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Author
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Topic: Sergei Volkov's STS-135 shuttle patch
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46641
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-19-2011 08:47 AM
   
On Monday (July 18, 2011), the day before the STS-135 crew departed the International Space Station, cosmonaut Sergei Volkov presented each of Atlantis' astronauts with an embroidered mission patch and what looked to be the same design in either printed or silk-screened form. Although video of Volkov's patch presentation was downlinked (it preceded the crew's traditional addition of the STS-135 insignia to the Unity node's and Quest airlock's walls), the footage was without audio (space to ground and mission commentary was playing over it), so whatever Volkov said about the patch wasn't heard over NASA Television. Do any of our resident artists recognize the design and if so, do you know its story?  
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Jacques van Oene
Member Posts: 878
From: Houten, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 07-19-2011 09:12 AM
This patch was designed by Luc van den Abeelen of Spaceview-Spacepatches.nl. Good to see "our" patch up there. Luc will probably add more info later. |
nathan.moeller
Member Posts: 95
From: Lubbock, TX, USA
Registered: Sep 2007
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posted 07-19-2011 11:23 AM
I'm proud to say I have one of those patches! It really is a beautiful design! |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1035
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 07-19-2011 12:14 PM
These patches went up with Volkov on Soyuz TMA-02M and were presented to the Shuttle crew as a personal gift. The ones that look like they are silk screened, are embroidered as well, but uncut. |
lucspace
Member Posts: 457
From: Hilversum, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 07-19-2011 01:36 PM
As you can imagine, I am extremely proud this worked out the way I and some indespensible friends planned this.One thing that I am unfortunately forced to stress here: this design is my personal copyright. Any reproductions from any other source will receive my special attention.  On the background of the design; this result is a development of a "last shuttle" design. The theme is a safe landing at the end of the final mission. It is represented by the phases of re-entry shown in five steps, for the five orbiters that flew the program. The design with the orbiter's nose sticking out from the background mirrors the design of the STS-2 patch; which was the first re-use of a spacecraft; STS-135 being the final re-use. Three big stars represent the three decades of shuttle operations. All stars in the background are in three groups; two, eight and four, for the first, largest and final crew respectively. The International Space Station is shown as the major accomplishment of the Shuttle program. The groups of blue stars around the border number 135 for the mission number. Finally, the bright blue border represents the Earth, for all the Earth-bound workers making shuttle flights possible. I have been fortunate enough to receive quite a few compliments on this patch while in Florida for the STS-135 mission. I could not have wished for more. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6103
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 07-20-2011 01:09 PM
Luc, congrats on a superb design and for getting these onboard the ISS.How many were produced? |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1321
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 07-20-2011 01:52 PM
Only 200 patches were produced in total, and some of that number are aboard the space station. |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1035
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 07-20-2011 02:07 PM
Most of the patches that went up on Soyuz TMA-02M, are now aboard Atlantis and will return to Earth tomorrow. A small number are still aboard ISS. I have no idea about the total number flown. Volkov took up at least one set (one cut, one uncut for onboard stamps and/or signatures) for each shuttle astronaut. |
Jacques van Oene
Member Posts: 878
From: Houten, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 07-20-2011 02:56 PM
200 were made with a plastic back, 20 with a velcro back and 20 uncut 20x20 cm. |
Mike Z
Member Posts: 451
From: Ellicott City, Maryland
Registered: Dec 2005
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posted 07-20-2011 08:11 PM
This is a really beautiful patch Luc!!! Very well done! It's sad that the final hours of shuttle are so close. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6103
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 07-21-2011 03:58 AM
Indeed an amazing patch. A great tribute to all five orbiters and their crews. Best patch ever! |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1407
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 07-30-2011 11:14 AM
This patch is really beautiful. It's a well-designed and nicely executed tribute to the space shuttle program. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4376
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 08-01-2011 12:09 PM
A beautiful patch Luc!! Many congratulations. |
Harald Kraenzel
Member Posts: 312
From: Dinslaken,Germany
Registered: Nov 2005
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posted 08-01-2011 06:02 PM
A really great one. Wonderful idea Luc. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1346
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 08-05-2011 07:46 PM
Just a really attractive design, especially "up close." |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4376
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 08-06-2011 01:09 PM
Jacques, if you ever get any nice clear (perhaps I mean formal and posed) shots of your patch on orbit would you mind posting them here? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46641
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-06-2011 01:55 PM
Here are two photos: 
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lucspace
Member Posts: 457
From: Hilversum, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 07-19-2021 06:27 AM
With STS-135 a decade ago, I decided to re-release my commemorative patch. Slight change: the text now reads "Final Space Shuttle Mission" compared with "Final NASA Shuttle Mission" in the original. At the time of designing, efforts were underway to fly some more shuttles commercially. Available from Skyforce Space Patches.  |
SparkR_13
Member Posts: 106
From: Martinsburg, WV 25401, USA
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 07-19-2021 01:51 PM
I will say it is a very nice patch but, with the change, it is not really a "re-issue." Ends up being a 10 year alternative commemorative for the first patch. With that, if you did not get the first patch, then you have not gotten "the patch," even with this one. |
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