Author
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Topic: Mercury-Redstone 3 50th anniversary patch
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42984 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-25-2011 09:41 AM
Mercury-Redstone 3 50th anniversary patchAB Emblem is now offering a 4" patch celebrating the 50th anniversary of the May 5, 1961 Mercury-Redstone 3 flight. This embroidered emblem design honors the men and women of Project Mercury in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the program — 1961-2011!![](http://www.collectspace.com/review/mercury3_50th_patch02.jpg) The part number for this design is 176886. This design will be used for NASA's commemoration of the anniversary this May. |
onesmallstep Member Posts: 1310 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 03-25-2011 04:45 PM
The design seems to me a little cheesy and childlike, being that they just incorporate the 'unofficial' MR-3 flight patch. A better one would have used the Project Mercury symbol (Planet Mercury sign with a '7') against a field of stars and a capsule in orbit. |
Go4Launch Member Posts: 542 From: Seminole, Fla. Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 03-25-2011 04:57 PM
I couldn't agree more -- I assume the reasoning is that AB wanted to be consistent with the Mercury line it sells. It's unfortunate that NASA is complicit in perpetuating this historical inaccuracy. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42984 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-25-2011 05:00 PM
My understanding is that while AB Emblem is reproducing this design for public sale, it did not originate with them. |
Skyforce1 Member Posts: 200 From: Vineland NJ, USA Registered: Aug 2009
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posted 03-25-2011 05:09 PM
Very tacky, unusual for AB. A very bland and boring patch. It would have been nice had the patch had stars, a Mercury capsule and a "50th Anniversary" on the patch somewhere. |
KSCartist Member Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 03-25-2011 08:04 PM
Don't be too hard on them. As far as I know the design originated from the committee of retired NASA folks who are putting together the 50th anniversary events at KSC. They used the "souvenir" patch because it has been produced since the 1960's and it's very recognizable. The color scheme is red, white and blue for obvious reasons.I could think of a bunch of ways to design a 50th patch but their intentions were good. |
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2913 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-26-2011 07:44 PM
Overall, I think Tim is correct, as a couple of MR-3 50th anniversary patch presentations were reviewed by committee members last month. As a committee member, it wasn't one of my favorite designs -- however -- a design concept had to be approved so that the project could proceed on time, even though I wasn't present at the last committee meeting two weeks ago and missed an update on that particular topic. Even though the MR-3/Freedom 7 mission patch was NASA-authorized long after Shepard's epic space feat, it still remains well-known to many as the only "official" souvenir patch for America's first astronaut space voyage. |
Go4Launch Member Posts: 542 From: Seminole, Fla. Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 03-26-2011 07:52 PM
quote: Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: My understanding is that while AB Emblem is reproducing this design for public sale, it did not originate with them.
Thanks for the clarification; if it is NASA retirees who are behind this design, I would respectfully suggest that they of all people may have had a greater responsibility to not reinforce the inaccuracy. I’m certainly not losing any sleep over it -– it’s just frustrating to see historical errors perpetuated, especially when talented artists like Tim and others could have, as previous posters have mentioned, produced something both better and also not in conflict with reality. The Mercury "souvenir" designs, incidentally, did not appear until at least 1970.
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cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 03-27-2011 02:09 AM
AB is now offering or will be offering? I couldn't find this patch on their website. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42984 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-27-2011 03:54 AM
It is not yet on their website but with the part number as listed above, you should be able to call/e-mail to order it. |
Joe Holloway Member Posts: 74 From: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA Registered: Jan 2007
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posted 04-05-2011 07:50 PM
If NASA retirees designed this, particularly those having been involved with Project Mercury, people ought to order one for every member of their family as a keepsake of this milestone anniversary. |