*HTML is ON *UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend
Smilies Legend
If you have previously registered, but forgotten your password, click here.
T O P I C R E V I E WGordon ReadeDose anyone know know how the tradition of the gold and silver NASA astronaut pin started? Whose idea was it? When were the first astronaut pins made? Have any been sold at auction and if so how much did they sell for? Thanks!JWoytachI have a memory of it being designed by Wally Schirra but I cannot find anything to support that memory.sts205cdrMy memory says Alan Shepard, but I don't know where that's coming from, either.JWoytachI sent a request ot the NASA History Office about the genesis of the symbol. Here is their reply: Take a look at the Manned Spacecraft Center's Roundup, May 13, 1964, page 8. I'm not entirely sure Schirra designed it but, the article says he sparked the meeting. You'll have to use the Zoom function to blow up the tiny writing.Robert PearlmanFor ease of reference, here is the text of the artice: Astronaut's New Emblem Symbolizes Unity of Mercury-Gemini-Apollo Teams NASA's twenty-nine astronauts are wearing a new emblem, unofficially signifying the unity of the Mercury-Gemini-Apollo flight teams. The design shows a trio of trajectories merging in infinite space, capped by a bright shining star and encircled by an el|iptlcal wreath denoting orbital flight. They are either gold or silver. Gold emblems are worn by those who have flown in spaceMilitary version of the astronaut emblem are emblazoned over conventional pilots wings - silver for Air Force and gold for Navy space fliers.The device was adopted late in 1963 by the astronaut team when it was evident that the Mercury "7" lapel pin, awarded to Mercury pilots, excluded new astronaut team members. A get together was held, sparked by Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, and the pilots decided on one emblem for all present and future members of the team.Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter recently presented a gold pin to John Glenn, the first of America's astronauts to orbit the Earth.Robert PearlmancollectSPACE 'Pin'-nacle achievement: The story behind NASA's astronaut pinThey have completed their basic training and have qualified for mission assignments, but before NASA's newest group of space men and women can call themselves astronauts, they need one more thing — a small lapel pin with a long history.NASA will graduate its 22nd astronaut candidate class on Friday (Jan. 10). The 11 American and two Canadian trainees will each receive an astronaut pin, signifying their eligibility for future flights to the International Space Station, Artemis missions to the moon and, perhaps, journeys to Mars. p51I was very surprised to read in Mike Mullane's excellent "Riding Rockets" book that astronauts had to buy their gold pins and them have them awarded after their first flights.I later confirmed with Al Worden (Apollo 15) that they didn't have to pay for theirs.Robert Pearlman quote:Originally posted by Gordon Reade:Have any been sold at auction... While researching the above article, I came across several sale listings for genuine astronaut pins. Ed White's gold pin was sold in 1999 by Superior Galleries for $13,500.Dick Gordon's silver pin was sold in 2009 by Goldberg Coins and Collectibles for $8,607.Deke Slayton's diamond-studded gold pin was offered in 2010 by Bonhams for $80,000 to $120,000 but went unsold. Two years later, it was donated to The Museum of Flight in Seattle, where it is on display today.Al Worden's silver pin was sold in 2015 by RR Auction for $5,000.Larry McGlynnI bought Al's silver pin at RR Auction from Leon Ford's collection in 2015. It was later used in the Space Dealers TV Show where I retrieved the pin for a customer, Gerhard Daum, who presented it back to Al for his birthday. I found the pin in three days! OV-105What do astronauts do with their silver pin once they get their gold pin? It would be interesting to hear what has happened to them? Passed back to new inflowing astronauts? TobiasCI think its up to the astronauts, if I remember correctly Al Bean left his on the Moon on Apollo 12. SkylonThe Bean example is noted.Mike Mullane wrote that he wore it once, for when it was conferred on his "graduation" from ASCAN to Astronaut, then said he put it away and never wore it again, considering it like the "pilot wings" that airlines give out to kids. He wouldn't consider himself a real astronaut until he could wear the gold pin.onesmallstepCrew-1 mission pilot Víctor Glover is the latest space rookie to trade in his silver pin for a gold one, in a brief ceremony after a TV tour of Crew Dragon Resilience’s cabin this week. I wonder how many such "ceremonies" were done during the Shuttle and ISS era?Robert PearlmanDuring the shuttle program, the astronaut pins were generally packed inside the Official Flight Kit (OFK), which meant they were inaccessible during the mission. As such, the pinning cermonies were held post-flight back at Johnson Space Center (and sometimes during the public briefings at Space Center Houston).
Whose idea was it? When were the first astronaut pins made? Have any been sold at auction and if so how much did they sell for? Thanks!
Take a look at the Manned Spacecraft Center's Roundup, May 13, 1964, page 8. I'm not entirely sure Schirra designed it but, the article says he sparked the meeting. You'll have to use the Zoom function to blow up the tiny writing.
You'll have to use the Zoom function to blow up the tiny writing.
Astronaut's New Emblem Symbolizes Unity of Mercury-Gemini-Apollo Teams NASA's twenty-nine astronauts are wearing a new emblem, unofficially signifying the unity of the Mercury-Gemini-Apollo flight teams. The design shows a trio of trajectories merging in infinite space, capped by a bright shining star and encircled by an el|iptlcal wreath denoting orbital flight. They are either gold or silver. Gold emblems are worn by those who have flown in spaceMilitary version of the astronaut emblem are emblazoned over conventional pilots wings - silver for Air Force and gold for Navy space fliers.The device was adopted late in 1963 by the astronaut team when it was evident that the Mercury "7" lapel pin, awarded to Mercury pilots, excluded new astronaut team members. A get together was held, sparked by Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, and the pilots decided on one emblem for all present and future members of the team.Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter recently presented a gold pin to John Glenn, the first of America's astronauts to orbit the Earth.
NASA's twenty-nine astronauts are wearing a new emblem, unofficially signifying the unity of the Mercury-Gemini-Apollo flight teams.
The design shows a trio of trajectories merging in infinite space, capped by a bright shining star and encircled by an el|iptlcal wreath denoting orbital flight. They are either gold or silver. Gold emblems are worn by those who have flown in space
Military version of the astronaut emblem are emblazoned over conventional pilots wings - silver for Air Force and gold for Navy space fliers.
The device was adopted late in 1963 by the astronaut team when it was evident that the Mercury "7" lapel pin, awarded to Mercury pilots, excluded new astronaut team members. A get together was held, sparked by Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, and the pilots decided on one emblem for all present and future members of the team.
Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter recently presented a gold pin to John Glenn, the first of America's astronauts to orbit the Earth.
'Pin'-nacle achievement: The story behind NASA's astronaut pinThey have completed their basic training and have qualified for mission assignments, but before NASA's newest group of space men and women can call themselves astronauts, they need one more thing — a small lapel pin with a long history.NASA will graduate its 22nd astronaut candidate class on Friday (Jan. 10). The 11 American and two Canadian trainees will each receive an astronaut pin, signifying their eligibility for future flights to the International Space Station, Artemis missions to the moon and, perhaps, journeys to Mars.
They have completed their basic training and have qualified for mission assignments, but before NASA's newest group of space men and women can call themselves astronauts, they need one more thing — a small lapel pin with a long history.
NASA will graduate its 22nd astronaut candidate class on Friday (Jan. 10). The 11 American and two Canadian trainees will each receive an astronaut pin, signifying their eligibility for future flights to the International Space Station, Artemis missions to the moon and, perhaps, journeys to Mars.
I later confirmed with Al Worden (Apollo 15) that they didn't have to pay for theirs.
quote:Originally posted by Gordon Reade:Have any been sold at auction...
It was later used in the Space Dealers TV Show where I retrieved the pin for a customer, Gerhard Daum, who presented it back to Al for his birthday. I found the pin in three days!
It would be interesting to hear what has happened to them? Passed back to new inflowing astronauts?
Mike Mullane wrote that he wore it once, for when it was conferred on his "graduation" from ASCAN to Astronaut, then said he put it away and never wore it again, considering it like the "pilot wings" that airlines give out to kids. He wouldn't consider himself a real astronaut until he could wear the gold pin.
Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts
Copyright 1999-2024 collectSPACE. All rights reserved.