Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Patches & Pins
  ISS 13/14: Thomas Reiter's Astrolab patch

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   ISS 13/14: Thomas Reiter's Astrolab patch
Harald Kraenzel
Member

Posts: 304
From: Dinslaken,Germany
Registered: Nov 2005

posted 11-11-2006 02:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Harald Kraenzel   Click Here to Email Harald Kraenzel     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Some days ago I had the opportunity to visit German space artist Detlev van Ravenswaay living some kilometers away from me. It was a very impressive visit with Detlev when he shows me his drawings and paintings and of course some items of his space collection.

I knew that Detlev designed two patches for the D-1 Spacelab mission. But I was surprised to hear that he designed the ASTROLAB patch for Thomas Reiter's mission on board the ISS, which will last until December this year.

I first saw an ASTROLAB patch on eBay when 4gator sold a version, which he made.

Some time later 4gator offered a different patch which was larger than the first one and very similar to the original ASTROLAB patch.

Detlev told me that he saw the first 4gator ASTROLAB patch and talked to him. Detlev gave permission to 4gator to take the original design and sent him a scan. Detlev asked 4gator to make a second ASTROLAB patch but this time as close as possible to the original design which 4gator successfully did.

But during my visit I was very happy when Detlev showed me an original ASTROLAB patch. I asked him whether I can buy one and he agreed. He told me that this is the second last one and that he only has left one more which he of course want to have for himself.
I asked him who made this patch but he does not know that.

It was a very interesting visit and it was a pleasure to meet Detlev who is a very friendly guy. Many thanks to him for some nice hours talking on space themes.

Harald Kraenzel
Member

Posts: 304
From: Dinslaken,Germany
Registered: Nov 2005

posted 11-12-2006 05:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Harald Kraenzel   Click Here to Email Harald Kraenzel     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A note concerning the patches:

Detlev told me that the design shows "17 Stars in the background representing all the European member states."

The only patch that has more than 17 stars is the first 4gator patch. The second 4gator patch and the original ASTROLAB patch have fewer stars.

Harald Kraenzel
Member

Posts: 304
From: Dinslaken,Germany
Registered: Nov 2005

posted 11-15-2006 04:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Harald Kraenzel   Click Here to Email Harald Kraenzel     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here is some more information concerning Detlev van Ravenwaay's contributions (his three designs which were rejected by ESA).

After the final design of the ASTROLAB patch was chosen, Detlev met Thomas Reiter to present him his design.

Above the patch Thomas Reiter wrote "Herzlichen Dank für das tolle Design" ("Sincere thanks for a wonderful design"). Below the patch Thomas Reiter's signature.

During training Thomas Reiter is wearing that ASTROLAB patch:

On board of the ISS Thomas Reiter wears a shirt where the ASTROLAB pach can be seen but without the outer yellow border. Detlev told me that he believes that Thomas Reiter's wife just cut of the border which makes the patch nearly identical to the design.

The last picture shows Thomas Reiter saying farewell to STS-121 member Stephanie Wilson. Thomas Reiter gave a copy of his ASTROLAB patch to each of the STS-121 crew members.
Furtheron the back of the original patch is partially seen.

Harald Kraenzel
Member

Posts: 304
From: Dinslaken,Germany
Registered: Nov 2005

posted 11-15-2006 04:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Harald Kraenzel   Click Here to Email Harald Kraenzel     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
For those who are interested to see the backs of the ASTROLAB patches:

Here the back my original ASTROLAB patch (cloth back):

Here the backs of my 4gator ASTROLAB patches (plastic backs):

Jacques van Oene
Member

Posts: 861
From: Houten, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 11-15-2006 06:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jacques van Oene     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Harald, great info and photo's thank you very much!

hoorenz
Member

Posts: 1031
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 07-27-2011 07:06 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for hoorenz   Click Here to Email hoorenz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just got this woven version of the patch, exactly the same type as the earlier Soyuz TMA-4/Delta patch, so it must be officially issued by ESA. Anyone seen it before?

carl walker
Member

Posts: 360
From: Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 09-26-2018 07:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for carl walker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Pleased to announce that ESA official patch supplier Quadrotem.de (producer of the original ESA Astrolab patch in 2006) has made a limited number available for collectors.

lucspace
Member

Posts: 403
From: Hilversum, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 09-26-2018 10:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for lucspace   Click Here to Email lucspace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Mhmm, this new version has the ESA logo in white instead of blue as in the original...

carl walker
Member

Posts: 360
From: Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 09-27-2018 08:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for carl walker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hmm you're right - I'll check with Quadrotem.

carl walker
Member

Posts: 360
From: Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 10-09-2018 07:05 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for carl walker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Quadrotem just got back and they are correcting that colour switch. Sorry, we realise it was an error.

skyguard23
Member

Posts: 26
From: Central Switzerland
Registered: Dec 2016

posted 11-15-2018 04:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for skyguard23   Click Here to Email skyguard23     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Quadrotem re-released the Astrolab patch with the corrected ESA logo.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement