A son’s 40-year-old sketch for his astronaut father’s mission patch has been made into a new embroidered symbol to raise funds for the next generation of space explorers.
The Facebook group ‘Space Hipsters’ released on Friday (31 March). The next release in their “signature” space patch series (opens in new tab) Benefits Taking Up Space, a nonprofit that underwrites trips for Native American girls to attend space camp. The limited edition badges each feature the embroidered autograph of a former NASA astronaut as part of a design that highlights an aspect of their spaceflight career.
This new release features astronaut Mike Mullaney, who flew three Space Shuttle missions, using art that his son Patrick created for his first flight.
Earlier this year, Patrick shared on Facebook his pencil sketch of a possible patch design for his father’s launch. First flight of Space Shuttle Discovery (opens in new tab) In 1984.
“I found this sketch, probably drawn in 1982/1983,” Patrick Posted in the space hipster group (opens in new tab) In January. “This is an initial idea for the STS-41D patch that Dad and the crew asked me to draw.”
Related: Pictured is NASA’s space shuttle program
Patrick’s drawing shows Discovery sailing atop a three-masted schooner. The sailing ship is shown in silhouette, set against the rising sun on Earth’s horizon.
Patrick wrote, “I had a few of these sketches — repeating a similar theme of connecting the first flight of discovery with one of its old sailing names.
NASA named its spacecraft Orbiter after the probe. Discovery’s initial names were Henry Hudson’s Discovery and James Cook’s HMS Discovery, two different ships of the same name that sailed in the late 17th and 18th centuries respectively.
Ultimately, the crew went with another design, although Patrick’s sketch shared some similar elements with what flew on STS-41D. The emblem worn by Mike Mullan and his crewmates still features the Discovery and a sailing ship, but they are positioned opposite each other and without the sun in the sky. Discovery is also shown deploying one of its payloads, a prototype expandable solar array.
Patrick’s design labeled the mission as “STS-12”, its designation at the time (STS-41D was the 12th flight of the Space Shuttle program).
Patrick’s sketch caught the attention of the team behind the Hipsters Patch series, which led to the unveiling of the new mark.
“The details of making this embroidered patch underwent a few minor changes to Patrick’s agreement, including the addition of (Charles) Walker to the crew roster (he joined the crew in May 1983), but overall it remains true to Patrick’s original design.” Written by Chris Spain, who Adapted sketch by new patch (opens in new tab). “The design also incorporates 12 stars, in keeping with the nautical exploration theme, partly following the constellation Vela, the sail of the Argo.”
Patrick mentioned Vela and Argo 40 years ago.
“I also have a note under my handwriting that says, ‘Vela – a sale of the Argo ship,'” he wrote in January. “I didn’t think of this reference and had to look it up. Vela is a constellation and is Latin for ‘sail’. It’s part of the larger constellation Argo Navis, a ship. I wondered if it had 12 stars and so it had one because of the sailing ship on the patch. Nice double meaning. But it doesn’t seem like it. Probably a doodle idea that went nowhere.”
like two Previous “Signature” series patches (opens in new tab)which featured Robert “Hoot” Gibson and Fred Hayes, Mulan’s emblem comes in three different versions:
A limited edition of 50 “gold” patches featuring Mike Mullan’s facsimile signature on metallic gold thread mounted on individually-numbered display cards, each hand-signed by Mullan.
A limited edition of 100 “silver” patches that render the signature silver metallic thread. They also come on numbered cards signed by Mulan.
There are also open version decals and patches. The latter lacks metal threads and comes without a display card. Mulan’s signature appears in white.
Each of the patches is priced at $75 for the gold version, $50 for the silver and $15 for the unlocked version. Decals are $3 each. Instructions on how to donate funds and orders are available at “Taking Up Space”. Space Hipster Group on Facebook (opens in new tab).
Established in 2016, taking place (opens in new tab) A non-profit dedicated to increasing Native American representation and reducing the gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. In addition to sponsoring trips to space camp at the US Space and Rocket Center in Alabama, the Tucson-based organization also offers a 36-week conversation for middle-school-aged Native American girls to develop and pursue their curiosity, passion and confidence. stem subject.
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