Friday 15 October 2010

Looking Forward Expedition 34/35



This crest commemorates Expedition 34/35, Canada’s second long-duration mission on board the International Space Station. The border and living quarters highlighted in red mark the first time that a Canadian will command a spaceship, an honor bestowed on Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Chris Hadfield. The central element portrays the International Space Station—the world’s only space science and research facility supporting long-term studies in the weightless environment of space. Scientific discoveries and technological innovations produced aboard the ISS have applications to both terrestrial science and planetary exploration, represented by the white, silver and red arcs symbolic of the Earth, Moon and Mars. The stars represent Hadfield’s three voyages into space, and his three children. The ring around one of the stars illustrates the recent discovery of hundreds of other stars with planets circling them. The azure pool at the point of the crest signifies water—the fundamental basis for life on Earth and a resource that requires careful management. Bringing attention to the need for fresh water conservation is one of Chris Hadfield’s underlying goals during this mission. The astronaut wings at the top were conferred on Colonel Hadfield by the Prime Minister of Canada in 1995 in recognition of his qualification as Canada's first military pilot astronaut. All these elements are defined by the shape of a guitar pick, symbolic of Chris’s musical interests with an emphasis on science and art, a distinguishing feature of Expedition 34/35. Credit: Canadian Space Agency


This crest commemorates Julie Payette's second spaceflight and her participation as mission specialist on mission STS-127 to the International Space S

This crest commemorates Julie Payette's second spaceflight and her participation as mission specialist on mission STS-127 to the International Space Station.


International Space Station Expedition 26 Mission Patch

International Space Station Expedition 26 Mission Patch

In the foreground of the patch, the International Space Station is prominently displayed to acknowledge the efforts of the entire International Space Station (ISS) team - both the crews who have built and operated it, and the team of scientists, engineers, and support personnel on Earth who have provided a foundation for each successful mission. Their efforts and accomplishments have demonstrated the space station's capabilities as a technology test bed and a science laboratory, as well as a path to the human exploration of our solar system and beyond. The ISS is shown with the European Space Agency's (ESA) Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-2), the Johannes Kepler, docked to resupply it with experiments, food, water, and fuel for Expedition 26 and beyond. This Expedition 26 patch represents the teamwork among the international partners -- USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, and the ESA - and the ongoing commitment from each partner to build, improve, and utilize the ISS. Prominently displayed in the background is our home planet, Earth - the focus of much of our exploration and research on our outpost in space. The two stars symbolize two Soyuz spacecraft, each one carrying a three -member crew, who for four months will work and live together aboard the ISS as Expedition 26. The patch shows the crewmembers' names, and it's framed with the flags of their countries of origin - United States, Russia, and Italy.

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ISS Expedition 25 Mission Insignia



Mission Insignia


The mission patch design for the 25th Expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) pays tribute to the rich history of innovation and bold engineering in the quest for knowledge, exploration and discovery in space. The patch highlights the symbolic passing of the torch to the ISS, as the vehicle that will carry us into the future of space exploration. The Space Shuttle Program emblem is the foundation of the patch and forms the Greek letter 'Alpha' with a new dawn breaking at the center, symbolizing a new vision for space exploration. The Alpha symbol is overlaid by the Greek letter 'Omega', paying tribute to the culmination of the Space Shuttle Program. The mission designation '25' is shown centered at the bottom of the patch, symbolizing the point in time when the Space Shuttle, the workhorse of the ISS assembly process, will make its final visit to the ISS. Between the '25' and the Earth crescent, the orbiter is shown returning to Earth on its final journey, during the Expedition 25 mission. Above Earth and the breaking dawn, the ISS takes center-stage, completed and fully equipped to carry us beyond this new dawn to new voyages and discoveries. The orbit connecting the ISS and the Earth is drawn in the colors of the United States and Russian flags; paying tribute to the blended heritage of the crew. The two largest stars in the field represent the arrival and departure of the crews in separate Russian Soyuz vehicles. The six stars in the field represent the six crew members. The International Space Station abbreviation 'ISS' and 'MKC' -- in English and Russian, respectively- flank the mission number designation, and the names of the crew members in their native languages border the ISS symbol.

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Expedition 24 Mission Insignia

Expedition 24 Insignia



Science and Exploration are the cornerstones of NASA's mission onboard the International Space Station (ISS). This emblem signifies the dawn of a new era in our program's history. With each new expedition, as we approach assembly complete, our focus shifts toward the research nature of this world-class facility. Prominently placed in the foreground, the ISS silhouette leads the horizon. Each ray of the sun represents the five international partner organizations that encompass this cooperative program. Expedition 24 is one of the first missions expanding to a crew of six. These crews, symbolized here as stars arranged in two groups of three, will launch on Soyuz vehicles. The unbroken flight track symbolizes our continuous human presence in space, representing all who have and will dedicate themselves as crew and citizens of the International Space Station.


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International Space Station Expedition 23 Insignia


The Story Behind the Expedition 23 Insignia



The focal point of the Expedition XXIII emblem illustrates the beautiful planet Earth in the black expanse of space. The International Space Station (ISS) is shown traveling in its orbit around Earth. The ISS orbital path flies through the XXIII to show that this increment is building upon the missions that have gone on before and laying the groundwork for future missions. This illustrates the work being performed aboard the orbiting complex that will lead the way to eventual missions to the moon, Mars and beyond. The mission designation uses Roman numerals to illustrate the home nations of the crew, which are also represented by their national flags. The two stars represent the two teams that make up this expedition crew.

A second image includes crew names.

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International Space Station Expedition 22 Insignia


The 22nd Expedition to the International Space Station is dedicated to the final stages of assembly and the transition to full utilization as an orbiting laboratory. The sun, providing power and life support to the space station, shines through one of the solar arrays as the ISS orbits above Earth. The oceans and atmosphere, providing life support to Earth, are shown in all their beauty. The moon hovers in the distance as the goal of the next era of exploration. The six stars illustrate the increased capability of the crew complement. In the border are the national flags of the crew members as well as their surnames in their native languages. Expedition XXII continues the effort to acquire the knowledge necessary to extend the reach of exploration from Earth, to the moon and beyond. The insignia design for ISS flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and cosmonauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator and NASA's international partners may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the form of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which we do not anticipate, it will be publicly announced.

STS-134 Embroidered Mission Insignia


STS-134 Embroidered Mission Insignia


The design of the STS-134 crew patch highlights research on the International Space Station (ISS) focusing on the fundamental physics of the universe. On this mission, the crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour will install the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) experiment - a cosmic particle detector that utilizes the first ever superconducting magnet to be flown in space. By studying sub-atomic particles in the background cosmic radiation, and searching for anti-matter and dark-matter, it will help scientists better understand the evolution and properties of our universe. The shape of the patch is inspired by the international atomic symbol, and represents the atom with orbiting electrons around the nucleus. The burst near the center refers to the big-bang theory and the origin of the universe. The Space Shuttle Endeavour and ISS fly together into the sunrise over the limb of Earth, representing the dawn of a new age, understanding the nature of the universe. The NASA insignia design for shuttle flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the form of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which we do not anticipate, it will be publicly announced.

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STS-134 Crew Portrait

STS-133 Mission Insignia T-Shirt

Mission T-Shirt Available from the Spaceboosters Online Store



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STS-133 Space Shuttle Mission Insignia

The STS-133 mission patch is based upon sketches from the late artist Robert McCall; they were the final creations of his long and prodigious career. In the foreground, a solitary orbiter ascends into a dark blue sky above a roiling fiery plume. A spray of stars surrounds the orbiter and a top lit crescent forms the background behind the ascent.

The mission number, STS-133, is emblazoned on the patch center, and crewmembers' names are listed on a sky-blue border around the scene. The Shuttle Discovery is depicted ascending on a plume of flame as if it is just beginning a mission. However it is just the orbiter, without boosters or an external tank, as it would be at mission's end. This is to signify Discovery's completion of its operational life and the beginning of its new role as a symbol of NASA's and the nation's proud legacy in human spaceflight.

The NASA insignia design for shuttle and space station flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the form of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which is not anticipated, it will be publicly announced. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration