posted 06-11-2010 06:05 PM               

STS-133 / Discovery mission patch

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. collectSPACE's own Tim Gagnon and Jorge Cartes were selected by the crew to complete the patch after McCall's passing.

posted 06-12-2010 02:33 AM            

Given the STS-1 patch, the STS-133 patch is a very befitting patch with which to bring the Shuttle program to a close.

posted 06-12-2010 04:49 AM               

Back in 1973 when I began writing to astronauts asking if I might design their mission patch, the (always polite) reply was while they appreciated my interest, they had already chosen an artist to work with. Many times, that artist was Robert McCall.

Finally in 1982 I wrote to Mr. McCall to ask his advice. He replied with words that at the time seemed somewhat ambiguous because I was hoping for step-by-step instructions.

Over the years my appreciation for his advice and his work grew. So to have been asked by the crew to finish what Mr. McCall started was especially gratifying. Of course I couldn't have done it without the help of my little brother from Madrid.

posted 07-21-2010 03:53 PM               

The 133 patch is for that mission whenever it flies, whether it's the final flight or not.

posted 08-17-2010 01:51 PM               

I checked the reverse and it is in fact an AB Emblem patch per the product number label.

I've contacted AB to express my concern. I'll post again when I have a response.

On edit: AB Emblem's response:

...some of the emblems went out with the "nice" shuttle on it initially, and all customers are aware of this and that all future orders are to have the stylized (McCall) shuttle.

posted 11-09-2010 05:16 AM               

I mentioned to him that we had something in common. Jack Lousma asked McCall to create the STS-3 patch and McCall was unable to finish because of another commitment. Bean completed it for Lousma.

posted 11-09-2010 10:00 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by KSCartist:
He said that in his opinion the STS-133 patch was the best of the shuttle program.

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posted 01-19-2011 12:26 PM               

Although it is assumed NASA will update the patch accordingly, the space agency has yet to confirm it is doing so.

posted 01-20-2011 07:45 AM               

I don't know if all of that is going to happen. The patch may not work, we'll see.

What we will do, we do have a plan for the EMU, of course. We have to have a plan to have an appropriate sized EMU onboard and that is being worked into the schedule.

Because of the logistics plan on this particular mission, the 133 crew was actually going to be eating station food for some portion of the mission anyway, so that is already there. There might have to be some specific changeout for other phases of flight, you know when they are not docked to the station. Or, if we don't have time to do that, we just won't do that. He'll just eat Tim's food.

Crew clothing will probably have to be changed out. Again, if push came to shove, we have a supply aboard station. So some of those things utilized from station stores if we needed to.

But obviously we're going to prioritize the training first, and then the hardware necessary to do the mission and then we'll get as much of the rest of the things as we can after that.

posted 01-25-2011 04:10 PM               

With the launch of STS-133 scheduled for February 24, 2011, we are gearing up to produce the emblem and pin for this design with astronaut Bowen replacing Kopra.