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Author
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Topic: STS-51L/Challenger recovery team patches
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daveblog
Member Posts: 138
From: Bergenfield, NJ USA
Registered: May 2004
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posted 12-18-2009 10:26 AM
   
I just started going through a box of shuttle related patches that I have, and came across these three. According to the notes I have with them, they are from the recovery of the space shuttle Challenger and are supposedly on the rarer side. I know almost nothing about patches and would just like to find out if they are indeed from the the recovery efforts. Thanks.  |
webhamster
Member Posts: 106
From: Ottawa, Canada
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 12-18-2009 08:10 PM
The USS Sunbird was involved in Challenger recovery efforts from February 12 to April 22, 1986 along with NR-1.As far as the ship history goes, it was a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship commissioned in 1950, de-commissioned in 1993, and scrapped in 2005. I'm not sure where the other two patches fit in. I couldn't find anything on them. |
webhamster
Member Posts: 106
From: Ottawa, Canada
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 12-18-2009 10:52 PM
I have found more: M/V Stena Workhorse recovered a piece of SRB wreckage on April 13, 1986. It used the Gemini ROV.Appendix 3 of the Rogers Report has alot of detail about the recovery. To my eye, though, I think that the Sunbird patch was (obviously) the only one designed specifically to commemorate the recovery effort. The other two, while they were involved, appear to me to be patches that would have been worn by regular crew members. Although, I think they're a pretty good piece of history. |
daveblog
Member Posts: 138
From: Bergenfield, NJ USA
Registered: May 2004
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posted 12-19-2009 12:21 PM
Thanks for the info. It is amazing how much information can be learned from the members of this board and their research and knowledge. |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 562
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 12-19-2009 11:02 PM
I believe the Gemini was a small (unmanned) submersible platform with cameras and possibly radar deployed on a cable from one of the 51-L search and recovery ships. |
SXPatches
Member Posts: 148
From: Port Orchard, WA USA
Registered: Jul 2020
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posted 10-16-2021 05:19 PM
I recently started corresponding with a man who is retired Navy and a patch collector. He desires to collect hard-to-find USN related recovery force patches. After waiting/watching for way too long for patches to come to market, he resigned to produce quality reproductions for himself and sell the surplus inventory on eBay. The Submarine NR-1 space shuttle Challenger US Navy recovery and salvage operations is one such patch.  |
Jim Schultz
New Member Posts: 3
From: Grove City, Ohio 43123
Registered: Sep 2021
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posted 10-20-2021 02:01 PM
USS Sunbird and Submarine NR-1 had matching patches made for the Challenger recovery effort. Stena Workhorse is the company that owned and operated the Gemini II ROV, and was contracted by the US Navy to assist with the recovery effort. |
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