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Author
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Topic: Subdued NASA logo (meatball) patches
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Ronpur
Member Posts: 1261
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 01-27-2016 06:10 PM
   
I have never seen this patch before. A book on the NACA/NASA patches from NASA says it was for NASA personnel in the Middle East. Has anyone seen this before? EDIT: Okay, I just found this version through Military Uniform Supply, Inc. |
usafspace
Member Posts: 181
From: Los Angeles, CA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 01-27-2016 09:32 PM
Don't think it's made by AB Emblem. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54116
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-27-2016 11:24 PM
I have one of these, as pictured, from around the time of the 2005 STS-114 mission. They were worn by the members of the SWAT team that guarded the shuttle crew as they exited the O&C Building at Kennedy Space Center and boarded the AstroVan. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 765
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 01-28-2016 12:57 PM
That would make sense because military/police applications often call for subdued patches depending on the uniform. |
mmcmurrey
Member Posts: 184
From: Austin, TX, USA
Registered: Jun 2012
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posted 01-28-2016 02:34 PM
There is a large difference between "subdued" and "desert/tan" military patches. |
p51
Member Posts: 1790
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 01-28-2016 07:07 PM
I have two of them, recently given to me from a NASA pal of mine who was at Armstrong Flight Research Center for a couple of weeks recently. He wasn't 100% sure of the use, said one of the people he was working with had a box of them and was handing them to anyone who wanted one. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1261
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 01-28-2016 08:30 PM
I ordered one from the Uniform Supply store I mentioned above. I will post a photo when I get it. |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1625
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 01-28-2016 11:47 PM
The "S" in NASA is considerably shorter than the "N" and the two "A's". Weird. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1261
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 02-02-2016 09:41 AM
I received the patch yesterday. It is a really interesting addition to my NASA logo patches. |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 1115
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 02-02-2016 01:07 PM
If SWAT or SRT was wearing these camo things it had to be recently. In the early days they did not. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54116
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-02-2016 01:33 PM
Here are a couple of my shots from the STS-121 walkout. Unfortunately, they don't show the NASA logo patch, but do show why this version could fit with the outfit. 
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Ronpur
Member Posts: 1261
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 02-02-2016 02:49 PM
The NASA ebook, "Emblems of Exploration" that I found the original photo from did mention Middle East, on page 114. But, I can't find anything about NASA Personnel in that theater. For example, deployments to the Middle East have led to modifications of the standard meatball patch. In one application, crews of the NASA WB-57F aircraft flying over Afghanistan had special “desert meatball” patches made that blended with their flight suits. In addition, NASA aircraft flying in those areas do not carry markings. |
pupnik
Member Posts: 122
From: Maryland
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 02-02-2016 04:24 PM
Subdued tan patches were also simply popular in the early and mid 00's as a sort of "support the troops" sense of feeling. A lot subdued versions of regular patches were privately made and sold in that period. |
p51
Member Posts: 1790
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 02-02-2016 05:36 PM
Camo NASA patches are clearly used by security forces. quote:
Originally posted by Ronpur:
But, I can't find anything about NASA Personnel in that theater.
I asked my friend who got me the two I have and he said he was told that ER-2 people use these patches on occasion as well as some of the ground support people for various applications. He didn't find anything to support that the security people wore them and was specific that he never saw anyone wearing them when he was there a few months ago. The two that I have in my collection have Velcro sewn to the back of them. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1261
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 02-02-2016 11:00 PM
quote:
The two that I have in my collection have Velcro sewn to the back of them.
Is your patch the same as the ones above? I have been looking, and have still not found a photo of anyone in Afghanistan using this patch. It is almost like they are camouflaged... |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1647
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 04-17-2019 05:22 PM
AB Emblem have just released a "Subdued NASA Meatball Vector" patch today. It is described as; Subdued NASA vector sample, black twill and two colours of grey. Logo measures 3" diameter (not including the vector). No production run was made. Limited quantity. 25 patches were available from their "Lost in Space" website page.The SKU patch design number is 409051 (April 2019 number). The date code on these patches is 0402 55, which relates to April 2002 — which is an error? It should read 0419 55 to be correct.
One of the two patches I bought has three embedded labels on it, (one on top of the others). I'm unable to see what is on the two bottom labels. Update: Now all 25 patches are sold out after just 18 hours on sale.  |
Besixdouze
Member Posts: 236
From: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 04-18-2019 12:40 PM
Thanks for heads up Kevin. Managed to snag one last night. Interesting addition to my Meatball collection. |
streetsnake
Member Posts: 182
From: Ohio
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 04-18-2019 01:01 PM
Yes, thank you Kevin. Snagged one as well. New to collecting the Vectors but would like begin that process.  If anyone knows a source for the desert tan version or similar please let me know. |
p51
Member Posts: 1790
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 04-18-2019 01:26 PM
I found one on Amazon, which looks good.Here's mine on the left, the one with Velcro attached to the back (it's been on my camera bag, made by Tactical Taylor, ever since).  |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1647
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 04-18-2021 06:56 AM
It seams that AB Emblem have produced another version of the subdued NASA Meatball patch. This one is just 2.75" in diameter and is without a protruding vector. The details are as follows;
- 425165 Made In USA 0620 20 (old style plain white label) Sold Out on their website in late February 2021.
- 425165 A-B Emblem Made In USA 04/21 20 (new style "crown" emblem label) Re-listed on their website on the 9th April 2021.
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Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1647
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 03-04-2025 12:02 AM
AB Emblem have just released a NASA Meatball 3" diameter patch, (4.2" from point to point) in olive drab. It is available to buy direct from their website in their NASA Patches section.
It has the patch design number 473816 and is manufactured in the USA. The date code used has not yet been confirmed at this time. |
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