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T O P I C R E V I E WRobert PearlmanWith STS-120 now back on Earth for a few weeks and the next shuttle mission soon to launch, it seems like a good time to reveal a project that began as a joke among friends and, as of today, went on public display. But I am getting ahead myself...It all began a few days after we first reported that Discovery would launch Lucasfilm's prop lightsaber in celebration of Star Wars' 30th anniversary. The response to that article drew the largest one-day audience collectSPACE has seen in the past eight years. As such, you could say I had Star Wars 'on the brain' for the following days.Talking about it with a few friends and cS readers, the idea came about that the official STS-120 patch lent itself nicely to inheriting some Star Wars influences. Working with the original insignia designed by astronaut Michael Foreman and refined by artist Marc Jacobs, I started altering some of its elements, with the most obvious change being made to the orbiter's cargo: instead of the Harmony module, the lightsaber filled the payload bay. Other changes to the insignia's design included: substituting a TIE fighter for the starburst representing the ISS, which was inspired by previous crews' observations that the symmetric station took on the appearance of the Imperial spacecraft;amending the Moon... wait, that's no Moon. It's a space station! to be the Death Star;altering the text that read "STS-120" to "SW-30" for Star Wars' 30th year. The parody patch would have ended there, as a modified graphic, were it not for the suggestion to see what it might take to have a few patches produced as a gag gift for the crew. A few calls later, and not only had AB Emblem agreed to partner on the project, but they would also insure that other than the altered icons, the patches would be identical to the ones they had produced for the crew to wear.AB provided 30 patches, one for each year since Star Wars' original release, and they were shipped just in time for our pre-flight interviews with the STS-120 astronauts. Each were given two patches, which were received with laughter and positive reviews.Other patches were presented to NASA flight personnel, those cS members who were part of the initial idea, and to Lucasfilm. Until today, outside of those privy or had been given one, the patches were private. On Thursday, November 29, the patch went on public display with the flown lightsaber at Space Center Houston as part of a Star Wars exhibit that will be open through January 7, 2008. (A small card describing the history of the patch will be added to the display case soon.)All 30 patches have either been distributed or reserved, and no more will be produced, per our agreement with AB and Lucasfilm. Jay ChladekRob, you are one sick dude! In a good way mind you. It is also way too scarey how well the STS-120 patch lent itself to alteration in this way. I guess you guys were using the Force when you designed it. This particular gag mission patch I put right up there with the Apollo 14 backup crew patch featuring Coyote and Road Runner in terms of its humor potential. Thanks for pulling it off!Harald KraenzelRobert, nice idea and great job. Congratulations.I like the positive way the astronauts react on your presentation. And it's nice to hear AB did it as a partner.NavySpaceFanRobert, you sneaky cuss, what a brilliant idea!!!!!! Did Mr. Lucas receive one of those 30 patches, if so, what did he say? Also, is there a hi-resolution image of the patch? I see a computer wall paper in the future.GilbertRobert, that's pretty cool!Robert Pearlman quote:Originally posted by NavySpaceFan:Did Mr. Lucas receive one of those 30 patches, if so, what did he say? The patch that is currently on display at Space Center Houston is earmarked to return to Lucasfilm with the flown lightsaber. I haven't heard directly from Lucas regarding the patch, but my contact at Lucasfilm had some very nice things to say about its design.1202 AlarmIsn't the TIE-fighter a spacecraft from the dark side of the Force? hmm....Robert Pearlman quote:Originally posted by 1202 Alarm:Isn't the TIE-fighter a spacecraft from the dark side of the Force? Yes, but it will be a weird day when the ISS looks like an X-wing...Jay ChladekThe X-Wing will be the ESA ATV vehicle when it comes to dock with the ISS sometime in early 2008. Haven't you looked at the solar wing configuration on it? BMckayAny of these ever shown up on any auction sites? Just wondering what they would be worth.Robert PearlmanI don't recall seeing any of the patches come up for sale. The agreement between collectSPACE and Lucasfilm was that the patch would not be commercialized, and while that doesn't apply to a third party owner, care was made when originally distributing them so that they would enter personal collections and not be turned around for sale.
It all began a few days after we first reported that Discovery would launch Lucasfilm's prop lightsaber in celebration of Star Wars' 30th anniversary. The response to that article drew the largest one-day audience collectSPACE has seen in the past eight years. As such, you could say I had Star Wars 'on the brain' for the following days.
Talking about it with a few friends and cS readers, the idea came about that the official STS-120 patch lent itself nicely to inheriting some Star Wars influences. Working with the original insignia designed by astronaut Michael Foreman and refined by artist Marc Jacobs, I started altering some of its elements, with the most obvious change being made to the orbiter's cargo: instead of the Harmony module, the lightsaber filled the payload bay. Other changes to the insignia's design included:
The parody patch would have ended there, as a modified graphic, were it not for the suggestion to see what it might take to have a few patches produced as a gag gift for the crew.
A few calls later, and not only had AB Emblem agreed to partner on the project, but they would also insure that other than the altered icons, the patches would be identical to the ones they had produced for the crew to wear.
AB provided 30 patches, one for each year since Star Wars' original release, and they were shipped just in time for our pre-flight interviews with the STS-120 astronauts. Each were given two patches, which were received with laughter and positive reviews.
Other patches were presented to NASA flight personnel, those cS members who were part of the initial idea, and to Lucasfilm.
Until today, outside of those privy or had been given one, the patches were private.
On Thursday, November 29, the patch went on public display with the flown lightsaber at Space Center Houston as part of a Star Wars exhibit that will be open through January 7, 2008. (A small card describing the history of the patch will be added to the display case soon.)
All 30 patches have either been distributed or reserved, and no more will be produced, per our agreement with AB and Lucasfilm.
This particular gag mission patch I put right up there with the Apollo 14 backup crew patch featuring Coyote and Road Runner in terms of its humor potential. Thanks for pulling it off!
I like the positive way the astronauts react on your presentation. And it's nice to hear AB did it as a partner.
quote:Originally posted by NavySpaceFan:Did Mr. Lucas receive one of those 30 patches, if so, what did he say?
quote:Originally posted by 1202 Alarm:Isn't the TIE-fighter a spacecraft from the dark side of the Force?
The agreement between collectSPACE and Lucasfilm was that the patch would not be commercialized, and while that doesn't apply to a third party owner, care was made when originally distributing them so that they would enter personal collections and not be turned around for sale.
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