T O P I C R E V I E W |
Mike Dixon | Nice to see the Human Spaceflight Gallery has now available the crew photo for the STS-118 mission... one of the best I've seen. Download the high resolution version (1.5mb) These seven astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-118 crew portrait. Pictured from the left are astronauts Richard A. (Rick) Mastracchio, mission specialist; Barbara R. Morgan, mission specialist; Charles O. Hobaugh, pilot; Scott J. Kelly, commander; Tracy E. Caldwell, Canadian Space Agency's Dafydd R. (Dave) Williams, and Alvin Drew Jr., all mission specialists. The crewmembers are attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits. (NASA photo: STS118-S-002) |
lunarrv15 | Really nice portrait; photoshop editing can tell. |
mjanovec | Is that a smile on Charlie Hobaugh's face...or did he just eat a bad lunch? |
kimmern123 | By the way, it's Discovery in the background with Endavour superimposed over the name on the wing. I happen to have that picture as my wallpaper on my computer. Nice crew portrait though. |
icarkie | One of NASA's better ones, Mike. Ian |
PowerCat | I'd agree... Darn good looking crew photo! PowerCat |
Greggy_D | Why do some of the astronauts have astronaut wings on their name tag when they haven't flown yet? |
goldbera | Because they are astronauts, whether they've flown or not. I believe they are awarded different color wings (silver?) once they have flown a mission (or flown above 50 miles). Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. |
lewarren | The wings themselves (including the color of the wings) are different between military personnel and civilians. Examples: - Bill Shepherd is a Navy SEAL.
- Mark Polansky was in the Air Force and was a NASA pilot before becoming an astronaut.
- Scott Kelly is in the Navy.
- Tracy Caldwell is a civilian.
- Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper is also in the Navy, but her wings are unusual.
- Jim Kelly is in the Air Force, and he's a Colonel.
- Jeff Williams is in the Army.
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Greggy_D | I know the wings are different between branches of the military and civilians (I'm ex-USAF). I'm referring to the astronaut symbol found on the shields. Typically in the past, you did not earn that symbol in the military until you went above 50 miles. The SpaceShip One pilots received the commercial version of astronaut wings after going over 62 miles. What I see in that crew picture are civilians that have not flown yet wearing the astronaut symbol, which as I indicated in the past, was not given until you actually reached a minimum altitude. |
Mike Dixon | ... and I guess Gus Loria's OSS portrait with his USMC wings fills in the blank |
KSCartist | When astronauts complete their year of "basic training" they are awarded a silver astronaut pin. When they return from having flown a mission, they are awarded a gold astronaut pin. The name tags on the launch and entry suits is a different matter. As lewarren pointed out, they are different depending on your service branch, or if you are a civilian. The astronaut symbol on the name tag is there because they have obviously earned the astronaut pin having qualified for a flight assignment. Tim |
Greggy_D | When did this practice change for military astronauts? I know that during the early shuttle era, the military astronauts did not receive the astronaut symbol on their wings until they flew above 50 miles. Now it appears they are giving the symbol out before flight. Can't say that I agree with that practice. |
heng44 | I believe it was discussed before, but I can't find the thread: which photo was used as a backdrop for the STS-118 crew portrait? Thanks. Ed |
heng44 | Never mind: I found it. It isn't Endeavour but Discovery! |
kimmern123 | I saw it the minute I saw the crew portrait. The black tile just outside the forward window on the right side kind of gave it away, as I don't think neither Atlantis or Endeavour have that black spot. |
KSCartist | Go to SPACEFACTS website and check out the alternate crew portrait for STS-118. One of the best I've seen. Tim |
spaceman | Hi Tim, its a great photo and it is available to download for printing at this link, look under posters. The full image is 33MB but a low-res version is also available (thankfully). thanks, Nick Spaceman. |
NavySpaceFan | quote: Originally posted by lewarren: Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper is also in the Navy, but her wings are unusual
CAPT Stefanyshyn-Piper's emblem on her pumpkin suit is her US Navy Master Diver pin. |
lewarren | Thanks for the added info, NavySpaceFan! |