Posts: 4057
From: MA, USA
Registered: Sep 2002

Posts: 664
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007

Posts: 760
From: Statesville, NC
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 03-17-2011 03:18 PM               

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gilbert:
I agree that 85 and 87 are overly cluttered, but I kinda like 38.

---

51L and 107 are in their own list as far as I'm concerned. I like them alot too. Something weird about 38 I have never liked. The whole ghost DOD shuttle thing just doesn't fly with me. I call it the parallel universe patch. It is certainly the worst DOD shuttle patch in my opinion. I like the patriotic DOD patches.

Posts: 314
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Registered: Apr 2005

posted 03-18-2011 04:03 AM            

---

I think it is a truism that the busier the patch, the worse it is. Case in point, some of the latter Shuttle/MIR patches and some of the later Shuttle flights, culminating in the truly, truly horrible 129.

Conversely, the simpler the patch the better, which is why I have always loved the graphic design "cleanliness" of STS 2 and 51-I, obviously both heavily influenced by Joe Engle.

The same is true of Apollo, where in my opinion the best patches are Apollo 8 (the amount of symbolism shoved into that patch is incedible) and the elegant, nameless simplicity of Apollo 11. Never liked Apollo 7 or Apollo 17.

For Gemini, you can't go past VII (marathon torch) and X. In my book, VI-A was too busy and VIII too obscure.

Posts: 222
From: Port Richey, Florida
Registered: Aug 2009

posted 03-18-2011 09:31 AM               

---

I've been collecting US manned mission patches since 1965 and I like the following space shuttle patches, starting with STS-129. 129's unique shape and wide assortment of colors are the best of all the patches.

I also like STS-36 for the patriotic symbolism, STS-3 for the bright colors and 3D effect and STS-51B, Pegasus and the world covered by the US flag is different from all the rest.

My worst ones are STS-46, STS-118 (BORING!) and the soon to launch STS-135 (Too much black).

Posts: 760
From: Statesville, NC
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 03-18-2011 07:15 PM               

---

One color I wish would be for the most part banned from future mission patches is the bright yellow. So many post-Challenger shuttle patches and Expedition patches over use this color. I'm not a big yellow fan as you can tell. To me there just isn't much artistry in that color. Another reason I really like McCall's patches.

I'm mixed about 129. Really like the contents, but not the shape. Looks like someone stuck two patches together.

As a separate thought, I really hope someone does a quality book covering all the shuttle patches from 1 to 135. I would get in line at Barnes & Noble for that. Does anyone have info on plans for such a book?

Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007

posted 03-26-2011 10:06 PM               

---

I've been partial to STS-124 myself, especially my alteration of it when the mission included parts to fix the toilet on the ISS.

STS-1 is one of my favorites, although most embroidered patches I've seen never have seemed to do the design justice. It works much better on pins and stickers.

Posts: 320
From:
Registered: Oct 2020