collectSPACE - news - "Designing an uplifting end to NASA's space shuttle program"

Artist-supplied caption:

This patch represents the legacy of the Space Shuttle Program. The flag represents all Americans - whether they worked for NASA or as a contractor, supported the Program as a vendor, or the millions of Americans that grew up watching and cheering for the shuttle launches through the years. The eagle represents the United States as a rare and beautiful breed, a country known for strength and determination to maintain the best space program in the world. The Orbiter shown is meant to represent all 5 shuttles that flew during the length of the Program. The astronauts represent those that risked their lives for the advancement of humankind and are shown performing an EVA to place 2 stars in the sky to commemorate those that lost their lives on Columbia and Challenger. The Earth represents the uniqueness of our planet and the horizon on the right represents the challenges ahead as we strive to move from low earth orbit to distant places in space.