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Author
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Topic: Space Transportation System (STS) logo tabs
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Harald Kraenzel
Member Posts: 312
From: Dinslaken,Germany
Registered: Nov 2005
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posted 11-11-2006 12:28 PM
   
Some time ago I was able to buy a couple of the embroidered tabs that were to be worn along the bottom of the space shuttle program insignia to identify the component or flight program that the wearer was assigned to work. The original plan also called for these golden-bordered red patches to show the shuttle mission number. The astronauts rejected that plan however, and individual mission patches were designed as a result. Does anyone know which tabs were ultimately made and maybe where I can buy them? |
spaceman
Member Posts: 1172
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 11-12-2006 10:00 AM
Does anyone have a photo(s) of NASA personnel wearing said patches in the vicinity of an astronaut? It adds another avenue to a space patch collection. |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 562
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 11-12-2006 11:08 PM
I have 14 such patches, including: United States Navy, Spacelab, Payloads, Upper Stages, Orbital Flight Test, and Marshall Space Flight Center. I also have one, oddly enough, that reads Project Explorer. I'm sure this has nothing to do with the old Explorer satellite program, but I've never been able to identify what it was made for. Stickers were made for some of the above, as well as for Operations and Cargo Operations. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50512
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-12-2006 11:15 PM
Project Explorer was the first attempt at broadcasting digitized voice signals via a Space Shuttle flight on amateur radio frequencies. It flew on STS-61C / Columbia in January 1986. |
Harald Kraenzel
Member Posts: 312
From: Dinslaken,Germany
Registered: Nov 2005
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posted 11-13-2006 02:30 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Go4Launch:
...United States Navy, Spacelab, Payloads, Upper Stages, Orbital Flight Test, and Marshall Space Flight Center.
John, many thanks for this listing. I will watch for those. Maybe I am lucky enough to find them in the future. |
benguttery
Member Posts: 553
From: Fort Worth, TX, USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 05-05-2007 09:36 PM
Anyone have a full list of these "tabs?" |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1040
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 05-08-2007 05:00 AM
These are the ones I've seen or heard of so far: - United States Navy
- United States Air Force
- Spacelab
- Payloads
- Upper Stages
- Orbital Flight Test
- Approach and Landing Test
- Marshall Space Flight Center
- Headquarters
- Kennedy Space Center
- Johnson Space Center
- Space Shuttle Main Engine
- Orbiter
- Solid Rocket Motor
- Project Explorer
- Alabama Space and Rocket Center
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Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3466
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-04-2008 12:56 PM
Don't know if this was ever made to a patch, but I saw on eBay (item 250289044615), as part of a 1979 Shuttle document, one I haven't seen before: Cargo Projects. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1510
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 02-12-2009 06:17 AM
I've just won and taken delivery on another 'Tab', (the 15th) to add to your list Erik. This one is 'ALABAMA SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER'. This was eBay lot No. 220349618910. I didn't post this earlier because I wanted to check it against the others I have, it matches. |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 562
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 02-20-2009 08:56 AM
While the Alabama Space and Rocket Center patch does appear to have been made by AB Emblem, it's doubtful it was one of the patches originally made for use as part of the abandoned shuttle project emblem tab concept. It's hard to imagine a shuttle crewmwmber wearing that as an identifier for any official NASA business. My supposition is that the Space and Rocket Center had them made for any employees who wore shuttle-syle jump suits there or perhaps for Space Camp jump suits. |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1040
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 02-20-2009 09:29 AM
That is exactly why I did not include it in the list at first. But with this sidenote, well, why not. |
tombohnstedt
Member Posts: 19
From: Pasadena, California, USA
Registered: Jan 2010
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posted 02-11-2010 10:08 AM
Somebody feel free to correct me if I am wrong about this, but it seems like in the dim recesses of my memory, there was a rumor during the development of the shuttle program that there would also not be any individual mission patches because the shuttle was supposed to make space flight truly 'routine,' therefore the overall shuttle program emblem would suffice. But before STS-1 even flew NASA decided to allow the mission emblem tradition to continue on. True? Not True? Editor's note: Threads merged |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 3047
From: Titusville, FL
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-11-2010 10:08 AM
I have an early 1980's letter from Vance Brand who in response to my request about designing the crew patch for his next flight (STS-5) said that NASA was considering not having individual mission patches. So you are correct that the idea was officially under review for a time. Sure glad that didn't happen! |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3466
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 02-11-2010 10:09 AM
quote:
Originally posted by tombohnstedt:
But before STS-1 even flew NASA decided to allow the mission emblem tradition to continue on. True? Not True?
Wasn't the idea to use the Shuttle program triangle, and then underneath that either to use the tabs, or a bigger block with payload (not crew) information? It would be interesting to see what the concept would look like, if any prototypes were made. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1366
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 02-11-2010 07:48 PM
My understanding is indeed that early in the shuttle program, when people were still talking with straight faces about 20+ flights a year, there was some pressure from NASA management to do away with mission-specific insignia... but fortunately tradition, and the astronauts' understandable desire give their missions individual identities, won out. quote:
Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
It would be interesting to see what the concept would look like, if any prototypes were made.
 |
p51
Member Posts: 1769
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 03-25-2014 04:48 PM
I just won this on eBay. Seems odd that 'tabs' for the orbiter program patch would be red and not blue to match the program patch itself.  quote:
Originally posted by Kevin T. Randall:
I've just won and taken delivery on another 'Tab', (the 15th) to add to your list Erik. This one is 'ALABAMA SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER'.
That's actually a patch used on Space Camp flight suits before they went to the red-white-blue 'NASA visitor center' patch they use now, changed the same time they went to the round orbiter logo, sometime after 1986. It is exactly the same colors as these tabs, but not from the program mentioned in this thread. I have a few of them myself as part of my Space Camp stuff collection... |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1259
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 03-25-2014 11:22 PM
Those look like the set of replicas I have, I want to say they were made by Eagle One Aerospace? It has been a long time since I bought them... a very long time.Edit: Here is a scan of them:  I have always wondered what was to be on them. I had always assumed it would be mission number like STS-17 and didn't think of payload. So we would have a bunch of red boxes with TDRSS-1, Galileo Probe, Spacelab 1, etc., instead of the beautiful artwork we have now. Glad they decided against them. |
JBoe
Member Posts: 993
From: Edgewater, MD
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 03-30-2014 05:40 PM
On eBay there's another tab to add to this "set" — The Alabama Space and Rocket Center. I think that there is a Stennis tab, but haven't seen it for sale. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50512
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-30-2014 05:47 PM
As noted above, the Alabama Space and Rocket Center tab is not part of this set. It is rather a vintage Space Camp patch that was designed to look like part of this set. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3466
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-06-2014 11:45 PM
Apparently, there were stickers made as well for the logo tabs, at least for ALT. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1259
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 05-07-2014 06:26 AM
We need some fantasy patches of what these would have looked like for a few missions. Would they say "Hubble Service Mission 4" or "STS-125"? |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3466
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-07-2014 10:40 AM
Given what was already made, I would think they would be more generic: "Hubble Space Telescope servicing" rather than the specific mission or STS designation. (It also enables large quantities of patches to be made cheaper if they're all the same.) So: "ISS Crew Exchange," "ISS Assembly," "TDRS Deployment," "Shuttle-Mir Docking," and so on.
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Ronpur
Member Posts: 1259
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 05-07-2014 07:24 PM
Did a few quick mock-ups. I suppose we will never really know what the intent was. |
vidoz
Member Posts: 82
From: Italy
Registered: Aug 2011
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posted 05-08-2014 06:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
Apparently, there were stickers made as well for the logo tabs, at least for ALT.
Yes, there were for sure!I do have a couple of them, not attached onto anything, and the paper on the back has turned yellow from age, so they must be vintage, not modern replicas. |
p51
Member Posts: 1769
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 05-08-2014 01:06 PM
I have a couple of them as well, clearly older stock, with KSC and NASA HQ on them. I had no idea what they were for until recently... |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3466
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-11-2014 11:59 PM
I can just imagine, had this gone through, what Jerry Ross' sleeve would have been like, with seven tabs, perhaps an eighth for Vandenberg AFB, perhaps others for the many payloads he would have trained with before his first flight settled as 61B.... |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 562
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 05-12-2014 10:15 AM
This system only envisioned one tab per shuttle project patch. |
SparkR_13
Member Posts: 107
From: Martinsburg, WV 25401, USA
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 05-18-2014 02:28 PM
I have just obtained a set of the tabs that was recently on eBay. Thought I needed one, but then found the one I had. However, another discovery... These are all different from the original tabs I have. These are deeper red color, and larger printing on the white lettering. Same construction, same design, but different color thread and size of lettering it appears. Comments? |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 562
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 05-19-2014 08:09 AM
If they match the photos posted earlier in this thread by p51 and Ronpur, they are the replicas sold by Eagle One Aerospace in the 1990s. Hard to say without a photo. |
SparkR_13
Member Posts: 107
From: Martinsburg, WV 25401, USA
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 05-19-2014 09:49 AM
Okay, they do match those photos. So the others I have must of been original runs. Thanks! |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1510
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 06-07-2014 01:03 AM
Another one of these STS logo tabs has just come to light. 'United States Air Force'. That now makes number 16 for Erik's list which can be found near the top of this thread.This new STS logo tab was one patch in a lot of 18 patches listed on eBay (121352817291). Updated on 18-07-22;
Another tab to add to your list above Erik. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1259
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 06-07-2014 08:08 AM
Makes sense. I suppose if they had a Navy one, they better have an Air Force one! |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3466
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-14-2015 10:16 AM
Another decal, eBay 262004506964: "External tanks" Uppercase, and yes, plural. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1259
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 04-05-2017 06:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Ronpur:
Did a few quick mock-ups.
I was quite surprised (and a bit thrilled) to see the two shuttle fantasy patches I made up reproduced in the new Dennis Jenkins' book, "Developing an Icon." They show up on pages 38 and 40 of Vol III for STS-6 and STS-7. I hope he knows they weren't real? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50512
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-05-2017 08:37 PM
From Dennis: Yes, I knew they were not real and at some point had included that info in the captions explaining they were representative of "tab" patches (there was a TDRS tab at one point, although different and I never found a good copy of it). That said, I must have deleted the words during one of my many late-night editing sessions. My apologies. I also never knew who did them and would be happy to give credit if the book is ever reprinted. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1259
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 04-06-2017 06:11 AM
I didn't really think Dennis thought they were real, but it is just so cool to see them show up there. I suppose I will have to buy a new set if it gets reprinted and he gives me credit. LOL. But collectSPACE is credited, and I feel I am part of this community, so that is cool for now.I wish I could see that TDRS tab. Are there any photos of it around? |
Liembo
Member Posts: 838
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 12-12-2018 05:59 PM
I don't know if this falls under the topic of Space Shuttle Triangle patches or this topic, because this patch fits both. It fits the design paradigm of the red/gold logo tabs though the tab is a part of the patch. Acquired from a gentleman who had a neighbor who worked for Grumman in the 80s, has velcro backing.  |
Kenny
Member Posts: 34
From: Johnson City, Tennessee USA
Registered: Nov 2013
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posted 05-29-2023 07:07 PM
I would like to briefly resurrect this very old thread. An earlier post mentioned that stickers were made of these identification bars. Here are two my father received when working on the Remote Manipulator System.I want to point out that the colors and typeface on the "Remote Manipulator System" sticker are slightly different from those on the "Orbiter" sticker. The backing on the "RMS" sticker is also different, and the quality of the "RMS" sticker is not as good as the other two. I have never seen a patch for the "Remote Manipulator System", so I think NASA never made one. My suspicion is that — in lieu of a patch — Canada produced the sticker and gave it to US and Canadian team members.  
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