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Author Topic:   STS-134 / Endeavour mission patch
Moonbase Alphan
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From: Space City, Texas
Registered: Dec 2006

posted 02-26-2010 09:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moonbase Alphan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
STS-134 mission patch

STS-134 will bring to the International Space Station (ISS) the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a state-of-the-art cosmic ray particle physics detector designed to examine fundamental issues about matter and the origin and structure of the universe.

The mission will also carry the third Express Logistics Carrier (ELC-3) with spare parts for the station, including two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank, additional spare parts for Dextre and micrometeoroid debris shields.

Mark Kelly will command STS-134, which is targeted to launch on the final flight of Endeavour and the penultimate mission of the space shuttle program in April 2011. Greg "Box" Johnson will serve as pilot. STS-131 mission specialists are Mike Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Drew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori.

No patch description to go along with the art at this time - but the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) plays a major part. A great design!

Editor's note: The art as originally posted was updated by NASA, as subsequently noted. To avoid future confusion, it has been replaced by the final design above.

buckeyecal
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From: soon to be Boise, ID USA
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 02-26-2010 09:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for buckeyecal   Click Here to Email buckeyecal     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

GoesTo11
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From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 02-26-2010 09:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well, that's... different.

KSCartist
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From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 02-26-2010 09:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When I was trying to think of how to illustrate the AMS payload, I couldn't think of anything this exciting. Super job.

NavySpaceFan
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From: Norfolk, VA
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posted 02-26-2010 09:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for NavySpaceFan   Click Here to Email NavySpaceFan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great design, but the colors look a bit muted.

Bill Hunt
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posted 02-26-2010 09:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bill Hunt   Click Here to Email Bill Hunt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
WOW - I like that a lot. Very different, and I suspect there may be a good deal of metallic thread used.

I may have to post my patch idea submissions for the final three flights one of these days.

dogcrew5369
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From: Statesville, NC
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posted 02-27-2010 10:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for dogcrew5369   Click Here to Email dogcrew5369     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This has to be most original shuttle patch yet. How will 133 top this in originality? Only problem is it doesn't show in any way that this is the last flight of Endeavour.

mderos
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posted 02-27-2010 12:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mderos   Click Here to Email mderos     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One of a kind shape! Can't say that I love it but, then again can't say that I don't like it. I guess the shape is so unique that it is the only thing you see and perhaps you don't look at anything else.

spaceman
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From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
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posted 02-27-2010 02:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaceman   Click Here to Email spaceman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have both positive and negative feelings about this one. Overall however its a great design!

KAPTEC
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From: Madrid, Spain
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posted 02-27-2010 03:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for KAPTEC   Click Here to Email KAPTEC     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Living in Europe, as I do, you know that -usually- we like the groundbreaking designs... And this is a perfect example of what I mean. I must say that I like it. Very, very good job. (And by the way it's a honour to me seeing our ISS from the sts-129 patch on it)

GoesTo11
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From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 03-01-2010 11:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have to say this design has really grown on me since I first saw it. That's not to say I DISliked it at first; it was just such a bold departure that I wasn't sure what to think. Anyway, I've come around It should look terrific as an embroidered patch.

FFrench
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From: San Diego
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posted 03-02-2010 10:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What a wonderfully quarky design...

As it is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lockheed aerospace pioneer Kelly Johnson, I'm sure he would have loved the (no doubt coincidental) appearance of his name across the top of this patch.

Robert Pearlman
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From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-10-2010 09:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by dogcrew5369:
Only problem is it doesn't show in any way that this is the last flight of Endeavour.
The final version of the STS-134 mission patch (as now pictured above) includes Endeavour's name across the orbiter.

hoorenz
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Posts: 1034
From: The Netherlands
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posted 03-10-2010 09:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for hoorenz   Click Here to Email hoorenz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That will be a real challenge for AB Emblem...

mjanovec
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From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 03-10-2010 11:39 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
The final version of the STS-134 mission patch (as now pictured above) includes Endeavour's name across the orbiter.

While I would say this is easily one of my favorite patch designs, I don't like that change at all. It looks odd to see the orbiter's name so large on the side of the orbiter. While there is no way they could have added the name to "scale" and make it legible, I would have preferred adding the name elsewhere on the patch or leaving it off altogether.

Space Pete
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From: UK
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posted 03-10-2010 12:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Space Pete     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When I first saw this patch, I wasn't too sure what I thought about it. I guess I just didn't know what to expect for the penultimate Shuttle mission patch.

But I can honestly say that it has won me over. Now I love it!

Space Pete
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From: UK
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posted 03-10-2010 04:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Space Pete     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Patch now released by NASA.
The design of the STS-134 crew patch highlights research on the International Space Station (ISS) focusing on the fundamental physics of the universe.

On this mission, the crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour will install the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) experiment - a cosmic particle detector that utilizes the first ever superconducting magnet to be flown in space. By studying sub-atomic particles in the background cosmic radiation, and searching for anti-matter and dark-matter, it will help scientists better understand the evolution and properties of our universe.

The shape of the patch is inspired by the international atomic symbol, and represents the atom with orbiting electrons around the nucleus. The burst near the center refers to the big-bang theory and the origin of the universe.

The Space Shuttle Endeavour and ISS fly together into the sunrise over the limb of Earth, representing the dawn of a new age, understanding the nature of the universe.

dogcrew5369
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posted 04-22-2010 07:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for dogcrew5369   Click Here to Email dogcrew5369     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If STS-134 becomes the last shuttle flight, I was hoping the last patch would commemorate the end better than the 134 patch does. Doesn't even give notice that it's Endeavour's last flight. Bummer.

KSCartist
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From: Titusville, FL USA
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posted 04-22-2010 10:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You have to remember designing the patch is done 6-9 months prior to launch. The primary mission objective is usually the focus of the design.

Due to the nature of payload processing already discussed - the last flight isn't known. Plus until very recently, it was thought that STS-135 was a possibility. So the crews try to avoid any design that locks them into a emblem that could be inaccurate.

I remember when beginning the design process for Expedition 11 the ESA ATV first flight was a possibility. The illustration of that was removed early when the schedule slipped.

I think that is one reason why the End of Program patch competition was instituted, to create an emblem that is a tribute to the program.

dogcrew5369
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From: Statesville, NC
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posted 04-27-2010 08:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dogcrew5369   Click Here to Email dogcrew5369     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I should have said last flight commemoration of Endeavour sort of like the STS-132 patch pays respect to the last flight of Atlantis. There is no hint of it being the last Endeavour flight or last shuttle flight in the 134 patch. Considering how far ahead it takes to design and finalize a mission patch it doesn't seem to of been a problem for the 132 crew. Just a little homage to the final flight of Endeavour would be nice. The 134 patch is the last flight in two respects or could have been any flight in the '90s. If the Expedition 25 crew could put it in their mission patch surely shuttle could too in some way.

KSCartist
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From: Titusville, FL USA
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posted 04-28-2010 04:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You are correct in that they could have made some kind of reference to it.

But there's still talk in some circles that 135 will fly. So depending on which vehicle is assigned for it - 132, 133 or 134 may not be that vehicles final flight.

As for Exp 25: at the time it was designed, they expected to be the last ISS crew to be visited by a shuttle. Now it looks like that might slip to Exp 26.

It doesn't detract from the design though.

Fezman92
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posted 04-28-2010 02:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fezman92   Click Here to Email Fezman92     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I really like the design. It's abstract but yet still cool.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 43122
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 04-28-2010 02:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by dogcrew5369:
There is no hint of it being the last Endeavour flight or last shuttle flight in the 134 patch.
Endeavour is shown on the STS-134 patch coming in for a landing, just as the STS-132 patch shows Atlantis doing the same. They are just shown from different angles.

Therefore, objectively, if one is acceptable as nod to its final flight, then the other should be, too.

Keep in mind though, that before NASA made the choice to change the flight order between STS-133 and STS-134, shuttle managers were also weighing swapping the two missions' orbiters.

And it is still possible, between now and the fall, that a technical issue could result in Discovery flying after Endeavour, or even Endeavour and Discovery swapping missions (though both scenarios are growing less likely). Add to that, as Tim wrote, that STS-135 could still fly, and you essentially explain why the crews needed to be subtle in their final flight references.

dogcrew5369
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From: Statesville, NC
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posted 04-28-2010 07:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dogcrew5369   Click Here to Email dogcrew5369     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I didn't take into account that Endeavour could be in landing mode since many other patches show the shuttle with the cargo bay doors closed, although it doesn't seem to be oriented towards the earth for a landing. Just knitpicking I guess. I will give it the benefit of the doubt and move on. I think the patch is pretty cool though.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

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From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-02-2011 11:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The STS-134/ULF6 payload patch:

Fezman92
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posted 03-02-2011 11:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fezman92   Click Here to Email Fezman92     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When will AB release the STS-134 payload patch? I love the design and how it keeps with the matter/antimatter color theme from the AMS patch.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 43122
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-02-2011 04:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
According to payload managers, if patches are produced, they are not made for public sale. Typically, these insignia are not intended for embroidered patches but for use on documents and maybe as a lapel pin.

The payload patches you may see for sale are unofficial replicas.

Marwin2
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posted 05-28-2011 07:44 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Marwin2   Click Here to Email Marwin2     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Who is the patch designer?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

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From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 05-28-2011 07:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Gloria Giffords, STS-134 commander Mark Kelly's mother-in-law, is credited with designing the patch.

Marwin2
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posted 05-28-2011 09:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Marwin2   Click Here to Email Marwin2     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great! Thank you very much!

Fezman92
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From: New Jersey, USA
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posted 05-28-2011 09:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fezman92   Click Here to Email Fezman92     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wow, Mark is a lucky guy. His wife is very amazing and the mother in law designed the payload patch for his last mission. Talk about a dedicated, supportive family!

Marwin2
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posted 05-28-2011 10:02 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Marwin2   Click Here to Email Marwin2     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sorry, who's the mission patch designer, not the payload patch, I mean?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-28-2011 11:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I, too, was referring to the mission patch (I do not know who designed the payload patch, though I would assume it was someone in the payload office as has been tradition).

As Drew Feustel recounted during our pre-flight interviews, Mark Kelly, his wife Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her mother, Gloria, were sitting around a table soon after the mission was assigned and Mrs. Giffords sketched out the atom shape with the shuttle. This occurred well before the Jan. 8 assassination attempt on Rep. Giffords' life.

Marwin2
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posted 05-28-2011 11:43 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Marwin2   Click Here to Email Marwin2     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It's really great, thank you, Robert!

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