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Author Topic:   STS-118: Crew portrait
Mike Dixon
Member

Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-10-2007 09:08 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Dixon   Click Here to Email Mike Dixon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 1355
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, Hamilton
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 03-10-2007 01:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lunarrv15   Click Here to Email lunarrv15     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Really nice portrait; photoshop editing can tell.

mjanovec
Member

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 03-10-2007 01:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is that a smile on Charlie Hobaugh's face...or did he just eat a bad lunch?

kimmern123
Member

Posts: 83
From: Norway
Registered: Dec 2006

posted 03-11-2007 08:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for kimmern123   Click Here to Email kimmern123     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
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Posts: 618
From: BURTON ON TRENT /England
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 03-11-2007 01:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for icarkie   Click Here to Email icarkie     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One of NASA's better ones, Mike.

Ian

PowerCat
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Posts: 193
From: Herington, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 03-12-2007 02:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PowerCat   Click Here to Email PowerCat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'd agree... Darn good looking crew photo!

PowerCat

Greggy_D
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Posts: 977
From: Michigan
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 03-12-2007 04:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Greggy_D   Click Here to Email Greggy_D     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Why do some of the astronauts have astronaut wings on their name tag when they haven't flown yet?

goldbera
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Posts: 25
From: Melbourne, FL
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 03-12-2007 05:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for goldbera     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 269
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2001

posted 03-12-2007 05:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lewarren   Click Here to Email lewarren     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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.

Greggy_D
Member

Posts: 977
From: Michigan
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 03-12-2007 08:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Greggy_D   Click Here to Email Greggy_D     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-12-2007 10:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Dixon   Click Here to Email Mike Dixon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
... and I guess Gus Loria's OSS portrait with his USMC wings fills in the blank

KSCartist
Member

Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 03-13-2007 04:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 977
From: Michigan
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 03-13-2007 08:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Greggy_D   Click Here to Email Greggy_D     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 06-23-2007 08:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 06-23-2007 08:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Never mind: I found it. It isn't Endeavour but Discovery!

kimmern123
Member

Posts: 83
From: Norway
Registered: Dec 2006

posted 06-23-2007 02:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for kimmern123   Click Here to Email kimmern123     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 06-24-2007 11:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Go to SPACEFACTS website and check out the alternate crew portrait for STS-118. One of the best I've seen.

Tim

spaceman
Member

Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 06-24-2007 02:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaceman   Click Here to Email spaceman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 655
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007

posted 08-14-2007 12:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for NavySpaceFan   Click Here to Email NavySpaceFan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
Member

Posts: 269
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2001

posted 08-14-2007 12:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lewarren   Click Here to Email lewarren     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the added info, NavySpaceFan!

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