NASA Vector and "Meatball" Patches                                     NASA Vector and "Meatball" Patches The Legendary Emblems of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). All United States space missions carry the official NASA insignia. The next time you seen an American astronaut on an EVA (Extravehicular Activity) look closely for the vector patch on the space suit. The original NASA insignia of the late 50's and early 60's was surrounded by a white border. It became affectionately known as the "Meatball." During the Project Gemini era, the official symbol began evolving into the famous vector shape we know today. The new patch has the vector outside the border- unlike the old one. The vector going outside the patch symbolizes that there is more out there than what is just around the Earth.

The Worm 1975 NASA "Worm" Patches The well known logo of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). For many years NASA missions and facilities carried the NASA logo affectionately known as the "worm". The logo appeared in a number of forms but only the fully embroidered red lettering on a white background (top left) was the "official" NASA worm logo. In recent years the worm has been retired in favor of the NASA Vector symbol.

Mercury 3 1961 Mission Objective: The main scientific objective of project Mercury was to determine man's capabilities in a space environment and in those environments to which he will be subject upon going into and returning from space. A few of the basic flight problems included: The development of an automatic escape system, vehicle control during insertion, behavior of space systems, evaluation of pilots capabilities in space, in flight monitoring, retrofire and reentry maneuvers and landing and recovery. The seven stands for the production model of the capsule, not the number of original astronauts. The patch shows that Shepard went straight up from Florida and back down to land in ocean, no orbit. Launch: May 5, 1961 9:34am EST Orbit: Altitude: 116.5 statute miles Orbits: 0 Duration: 0 Days, 0 hours, 15 min, 28 seconds

Mercury 6 1962 John Glenn was scheduled for seven Earth orbits, but was able to only orbit three times. You can see that he launched from Florida. Again the number, just like in Alan Shepard’s patch.

Gemini 5 1965 The “8 Days or Bust” saying was put on the patch after the mission. They did not want to jinx the mission- which was to be the longest to date. The Conestoga wagon represents the pioneer spirit- adventure, exploration.

Gemini 12 1966 The capsule is pointed at 12:00 like on a clock to represent a “new day” as this was the last launch before the Apollo program began. The colors are Halloween like as they were supposed to launch on October 31.

Apollo 8 1968 The first patch to have a meaningful shape- shaped like the capsule. First crew to see the backside of the moon. The eight not only represents their mission number, but actual orbit path around the Earth and moon.

Apollo 11 1969 Apollo 11 was the first crew to land on the moon. “The Eagle has landed”-famous words when the lunar lander named Eagle landed. The eagle is carrying an olive branch to represent peace to all mankind. First patch to not have names-astronauts wanted it that way as they were representing all mankind.

STS-1 1981 First shuttle launch. The external tank of the space shuttle is white- NASA painted the first two until it decided that the paint was too heavy and too expensive. Now the tank is orange. Young and Crippen orbited the Earth several times checking all of the systems on board the shuttle.

STS-7 1983 Sally Ride was the first American woman in space. The 7 not only represents the launch number but is the Canadian made robotic arm on the shuttle, this was its debut flight. The stars are male symbols, the large symbol is the female symbol in honor of Sally Ride.

STS-51L 1986 Apple for the teacher Christa McAuliffe. She taught social studies, patch shaped like a globe. American flag- seven stars for seven astronauts. Comet Halley- studying this comet was one of the main mission objectives.

STS-107 2003 Shaped like the shuttle. Mg- represents the number of microgravity experiments conducted on board. Constellation in picture is Columba.

STS-114 2005 Return to Flight patch first flight after Columbia accident. Launch- July 26, 2005 Land August 9, 2005 Noguchi- Japanese astronaut, flag symbol in name Shuttle is in honor of Columbia, constellation Columba in it Colors on ribbon leading up to shuttle represent all the people it took to achieve Return to Flight. Names on orbit represent astronauts who had done space walks before or did space walks specifically on STS-114.

STS-118 2007 Barbara Morgan’s flight. She was a teacher and Christa McAuliffe’s back up during Challenger training. By her name you see the torch- that was the symbol used on the Teacher in Space program patch in the 1980s. Williams is from the Canadian Space Agency. They are taking up a part to the International Space Station.