: the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker (IEH-02) nearest the tail and the Technology Applications and Science (TAS-01) payload. Jupiter and three stars are shown to represent sources of ultraviolet energy in the universe. Comet Hale-Bopp, which will be visible from Earth during the mission, is depicted at upper right.




The left side of the patch symbolizes daytime operations over the Northern Hemisphere of Earth and the solar science objectives of several of the payloads.




Patchman






NASA Mission Patch for STS-83

Space Shuttle Mission Patch STS-83






The crew patch for NASA's STS-83 mission depicts the Space Shuttle Columbia launching into space for the first Microgravity Sciences Laboratory 1 (MSL-1) mission. MSL-1 will investigate materials science, fluid dynamics, biotechnology, and combustion science in the microgravity environment of space, experiments that will be conducted in the Spacelab Module in the Space Shuttle Columbia's cargo bay during the planned 16-day mission.








The center circle symbolizes a free liquid under microgravity conditions representing various fluid and materials science experiments. Symbolic of the combustion experiments is the surrounding starburst of a blue flame burning in space.






The 3-lobed shape of the outermost starburst ring traces the dot pattern of a transmission Laue photograph typical of biotechnology experiments. The numerical designation for the mission is shown at bottom center.






As a forerunner to missions involving International Space Station (ISS), STS-83 represents the hope that scientific results and knowledge gained during the flight will be applied to solving problems on Earth for the benefit and advancement of humankind.






Patchman









NASA Mission Patch for STS-79

NASA Space Shuttle Mission STS-79




STS-79 is the fourth in a series of NASA docking missions to the Russian Mir Space Station, leading up to the construction and operation of the International Space Station (ISS). As the first flight of the Spacehab Double Module.






STS-79 encompasses research, test and evaluation of ISS, as well as logistics resupply for the Mir Space Station. STS-79 is also the first NASA-Mir American crew member exchange mission, with John E. Blaha (NASA-Mir-3) replacing Shannon W. Lucid (NASA-Mir-2) aboard the Mir Space Station. The lettering of their names either up or down denotes transport up to the Mir Space Station or return to Earth on STS-79.




The patch is in the shape of the Space Shuttles airlock hatch, symbolizing the gateway to international cooperation in space. The patch illustrates the historic cooperation between the United States and Russia in space.




With the flags of Russia and the United States as a backdrop, the handshake of Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) - suited crew members symbolizes mission teamwork, not only of the crew members but also the teamwork between both countries space personnel in science, engineering, medicine and logistics.




Patchman






NASA Mission Patch for STS-76





The STS-76 crew patch depicts the Space Shuttle Atlantis and Russia's Mir Space Station as the space ships prepare for a rendezvous and docking. The "Spirit of 76," an era of new beginnings, is represented by the Space Shuttle rising through the circle of 13 stars in the Betsy Ross flag.







STS-76 begins a new period of international cooperation in space exploration with the first Shuttle transport of a United States astronaut, Shannon W. Lucid, to the Mir Space Station for extended joint space research. Frontiers for future exploration are represented by stars and the planets. The three gold trails and the ring of stars in union form the astronaut logo. Two suited extravehicular activity (EVA) crew members in the outer ring represent the first EVA during Shuttle-Mir docked operations. The EVA objectives are to install science experiments on the Mir exterior and to develop procedures for future EVA's on the International Space Station.




The surnames of the crew members encircle the patch: Kevin P. Chilton, mission commander; Richard A. Searfoss, pilot; Ronald M. Sega, Michael R. ( Rich) Clifford, Linda M. Godwin and Lucid, all mission specialists.




This patch was designed by Brandon Clifford, age 12, and the crew members of STS-76.




Patchman






NASA Mission Patch for STS-73





The crew patch of STS-73, the second flight of the United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-2), depicts the Space Shuttle Columbia in the vastness of space. In the foreground are the classic regular polyhedrons that were investigated by Plato and later Euclid.







The Pythagoreans were also fascinated by the symmetrical three-dimensional objects whose sides are the same regular polygon. The tetrahedron, the cube, the octahedron, and the icosahedron were each associated with the "Natural Elements" of that time: fire (on this mission represented as combustion science); Earth (crystallography), air and water (fluid physics).




An additional icon shown as the infinity symbol was added to further convey the discipline of fluid mechanics. The shape of the emblem represents a fifth polyhedron, a dodecahedron, which the Pythagoreans thought corresponded to a fifth element that represented the cosmos.




Patchman




NASA Mission Patch for STS-69

NASA Mission Patch for STS-69




Designed by the crewmembers, the patch for STS-69 symbolizes the multifaceted nature of the flight's mission.


The primary payload, Wake Shield Facility (WSF), is represented in the center by the astronaut emblem against a flat disk. The astronaut emblem also signifies the importance of human beings in space exploration, reflected by the planned space walk to practice for International Space Station activities and to evaluate space suit design modifications.




The two stylized Space Shuttles highlight the ascent and entry phases of the mission. Along with the two spiral plumes, the stylized Space Shuttles symbolize a NASA first - the deployment and recovery on the same mission of two spacecraft (both the Wake Shield Facility and the Spartan).




The constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor represent the astronomy objectives of the Spartan and International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker (IEH) payload. The two constellations also symbolize the talents and dedication of the support personnel who make Space Shuttle missions possible.




Patchman




STS-69 Embroidered Mission Patch

NASA Mission Patch for STS-68

NASA Mission Patch STS-68



Exploration of Earth from space is the focus of the design of the insignia, the second flight of the Space Radar Laboratory (SRL-2). SRL-2 is part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) *project. The world's land masses and oceans dominate the center field, with the Space Shuttle Endeavour circling the globe. The SRL-2 letters span the width and breadth of planet Earth, symbolizing worldwide coverage of the two prime experiments of STS-68 - The Shuttle Imaging Radar-C and X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) instruments, and the Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites (MAPS) sensor.




The red, blue and black colors of the insignia represent the three operating wavelengths of SIR-C/X-SAR, and the gold band surrounding the globe symbolizes the atmospheric envelope examined by MAPS.


The flags of international partners Germany and Italy are shown opposite Endeavour. The relationship of the Orbiter to Earth highlights the usefulness of human space flights in understanding Earth's environment, and the monitoring its changing surface and atmosphere.


In the words of the crewmembers, "the soaring Orbiter also typifies the excellence of the NASA team in exploring our own world, using the tools which the Space Program developed to explore the other planets in the solar system".


This STS-68 patch was designed by artist Sean Collins.


Patchman


NASA Apollo 11 Mission Patch

Apollo 11 First Lunar Landing Mission Patch


This patch needs no introduction. It is one of only a few mission patches that did not include the name of the individual crewmembers. Continuing with the NASA assertion that the mission was 'For all Mankind'.


Can you believe that we are fast approaching the 39th Anniversary of the historic moment that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot upon another world. Why on earth haven't we returned?
On July 20, 1969, the human race accomplished its single greatest technological achievement of all time when a human first set foot on another celestial body.
Six hours after landing at 4:17 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (with less than 30 seconds of fuel remaining), Neil A. Armstrong took the “Small Step” into our greater future when he stepped off the Lunar Module, named “Eagle,” onto the surface of the Moon, from which he could look up and see Earth in the heavens as no one had done before him.
He was shortly joined by “Buzz” Aldrin, and the two astronauts spent 21 hours on the lunar surface and returned 46 pounds of lunar rocks. After their historic walks on the Moon, they successfully docked with the Command Module “Columbia,” in which Michael Collins was patiently orbiting the cold but no longer lifeless Moon.
Spaceboosters Online Store has embroidered replicas of the Apollo 11 mission patch (above) and a range of Apollo anniversary editions, plus postcards and posters.
Patchman.




Sunday 15 June 2008

NASA Insignia

NASA Insignia just like the agency they represent have evolved overtime

Insignia help to foster team spirit. The NASA Insignia in its various representations embodies the brand. With NASA it as always been seen as a 'Can do' agency. It is inspirational and will deliver the Moon. Mars and Beyond given sufficient funding.




This is the original NASA design, referred to as the "Meatball".



This emblem is NASA's second official insignia. It is now also the official, having replaced the NASA worm design. It is nearly identical to the NASA Original that was used during all the Mercury flights, but as early as the Gemini 3 mission a slight design change was made. The red winged vector was extended beyond the circular border of the NASA Original and the size was increased from 2.5 inches in diameter to three inches. The emblem is unofficially known as the NASA "Vector".

The NASA Insignia contains the following elements:
The sphere represents a planet
The stars represent space
The vector represents aeronautics
The orbit represents space travel





The third official NASA insignia is a modern, simplistic emblem. The emblem is rectangular with approximate dimensions of 1.5 inches high by four inches long. It features a white fully embroidered background with flame red continuous script lettering which simply reads "NASA". Unofficially, it has become known as the NASA "Worm". This emblem has been replaced with the NASA vector design as the official logo.
All of the insignia are available through the SPACEBOOSTERS Online Store.
Patchman.

Friday 13 June 2008

Gemini 5 - First True U.S Space Mission Patch


Gemini 5 - '8 Days or Bust'



Gemini 3 with the crew of John Young and Gus Grissom named their ship the 'Molly Brown'. A souvenir patch was created and has been worn by John Young on occasions ever since.


The Gemini 4 crew of Ed White and Jim McDivitt sported the U.S flag on their pressure suits; the first time it had been used on one - and it became their mission patch. However the first mission patch to be worn before, during and after the flight was the one designed by the crew of Gemini 5.


The crew consisted of Gordon Cooper and Peter Conrad. The patch itself featured a Conestoga wagon. The horse drawn transport that was used and became symbolic of the drive to open up the American frontier. Originally it included the byline '8 Days or Bust'. However before the design was given final approval the '8 Days or Bust' byline had to be covered over.


The U.S Space Mission patch was born.

Patchman

Visit the SPACEBOOSTERS Online Store for this and 100's of other official NASA and International patch designs..and a whole lot more.

Payload Patches

STS-124 Payload Patch


This is the logo design for the STS-124 payload. Not all designs make it to the patch stage. Many are produced as decals only.
For a selection of decals please visit the Decals section of the SPACEBOOSTERS Online Store.

Thursday 12 June 2008

STS-126 Mission Insignia

STS-126 Patch Preview





The STS-126 patch represents Space Shuttle Endeavour on its mission to help complete the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). The inner patch outline depicts the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Leonardo.



Image Credit: NASA


This reusable logistics module will carry the equipment necessary to sustain a crew of six on board the ISS and will include additional crew quarters, exercise equipment, galley, and life support equipment. In addition, a single expedition crew member will launch on STS-126 to remain on board ISS, replacing an expedition crew member who will return home with the shuttle crew.


Near the center of the patch, the constellation Orion reflects the goals of the human spaceflight program, returning us to the Moon and on to Mars, the red planet, which are also shown. At the top of the patch is the gold symbol of the astronaut office.


The sunburst, just clearing the horizon of the magnificent Earth, powers all these efforts through the solar arrays of the ISS current configuration orbiting high above.

Available soon from the SPACEBOOSTERS Online Store


Patchman

Wednesday 11 June 2008

STS-125 Mission Insignia - Return to Hubble

STS-125 Mission Insignia



This STS-125 crew patch shows HST along with a representation of its many scientific discoveries.






The overall structure and composition of the Universe is shown in blue and filled with planets, stars, and galaxies. The black background is indicative of the mysteries of dark-energy and dark-matter.



The new instruments to be installed on HST during this mission, Wide Field Camera-3 and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, will make observations to help understand these unseen components which seem to dominate the structure of the Universe.



The red border of the patch represents the red-shifted glow of the early Universe, and the limit of the Hubble's view into the cosmos. Upon completion of STS-125, the fifth mission to service HST, the Hubble will provide even deeper and more detailed views of the Universe.



Soaring by the telescope is the space shuttle which initially deployed Hubble and has enabled astronauts to continually upgrade the telescope, significantly contributing to the expansion of human knowledge.



Bye for now,

Patchman.



SPACEBOOSTERS Online Store

Expedition 17 Mission Insignia Alert

Another Expedition 17 Official Mission Patch
Hi,

Just when patch collectors thought they had this mission sewn up (forgive the pun) with regard to official mission patches, (Please see earlier post) another 3 name variant debuts.

Photo credit: NASA. NASA astronauts Garrett Reisman, STS-124 mission specialist, and Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17 flight engineer, pose for a portrait following a joint news conference with the STS-124 crewmembers from the Kibo Japanese Pressurized Module of the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Discovery is docked with the station. Reisman, who joined the station's crew in March, is being replaced by Chamitoff, who arrived at the station with the STS-124 crew.

Closeup of the patch worn by Greg Chamitoff below. Will these be commercially available? Watch this blog.


Bye for now,
Patchman.
See other ISS Expedition Collectables at the SPACEBOOSTERS Online Store


Monday 9 June 2008

STS-124 Mission Insignia

STS-124 Mission Insignia
Image credit: NASA
The STS-124/1J patch depicts the Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station (ISS).


STS-124/1J is dedicated to delivering and installing the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) known as Kibo (Hope) to the ISS. The significance of the mission and the Japanese contribution to the ISS is recognized by the Japanese flag depicted on the JEM Pressurized Module (JPM) and the word Kibo written in Japanese at the bottom of the patch.


The view of the sun shining down upon the Earth represents the increased "hope" that the entire world will benefit from the JEM's scientific discoveries. The JPM will be the largest habitable module on the ISS and is equipped with its own airlock and robotic arm for external experiments.


In addition to delivering and installing the JPM, the STS-124 crew will relocate the JEM Logistics Pressurized (JLP) module to its permanent home on the zenith side of the JPM. During three planned space walks, the crew will perform external ISS maintenance and JPM outfitting, as well as extensive robotic operations by the ISS, space shuttle, and JEM robotic arms.


It will be the first time that three different robotic arms will be operated during a single space flight mission.


Bye for now


Patchman,
Nick


Spaceboosters Online Store

STS-123 Mission Insignia

STS-123 Mission Insignia



STS-123 continues assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). The primary mission objectives include rotating an expedition crew member and installing both the first component of the Japanese Experimental Module (the Experimental Logistics Module - Pressurized Section (ELM-PS)) and the Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM).



In addition, STS-123 will deliver various spare ISS components and leave behind the sensor boom used for inspecting the shuttle's thermal protection system. A follow-on mission to ISS will utilize and then return home with this sensor boom.



A total of four spacewalks are planned to accomplish these tasks. The mission will also require the use of both the shuttle and ISS robotic arms. STS-123 will utilize the Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System to extend the docked portion of the mission to eleven days, with a total planned duration of 15 days.

Image credit: NASAThe crew patch depicts the space shuttle in orbit with the crew names trailing behind. STS-123's major additions to ISS (the ELM-PS installation with the shuttle robotic arm and the fully constructed SPDM) are both illustrated.

The ISS is shown in the configuration that the STS-123 crew will encounter when they arrive.



Bye for now,


Patchman

Nick


Spaceboosters Online Store

Expedition 18 Mission Insignia

ISS Expedition 18 Insignia

Hi,

the Expedition 18 insignia are available as images. I haven't seen the embroidered patches at this point in time. I will of course feature them in the online store as soon as they become available for collectors.


Image credit: NASA


Featured prominently is the Roman numeral XVIII. The "X" evokes exploration, which is at the core of the indivisible cooperation of the International Space Station partners. "V" is for victory and for the five space agencies in the ISS program. "III" stands for the hope that this crew will help evolve the ISS from supporting the last three-person crew to crews of six explorers and researchers.

The moon, sun and stars symbolize the efforts of the entire ISS team, which will lead to the human exploration of the moon, our solar system and beyond.

Image credit: NASA

Patchman.



Expedition 17 Mission Insignia

Expedition 17 Insignia

Hi,

The current trend for numerous official mission patches continues unabated and Expedition 17 is no exception.


Image credit: NASA


The Expedition 17 patch is meant to celebrate current human achievements in space as well as symbolize the future potential for continuing exploration. The Earth, represented at the bottom of the patch, is the base from which all space exploration activities initiate.

The International Space Station (ISS), shown in low Earth orbit, illustrates the current level of space operations. The arrow and star point outwards, away from the Earth, towards the wider universe indicating the direction of future activities as human beings build on what has already been accomplished.

The flags, representing the home countries of the crew members, Russia and the United States, are touching, highlighting the cooperative nature of the space program and symbolizing the merger of science and technical knowledge of these two experienced space-faring nations.


Image credit: NASA
Image credit: NASA

Bye for now,


Patchman

Spaceboosters Online Store

The World of Space Patch Collecting

Hi,

With space patch collecting its a question of where do you start. The field of patch collecting is expansive. Don't let that put you off.It's a rewarding hobby. Each patch is a miniature work of art; there are so many questions as to what to collect and how to display them? Where to buy them and how much to pay?

It does pay to specialise. If you are already into space as a hobby you may already collect along a particular theme or era e.g. Mercury, Apollo, the Shuttle program or International missions. It can be further divided into official mission patches/contractor or program patches/manned or unmanned flights/commemoratives.

By far the easiest to collect are the U.S Space missions. Everyone wants a piece of a mission; it provides a connection to a flight or a particular astronaut or spacecraft. Manufacturers have been quick to fulfil demand.

The real rush for an embroidered collectable began with Apollo 11 and the first moon landings. Such was the demand at the time that manufacturers produced all of the current missions of the time and have continued to do so ever since. They also made up patches that then became the official commemoratives for the flights that did not actually have an official logo or emblem.

Today the design of the mission patch is usually a team effort between the assigned astronauts and a lot of thought goes into the symbolism.

http://www.nasa-space.co.uk/
http://www.nasa-collectables.com/