Author
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Topic: Soviet/Russian space station MIR logo patch
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prontouk Member Posts: 68 From: Scotland Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 09-19-2012 09:50 AM
Just found this patch in a group bought at auctions. I've seen on web that it's one of early MIR patches. Is it an original one or do you think it's a recent reproduction?Clear plastic coating over what looks like a felt background.
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hoorenz Member Posts: 1031 From: The Netherlands Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 09-19-2012 11:56 AM
It is a reproduction made in early 1988 by Stewart Aviation in England. It was part of a set of generic Soviet patches, also including a Salyut logo, the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IMBP), the ‘Leonov’ CCCP-rocket and the Vimpel ‘Diamond’ patch. This was a follow up set to the one discussed earlier in this forum, which was produced in the U.S.A. in late 1986 / early 1987. This first set was also sold by Stewart, who shared some of their inventory with Spaceland Enterprises in Florida and Space Country Souvenirs in Lompoc at the time.The images of the real patches in the second set, as seen in photographs in Soviet books and magazines, was sent to Stewart Aviation at the time by a 20-year old Dutch spaceflight enthusiast called Luc van den Abeelen. |
prontouk Member Posts: 68 From: Scotland Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 09-19-2012 12:12 PM
Once again I thank you and this forum for a quick and fine answer. Always nice to know what you really have in the drawer as it is getting ever more confusing. |
spaceman Member Posts: 1104 From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 09-19-2012 05:38 PM
Still a nice reproduction, worth keeping as a souvenir as we can't always have the originals. Stewart Aviation are able to fill the gaps. |
SparkR_13 Member Posts: 102 From: Martinsburg, WV 25401, USA Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 09-21-2012 08:24 AM
Would anyone have the time frame for the switch of this rectangular style to the more rounded style for the MIR program? |
hoorenz Member Posts: 1031 From: The Netherlands Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 09-21-2012 10:06 AM
Yes. December 21, 1988. Of the Soyuz TM-4 crew, Musa Manarov was the first to wear the rounded patch on his Sokol suit during launch. Titov and Levchenko did still wear the old version. During the flight itself, the new patch was also gradually introduced on the onboard Penguin suits, which were probably replaced with the arrival of a Progress freighter. Up to that point, a smaller, square patch with the same symbols was used on the onboard clothing. I forgot to point out that this is not the Mir program patch. It is the logo of the Zvezda spacesuit factory. One of the Shuttle/Mir crews did not realize this and used it in the initial design of their flight patch (STS-86). Since no company logo's are allowed in crew patches, they had to replace it with a more neutral globe and flight elements. I shot this quick image, where you see the original and souvenir Mir patches backdropped by a picture of Titov's TM-4 Sokol. As you can see, Stewart over-estimated it's size somewhat! |
SparkR_13 Member Posts: 102 From: Martinsburg, WV 25401, USA Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 09-24-2012 08:14 AM
As always... GREAT Information from the expert! I just picked up that Stewart Aviation one in a trade so now I can place in the right spot. |