International Space Station - Expedition 12 Mission Patch

The Expedition 12 patch represents both mankind's permanent presence in space and future dreams of exploration. The International Space Station (ISS), featured prominently in the center, will continue to grow in its capability as a world-class laboratory and test bed for exploration. The vision of exploration is depicted by the moon and Mars. The star symbolizes mankind's destiny in space and is a tribute to the space explorers who have been lost in its pursuit. The Roman numeral XII in the background signifies the 12th expeditionary mission to the ISS.

 

Astronaut William S. McArthur, Jr. (left), Expedition 12 Mission Insignia commander and NASA Space Station science officer, and cosmonaut Valery I. Tokarev, flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, pause from their training schedule to pose for their official crew portrait at Johnson Space Center (JSC). The two were launched to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft.

 

 

 

 

International Space Station Missions - Expanding the Final Frontier

Astronaut C. Michael Foale (right), Expedition 8 mission commander, and cosmonaut Alexander Y. Kaleri, flight engineer, pose for their crew portrait while in training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia for their scheduled launch in a Soyuz TMA-3 spacecraft later this year. Kaleri represents Rosaviakosmos.

 

A particular favourite of mine as the crew featured Briton Michael Foale.

 

 



The Expedition 8 Insignia

 

This emblem represents the eighth long-duration expedition to the International Space Station. The banner encircling the Earth, as a stylized figure 8, combines the flags of the partner nations represented by the crew. The International Space Station is portrayed above the Earth in its assembly complete configuration. The names of the two crewmembers, Michael Foale and Alexander Kaleri, are depicted in the border.