space shuttle

Launched from STS-51
The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS), a significant activity of the NASA Space Communications Program, provided for the development and flight test of high-risk, advanced communications satellite technology. Using multiple spot beam antennas and advanced on-board switching and processing systems, ACTS pioneered new initiatives in communications satellite technology. NASA Glenn Research Center was responsible for the development, management, and operation of ACTS as part of a long legacy of experimental communications satellites.

Launched from STS-51
The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS), a significant activity of the NASA Space Communications Program, provided for the development and flight test of high-risk, advanced communications satellite technology. Using multiple spot beam antennas and advanced on-board switching and processing systems, ACTS pioneered new initiatives in communications satellite technology. NASA Glenn Research Center was responsible for the development, management, and operation of ACTS as part of a long legacy of experimental communications satellites.

STS-1 was the first orbital flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. Space Shuttle Columbia launched on 12 April 1981, and returned to Earth on 14 April, having orbited the Earth 37 times during its 54.5-hour mission. Columbia carried a crew of two – mission commander John W. Young and pilot Robert L. Crippen. It was the first American manned space flight since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project on 15 July 1975. STS-1 was also the only US manned maiden test flight of a new spacecraft system, although it was the culmination of atmospheric testing of the Space Shuttle orbiter.

This version appears very similar to the standard A-B Emblem STS-1 patch, however, the wings have flaps and SRBs are more detailed and the wings lack both the USA flag and "USA" lettering. The black thread also outlines the orbiter. The patcbh is 4 3/4" high.

STS-1 was the first orbital flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. Space Shuttle Columbia launched on 12 April 1981, and returned to Earth on 14 April, having orbited the Earth 37 times during its 54.5-hour mission. Columbia carried a crew of two – mission commander John W. Young and pilot Robert L. Crippen. It was the first American manned space flight since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project on 15 July 1975. STS-1 was also the only US manned maiden test flight of a new spacecraft system, although it was the culmination of atmospheric testing of the Space Shuttle orbiter.

This version of the A-B Emblem patch has a sewn black border and is much harder to find.

This patch varies from the common STS-1 patch as it has three colors of thread used in the flame of the shuttle. Scarce patch.
The Lion Brothers' version is readily identifiable by the two blue patches on the wings rather than a flag and "USA".
This version has a plastic backing instead of the more common cloth backing.

STS-1 was the first orbital flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. Space Shuttle Columbia launched on 12 April 1981, and returned to Earth on 14 April, having orbited the Earth 37 times during its 54.5-hour mission. Columbia carried a crew of two – mission commander John W. Young and pilot Robert L. Crippen. It was the first American manned space flight since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project on 15 July 1975. STS-1 was also the only US manned maiden test flight of a new spacecraft system, although it was the culmination of atmospheric testing of the Space Shuttle orbiter.

STS-3 was NASA's third Space Shuttle mission, and was the third mission for the Space Shuttle Columbia. It launched on 22 March 1982, and landed eight days later on 30 March. STS-3 was the first shuttle launch with an unpainted external tank, and the only mission to land at the White Sands Space Harbor near Las Cruces, New Mexico.

An alternate version of the common ALT program patch. This version appears original while there are some modern reproductions.

This variation features the astronaut names displayed on a curve rather than a straight line.

Swissartex version of STS-4. The thick red order is a big give away.

Slightly larger than the A-B Emblem crew version, but bears the same light red/pink triangle. Cloth back.

The crew version of the STS-4. Identified by the lighter red/pink triangle in the zag of the trail. The stitching in the Earth has a barred apperance where the slightly larger Lion Brothers version does not.

STS-101 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) flown by Space Shuttle Atlantis. The mission was a 10-day mission conducted between 19 May 2000 and 29 May 2000. The mission was designated 2A.2a and was a resupply mission to the International Space Station. STS-101 was delayed 3 times in April due to high winds. STS-101 traveled 4.1 million miles and completed 155 revolutions of the earth and landed on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center. The mission was the first to fly with the "glass cockpit".

There are three versions of the STS-101 patch:

• "Internal Wing" - Wingtip does not extend beyond the oval border
• "External Wing" - Wingtip extends beyond the oval border
• "Mid Wing"  Wingtip slightly extends beyond the oval border

STS-101 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) flown by Space Shuttle Atlantis. The mission was a 10-day mission conducted between 19 May 2000 and 29 May 2000. The mission was designated 2A.2a and was a resupply mission to the International Space Station. STS-101 was delayed 3 times in April due to high winds. STS-101 traveled 4.1 million miles and completed 155 revolutions of the earth and landed on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center. The mission was the first to fly with the "glass cockpit".

There are three versions of the STS-101 patch:

• "Internal Wing" - Wingtip does not extend beyond the oval border
• "External Wing" - Wingtip extends beyond the oval border
• "Mid Wing" - Wingtip slightly extends beyond the oval border

The Crew version of the STS-1 patch is virtually identical to the A-B Emblem souvenir version aside from the use of 4 colors of thread in the flame rather than two. The coloring is subtle but there are two shades of yellow in the upper part of the flame. 

Outwardly appears identical to the A-B Emblem version, however the rising shuttle is lacking any markings on its wings. Measured as 3 1/2" inches by the seller.

Lion Brothers version of the STS-3 patch. The 3 color rays set this patch apart from the rest as well as the distinct blue nose of the orbiter.

Cloth is bare thread.

Cloth back version which can be identified by the darker orange outer rays. 

STS-3 was NASA's third Space Shuttle mission, and was the third mission for the Space Shuttle Columbia. It launched on 22 March 1982, and landed eight days later on 30 March. STS-3 was the first shuttle launch with an unpainted external tank, and the only mission to land at the White Sands Space Harbor near Las Cruces, New Mexico.

This patch varies from the common version as it has a more fit, cut-edge. The common version features a marrowed edge.

This is a later production run of the official issue version. NASA did not approve of their use of the seriffed "NASA" font, so it was revised to a more Helvetica-like font. The rudders match the original version. 

This version retains the seriffed NASA font, but has different stiching in the rudder (two distinct rudders). 

Early production run version. Identifiable by the seriffed "NASA" and joined rudder stitching.

This mission's purpose was to deploy a Syncom/Leasat satellite into a geosynchronous orbit and retrieve and return the Long Duration Exposure Facility, whose orbit was decaying slowly after doing its mission. The crew would've consisted of 5 NASA astronauts and 2 Payload Specialists: Commander Dan Brandenstein, Pilot John Creighton, Mission Specialists Steve Nagel, John Fabian, and Shannon Lucid, and Payload Specialists Greg Jarvis and Charlie Walker. Scheduled for launch in either March or April of 1985, the orbiter that would've flown STS-51D was Discovery. There was some bad news, which was not about IUS problems this time: the STS-51E mission was cancelled and the crews changed missions; Brandenstein's crew moved to 51G and Bobko 's crew moved to the newly remanifested STS-51D flight. Charlie Walker chose to stay on this mission, because of the experiments he had to perform. So, an original member of STS-51E, Patrick Baudry, moved to STS-51G and Charlie Walker retained his spot as Payload Specialist 1.
3" A-B Emblem version of the highly-sought patch.

This patch varies from the common STS-1 patch as it has three colors of thread used in the flame of the shuttle. Scarce patch.
The Lion Brothers' version is readily identifiable by the two blue patches on the wings rather than a flag and "USA".

STS-1 was the first orbital flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. Space Shuttle Columbia launched on 12 April 1981, and returned to Earth on 14 April, having orbited the Earth 37 times during its 54.5-hour mission. Columbia carried a crew of two – mission commander John W. Young and pilot Robert L. Crippen. It was the first American manned space flight since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project on 15 July 1975. STS-1 was also the only US manned maiden test flight of a new spacecraft system, although it was the culmination of atmospheric testing of the Space Shuttle orbiter.

Comemmorative patch

Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) is a small, self-contained, propulsive backpack system (jet pack) used to provide free-flying mobility for a Space Shuttle or International Space Station (ISS) crewmember during extra-vehicular activity (EVA)] SAFER is a small, simplified version of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) intended for contingency use during spacewalks.

Die-cut patch

STS-2 was the second Space Shuttle mission conducted by NASA, and the second flight of Space Shuttle Columbia. The mission launched on 12 November 1981 and landed two days later on 14 November. STS-2 marked the first time ever that a manned, reusable orbital spacecraft left the Earth for its second mission and returned to space.
In the early planning stages of the Space Shuttle program, STS-2 was intended to be a Skylab reboost mission. However, delays with the shuttle's development, and the deteriorating orbit of Skylab, made the mission impossible. Skylab ultimately de-orbited in 1979, two years before the launch of STS-2

Anniversary patch for the launch of STS-1

Space Shuttle:  Columbia OV-102
crew:               2
Launch:            April 12, 1981, 12:00:04 UTC
                       Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A
Landing:           April 14, 1981, 18:20:57 UTC
                       Edwards Air Force Base, Bahn 23
Duration:          2d 6h 20min 53s