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Author
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Topic: STS-135 / Atlantis mission patch
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42984
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-22-2011 06:23 PM
   
STS-135 / Atlantis mission patch STS-135 mission patchThe STS-135 patch represents the space shuttle embarking on its mission to resupply the International Space Station. The shuttle is centered over elements of the NASA emblem depicting how the shuttle has been at the heart of NASA for the last 30 years. It also pays tribute to the entire NASA and contractor team that made possible all the incredible accomplishments of the space shuttle. Omega, the last letter in the Greek alphabet, recognizes this mission as the last flight of the space shuttle program. The STS-135 mission will launch on space shuttle Atlantis carrying the Raffaello multipurpose logistics module to deliver supplies, logistics and spare parts to the International Space Station. The crew is led by commander Chris Ferguson, pilot Doug Hurley and mission specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-22-2011 06:44 PM
Do you know who designed it?
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328KF
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-22-2011 07:41 PM
While I like the NASA emblem background and the Omega symbology, I think the curved "exhaust" areas leave alot to be desired. So much more could have been done with that space on the patch.I hope it flies! |
SpaceAngel
Member Posts: 307
From: Maryland
Registered: May 2010
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posted 01-22-2011 07:55 PM
What a way to finish off the shuttle program after three decades; farewell Atlantis and shuttle... |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3207
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-22-2011 07:56 PM
I think the patch would look even better if the outer black border with the crew names was also circular ... with the external tank extending just outside the perimeter. Including parts of the NASA emblem is a great idea. |
MarylandSpace
Member Posts: 1336
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-22-2011 10:26 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Tom:
Do you know who designed it?
Mrs. Walheim designed the STS-122 patch. |
Space Pete
Member Posts: 19
From: UK
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 01-23-2011 08:44 AM
A nice patch, I like it.The only thing I think is missing is the name "Atlantis" on the Port wing of the Orbiter. Atlantis' final flight should definitely be acknowledged somehow. |
issman1
Member Posts: 1042
From: UK
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 01-23-2011 09:16 AM
It's a nice one to end things on. |
Skylon
Member Posts: 274
From:
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 01-23-2011 10:54 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Space Pete:
The only thing I think is missing is the name "Atlantis" on the Port wing of the Orbiter. Atlantis' final flight should definitely be acknowledged somehow.
This sounds odd, and totally irrational, but for some reason STS-132 still feels like Atlantis' last flight... this feels like the last flight of the program. Does that make sense?That said, I think the patch is close to perfect. It evokes the STS-1 patch without copying it, the omega is the perfect symbolism for the end of the program, and I always like the NASA "wishbone" in a patch. |
Mike Okuda
Member Posts: 12
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 01-23-2011 11:17 AM
I believe that NASA management prefers to omit the orbiter name from patches, to protect the possibility of a last-minute switch in vehicle. That would seem unlikely with STS-135, but I was asked to remove the vehicle name from the STS-125 patch and was given this reason.Nice design for 135, by the way! |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 01-23-2011 03:03 PM
Nice patch, but what's the point of the gray fill between the omega sign and the border? Doesn't this look better? |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-23-2011 11:02 PM
I agree that the gray area doesn't seem right. Going all black looks nicer. I also played around a little bit with adding more color to this patch. Here's one idea that I had...  |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 01-24-2011 12:24 AM
I think we have a winner. That's beautiful. And a great homage to the STS-1 patch.That's the one I want!
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lm5eagle
Member Posts: 429
From:
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted 01-24-2011 12:58 AM
I will commemorate the shuttle era with a photographic display, inclusive of a patch from the first and the last. The colourful STS-1 patch has always been one of my favourites. I was hopeful that the STS-135 patch would bring an equal amount of colour and act as a counter balance to the first flight patch. That is why I think mjanovec's modification is perfect. Its beautiful and brings a much more celebratory mood rather than the mournful mood conveyed by having so much black and grey. |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1031
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 01-24-2011 03:23 AM
I can not believe my eyes. Why not respect the choice of the crew? Why bring out the paint bucket? Only result will be that soon, some Malaysian friends will be selling these patches on eBay and make money out of it, even before the official patch is available to the crew. It feels wrong to me. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-24-2011 05:31 AM
While I understand the desire of some to see a more colorful patch like STS-1 to "bookend" the set, I agree with Erik. Our Malaysian friends are still selling designs from the End of Program patch contest because all they have to do click and copy the art to steal it. Whether you like it or hate it we have to respect the design as approved by the crew. It's not our patch, it's theirs. Personally I wasn't blown away when I first saw it, but it's growing on me. Rex credited Jorge and I for suggesting the use of the NASA vector, but two other patches (Apollo 16 and STS-26 used it too.) A good idea is a good idea. Let's wear their patch with pride in support of their mission and then when they return and it's "wheels stop" let's put it away in our collection among the others thinking about what an incredible vehicle this was. |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted 01-24-2011 07:10 AM
I concur with Tim, it's the crew's patch first and foremost, respect their choices. I do feel, though, that the use of blacks and greys do make the patch a bit depressing. Hopefully, the yellow of the omega will be a bit brighter in the embroidered version, brightening the patch as a whole. |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1031
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 01-24-2011 07:44 AM
The possibility exists that they will use silver and gold. |
OV-105
Member Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 01-24-2011 11:11 AM
I like the gey/silver since their flight was "in the grey area" of will it happen or not. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-24-2011 11:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by hoorenz:
I can not believe my eyes. Why not respect the choice of the crew? Why bring out the paint bucket?
Where do you get the idea that we don't have any "respect" for the choice of the crew? All of the previous discussions of the mission patches have had their share of opinions and criticisms. Why should this patch be any different? The way I see it, GoesTo11 and myself were just expressing our opinions about the patch, offering constructive visual suggestions (instead of verbal suggestions) for how we think the patch could have been improved. For all we know, perhaps the crew would have chosen a more colorful design had they been presented with one. In the end, I do respect the crew's decision to pick whatever patch they want... regardless of whether I like the design or not. |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1031
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 01-24-2011 12:10 PM
I have just never seen this before. Yes, there have been positive and negative comments about these designs, people saying they like a patch or not, and that is fine. But this is a real first. Within a day after it has been published, changing the actual design... |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-24-2011 12:28 PM
I simply thought it was more helpful (and constructive) to visually show my opinion instead of trying to describe it in writing. No disrespect was intended. |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1031
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 01-24-2011 01:08 PM
Well, maybe my reaction was a little bit too strong. Just think about it, next time.  Maybe that is exactly why emotions are running a little high on this one. There simply NEVER is going to be a new Shuttle mission patch anymore. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 01-24-2011 08:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
The way I see it, GoesTo11 and myself were just expressing our opinions about the patch, offering constructive visual suggestions (instead of verbal suggestions) for how we think the patch could have been improved.
Precisely. I've been busy all day and didn't realize that I'd ignited a minor controversy here. Just to be clear: I'm a patch collector myself, and value them not just for their aesthetic appeal but for being snapshots of history. I would never "disrespect" a crew's choices (As Tim said, it's their patch, not mine), nor would I EVER condone, let alone encourage piracy, theft, alteration, or other misuse of copyrighted artwork.My only intention was to visually present a more attractive (In my opinion) alternative to what I saw as an unfortunate aesthetic choice. I'm sorry if I offended anyone's sensibilities, but the truth is that if anyone is determined to "rip off" a design they will do so, and that's on their conscience, not mine. Frankly, the implied suggestion that my little "Why not this?" exercise amounts to enabling piracy strikes me as more than a bit knee-jerk. But again, my intentions couldn't be any further from that. Incidentally, our own collectSPACE CDR Robert graciously uploaded my image after a couple of failed attempts on my part. I never took this to be an endorsement from him; rather just an indication that he understood what I was trying to do and was being helpful as usual. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-24-2011 08:44 PM
I want to apologize if my previous post fanned any flames. I can assure everyone, that the crew was undoubtably presented with many variations of the design. Only they can speak to why they chose this patch.Obviously those with intent to steal the artwork will do so whether it's official or not. Nothing will deter them. In fact I probably will see the design Jorge and I created on ebay one day soon. I should have taken a moment to consider the intentions GoesTo11 and mjanovec. That they just desired to see the best patch that could be created. I actually prefer the all black version GoesTo11 created. |
Patch_Designer
New Member Posts: 9
From: Scottsdale, AZ USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-25-2011 11:12 AM
I like the patch ideas. However, I don't know or appreciate the triangles at the bottom. Plus, I find the slanted bottom sides off-putting compared to the right angles that the "F" and "M" make in the corners. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-25-2011 02:24 PM
quote:
Originally posted by KSCartist:
I actually prefer the all black version GoesTo11 created.
The more I look at his all-black design, the more I like it. It is simple and elegant... something that a lot of shuttle patches are missing. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-25-2011 03:56 PM
quote:
Originally posted by GoesTo11:
Nice patch, but what's the point of the gray fill between the omega sign and the border? Doesn't this look better?
Much better... in my opinion the grey looks out of place.
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GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 01-25-2011 04:26 PM
Thanks guys. I can see how someone might find it a bit "somber", but hey...it is the end of an era.  |
MarylandSpace
Member Posts: 1336
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-27-2011 06:08 PM
When would this patch be made/manufactured? |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 01-27-2011 08:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MarylandSpace:
When would this patch be made/manufactured?
I would assume that AB wouldn't set to manufacturing patches/pins until the mission is "official", which is to say funded and scheduled. I have no idea what AB's capacity is, but they're already busy re-issuing the 133 patch and pin on pretty short notice after the crew change, and may have to do the same with 134 if Mark Kelly can't fly. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1082
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 02-01-2011 03:39 AM
I see it didn't take long for someone in Casselburry, Florida to make up these full size patches and sell them on eBay. Update: The same seller has now listed another 10 at Buy It Now for $7.00. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-01-2011 05:06 AM
I hope everyone will wait fr the real patches from AB. I can confirm they will use metallic gold on the Omega and metallic silver for the gray areas. It should look pretty sharp.A $7 price or a Buy it Now at $15. You've got to be kidding me. You gotta love free enterprise. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 02-01-2011 07:41 PM
With the metallic silver and gold thread, I can see this patch being a lot more impressive "in the flesh" than the artwork (while handsome) would suggest. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42984
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-04-2011 09:58 AM
The STS-135 insignia has now been officially posted to NASA's website. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-05-2011 07:16 PM
The crew asked me to pass on their appreciation to everyone who submitted designs for me to forward. Here's their message: The grey area outside of the Omega on our patch was just to lighten up the overall color of the patch. If it was all black in there, it would make it a little too somber. We wanted an upbeat patch that celebrates the last mission, paid tribute to the team, and was unique. We also wanted to keep it simple. Please pass on our thanks to the people who submitted the other patch ideas you sent us. We really appreciate their effort and enthusiasm for the program. And again, thanks for the designs you and Jorge sent us. We also received many other patch ideas. It was really nice that so many people were interested in helping. It was hard to narrow it down to one. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42984
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-01-2011 09:13 AM
A first look at the AB Emblem patch (courtesy AB Emblem):  |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 04-01-2011 10:47 AM
So does this mean that AB will produce the patch for sale regardless of whether or not 135 actually flies? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42984
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-01-2011 10:57 AM
AB Emblem is already offering the patch for sale (item 174710). There is very little chance of STS-135 not flying at this point. NASA has identified the funds for this mission within its budget. For the mission not to go ahead, Congress would either need to explicitly cancel the flight or slash NASA's funding beyond what anyone has even raised as a possibility. |
328KF
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 04-01-2011 01:58 PM
Hate to say it, but this patch is even more disappointing than the original artwork... the colors are a lot darker and the look is not very eye catching.McCall's 133 patch was darn near perfect, and it's unfortunate that the final flight patch could not even come close to the high standard he set. |
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