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Author Topic:   NASA's official space shuttle program medals
Robert Pearlman
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Posts: 45496
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-20-2011 08:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA's Space Shuttle Program Medallions

NASA has commissioned two commemorative medals, each minted using flown-in-space metal, to recognize the end of its 30-year space shuttle program.

The two medallions, both to be produced by Winco International, NASA's supplier of mission insignia lapel pins throughout the course of the shuttle program, feature in full color the space agency's Space Shuttle Commemorative Emblem as designed by Blake Dumesnil but otherwise differ in design and inscription.

The NASA Award Medallion (1.75" diameter) is "in recognition of all who played a vital role in supporting the shuttle program." In addition, this limited edition medallion celebrates the program's 135 missions during 30 years of innovation and service.


NASA Award Medallion. Click on image to enlarge.

Metal ingots produced for this program were flown on a space shuttle mission and then included in production so each medallion would contain flown material.

On the reverse, a space shuttle launch is rendered dimensionally in antique silver. The award medallion was designed by NASA artist Sean Collins.

Th Mission Complete Medallion (1.75" diameter) "commemorates the completion of NASA's shuttle program." In addition, this limited edition medallion celebrates the exceptional accomplishments and missions of the first winged orbital spacecraft.


NASA Mission Complete Medallion. Click on image to enlarge.

Minted with the same shuttle-flown ingots included in the NASA Award Medallions, this medallion features a dimensionally rendered reverse showing the space shuttle at work through a launch, on-orbit operations and landing.

These medallions, designed by Andy Boston of Winco with additional artwork provided by Dumesnil, will be plated in antique bronze.

Both medallions will be distributed by NASA and its contractors to employees as well as will eventually be available to the public. (A special version of the NASA Award Medallion will be limited to agency presentation only.)

cspg
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Posts: 6241
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 08-11-2011 08:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The medals are really, really neat.

bobslittlebro
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Posts: 211
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009

posted 08-27-2011 06:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for bobslittlebro   Click Here to Email bobslittlebro     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Does anyone know what percentage of flown metal is in each medal?

crash
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Posts: 335
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 08-27-2011 10:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for crash   Click Here to Email crash     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would think that the percentage is tiny. However, the claim still stands.

Rocket Chris
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Posts: 373
From: Guttentag
Registered: Nov 2009

posted 08-27-2011 10:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rocket Chris   Click Here to Email Rocket Chris     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Got mine today... really nice ones.

cfreeze79
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Posts: 463
From: Herndon, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-28-2011 12:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cfreeze79   Click Here to Email cfreeze79     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Someone please refresh my memory: why is NASA and Winco keeping the information on what material and what mission the flown material for these medallions were carried on?

Robert Pearlman
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Posts: 45496
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-28-2011 01:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA has said that because the medals are meant to honor all shuttle missions and not just one, the mission(s) the metal was flown on is not being specified.

Fezman92
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Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted 08-28-2011 07:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fezman92   Click Here to Email Fezman92     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
How many of these medals will be made?

p51
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Posts: 1701
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 09-16-2011 03:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I picked up one of these on my epic buying spree at the Kennedy Space Center visitor center gift shop last week.

It says flown metal. I was curious about that, what did they melt down to make these? It's a neat coin and I love it, just wondering if it's bona fide or not and if it actually was cast from flown metal, where they found it.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 45496
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 09-16-2011 03:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Metal ingots were flown on a space shuttle mission for the purpose of creating these and other official NASA medals. NASA is not making public on what mission the ingots was flown as the medals are intended to honor all missions.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 45496
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-18-2015 12:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
(A special version of the NASA Award Medallion will be limited to agency presentation only.)
For future reference (if it not already known), the special agency-only edition of the award medallion reproduced the silver medal's design in plated antique bronze.

tnperri
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Posts: 483
From: Malvern, Ohio
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 01-18-2015 03:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tnperri   Click Here to Email tnperri     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Interesting. Didn't know that. Would this be considered a Space Flight Awareness award?

Robert Pearlman
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Posts: 45496
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-18-2015 04:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
No, I don't believe so. I believe the agency-presentation version was made for the space shuttle program rather than the Space Flight Awareness Office.

JBoe
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Posts: 987
From: Edgewater, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 01-18-2015 10:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm hoping that a few leak to the public, if not NASA making if available like the other two commemoratives.

Any idea what the reverse/obverse looks like or is it the same as logo/design with the shuttle program commemorative logo?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 45496
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-18-2015 10:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The agency-only medallion is identical to the public version, with the exception of it being plated antique bronze.

Like the public medals, the agency medal was produced and distributed in 2011. It was not then and will not now (or in the future) be authorized for public distribution.

The purpose of my post was for reference should the medals surface from estates in the future.

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