sts-26

A Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) is a type of communications satellite that forms part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) used by NASA and other United States government agencies for communications to and from independent "User Platforms" such as satellites, balloons, aircraft, and the International Space Station. This system was designed to replace a pre-existing worldwide network of ground stations that had supported all of NASA's manned flight missions and unmanned satellites in low-Earth orbits. The primary system design goal was to increase the amount of time that these spacecraft were in communication with the ground and improve the amount of data that could be transferred. These TDRSS satellites are all designed and built to be launched to and function in geosynchronous orbit, 35,786 kilometres (22,236 mi) above the surface of the Earth.
The first seven TDRSS satellites were built by the TRW corporation. 

This version, acquired from the estate of a TRW employee, varies slightly from the more common TDRS-C patch. The "Flight" is in a sans font and there are multiple differences in the details and colors. 

STS-26 Orbiter processing facility

STS-26 was the 26th NASA Space Shuttle mission and the seventh flight of the Discovery orbiter. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 29 September 1988, and landed four days later on 3 October. STS-26 was declared the "Return to Flight" mission, being the first mission after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster of 28 January 1986. It was the first mission since STS-9 to use the original STS numbering system, the first to have all its crew members wear pressure suits for launch and landing since STS-4, and the first mission with bail-out capacity since STS-4. STS-26 was also the first all-veteran crew mission since Apollo 11, with all of its crew members having flown at least one prior mission.

This 4" version of the STS-26 patch was manufactured by Swissartex Emblem Inc. of Asheville, NC. 28814. 

A Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) is a type of communications satellite that forms part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) used by NASA and other United States government agencies for communications to and from independent "User Platforms" such as satellites, balloons, aircraft, and the International Space Station. This system was designed to replace a pre-existing worldwide network of ground stations that had supported all of NASA's manned flight missions and unmanned satellites in low-Earth orbits. The primary system design goal was to increase the amount of time that these spacecraft were in communication with the ground and improve the amount of data that could be transferred. These TDRSS satellites are all designed and built to be launched to and function in geosynchronous orbit, 35,786 kilometres (22,236 mi) above the surface of the Earth.
The first seven TDRSS satellites were built by the TRW corporation. 

A special edition patch from Rockwell International commemorating the completion of STS-26, the space shuttle's return to flight.

Using the same kind of invisible light that remotely controls our home TV sets and VCRs, mission specialist George "Pinky" Nelson is to conduct experimental voice communications with his STS-26 crewmates via infrared, rather than standard radio frequency waves.

This patch has slightly different stitching than the other version of this patch.

GE Astro commemorates the STS-26 return to space.

STS-26 was the 26th NASA Space Shuttle mission and the seventh flight of the Discovery orbiter. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 29 September 1988, and landed four days later on 3 October. STS-26 was declared the "Return to Flight" mission, being the first mission after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster of 28 January 1986. It was the first mission since STS-9 to use the original STS numbering system, the first to have all its crew members wear pressure suits for launch and landing since STS-4, and the first mission with bail-out capacity since STS-4. STS-26 was also the first all-veteran crew mission since Apollo 11, with all of its crew members having flown at least one prior mission.

This 3" version of the STS-26 patch was manufactured by Swissartex Emblem Inc. of Asheville, NC. 28814. if it has a webbed & vacuum sealed backing to it. Also known with 'gold' stars instead of 'silver' stars like the two 4" versions of this patch. This 3" patch is fully embroidered. 

STS-26 was the 26th NASA Space Shuttle mission and the seventh flight of the Discovery orbiter. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 29 September 1988, and landed four days later on 3 October. STS-26 was declared the "Return to Flight" mission, being the first mission after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster of 28 January 1986. It was the first mission since STS-9 to use the original STS numbering system, the first to have all its crew members wear pressure suits for launch and landing since STS-4, and the first mission with bail-out capacity since STS-4. STS-26 was also the first all-veteran crew mission since Apollo 11, with all of its crew members having flown at least one prior mission.

This is a modern-era patch, with stitching joining the letters, and most noticibly: yellow stars

STS-26 was the 26th NASA Space Shuttle mission and the seventh flight of the Discovery orbiter. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 29 September 1988, and landed four days later on 3 October. STS-26 was declared the "Return to Flight" mission, being the first mission after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster of 28 January 1986. It was the first mission since STS-9 to use the original STS numbering system, the first to have all its crew members wear pressure suits for launch and landing since STS-4, and the first mission with bail-out capacity since STS-4. STS-26 was also the first all-veteran crew mission since Apollo 11, with all of its crew members having flown at least one prior mission.

The Orbiter Experiments Program Autonomous Supporting Instrumentation System (OASIS) will be flown on STS-26 to record environmental data in the orbiter payload bay during STS flight phases. OASIS will measure TDRS vibration, strain, acoustics and temperature during orbiter ascent, using transducers affixed directly to the payload. OASIS flight hardware consists of signal conditioning, multiplexing and recording equipment mounted on a Shuttle adaptive payload carrier behind the TDRS. Command and status interface is achieved through the standard mixed cargo harness and the general purpose computers. STS-26,  STS-29, STS-43

Using the same kind of invisible light that remotely controls our home TV sets and VCRs, mission specialist George "Pinky" Nelson is to conduct experimental voice communications with his STS-26 crewmates via infrared, rather than standard radio frequency waves.
This appears to be the original version. A second version can be found with slightly different embroidery. For example, this one uses gold thread for the lettering.