posted 02-15-2024 05:42 PM               

NASA's space shuttle and mission control to feature on 2025 US coins

Texas chose Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"Mission Control for human spaceflight began during Project Mercury when Dr. [Chris] Kraft developed a system of resource management and communication protocols to use when directing spaceflights, which he based primarily on existing aircraft flight operation procedures," said [chief of the Mint's Office of Design Management April] Stafford. "For the first time, NASA could comprehensively control missions from a single location to improve subsequent missions."

"Today, the [Christopher C. Kraft, Jr.] Mission Control Center manages flight control for NASA's human space program and coordinates with astronauts from the many countries that participate in the International Space Station program," she said.

posted 02-27-2024 02:36 PM               

After some discussion, the members differed from the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), which had rejected all of the designs, and voted to recommend a concept showing the inside of the space shuttle control room.

With the CFA having requested new designs, it is not yet clear if Treasury will go with the CCAC's opinion or if further reviews will be forthcoming.

posted 02-27-2024 04:19 PM               

For what its worth, the CFA is generally ignored too. One thing that should be pointed out, is that coins are a form of art, hence the CFA being involved. One of the major issues with designs is that things that look good on paper, can look horrible when reduced to the size of a coin. For example, just looking at the Texas Mission Control coin, it has many little details, which could look very "busy" (cluttered) on a relatively small coin.

Some coins can pull off a very detailed design, most can not.

posted 02-27-2024 04:26 PM               

So, if the Secretary of the Treasury goes with the governor's favorite, then it will show that the CFA's and CCAC's opinions were set aside. On the other hand, if the Mint creates a new set of designs and returns to the CFA (and/or the CCAC) for another round of reviews, than it will show that the CFA's opinion matters (to some degree).

Then again, if the Secretary of the Treasury decides to go with the CCAC's favored design, it will show that the panel is listened to, in this case over the desires of the governor and CFA.