NASA Space Shuttle STS-1 40th Anniversary Commemorative

This patch was an homage to the first anniversary of STS-1 and to Robert McCall, the designer of the STS-1 mission patch. The patch design blends characteristics of the Space Shuttle Program insignia, the STS-1 emblem and the STS-1 crew photo.

The two-tone blue colored shapes are exaggerated versions of the triangles found on the Space Shuttle Program insignia. Space Shuttle Columbia launching on white colored booster, used on the STS-1 patch. An eagle trailing an exhaust plume, instead of an orbiter, is orbiting the Earth on a red, white and blue trajectory. The eagle on wings of gold represent Navy airmen wings, since the crew are naval aviators.

The crew photo was the source of inspiration to illustrate John Young (left) and Robert Crippen (right) against a red background from the original mission patch. The emblem on Young’s right shoulder says “NAVY” instead of “NASA” embroidered in the style of the worm logo. John Young did not like the “NASA” worm logo - he was selected as an astronaut in 1962, so he was a “NASA” meatball guy.

Jorge and I had our initials ghost stitched into the lower-left blue background.