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Author
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Topic: STS-27 "Spirit of Forty Four: First to Fly" patch
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Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 03-26-2013 07:32 AM
   
Here is a patch that you don't see very often, much less a flown one.  |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 03-26-2013 08:38 AM
Jim I believe this was a classified mission. Can you tell us what the Spirit of 44 was? |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 03-26-2013 10:11 AM
I don't know and if I did probably couldn't tell you.But there is another clue and it is related to this article. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 03-26-2013 10:16 AM
Here in Syracuse, there is the "Legend of 44." Football players Jim Brown, Ernie Davis — first African American to win the Heisman Trophy — and Floyd Little. They all played for Syracuse University, they all wore the number 44 at SU and they all new each other.  I have no idea what the "Spirit of 44" means. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42984
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-26-2013 10:46 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Behling:
But there is another clue and it is related to this article.
Indeed, the symbol on the external tank, as also seen on the 2000 patch, represents a Lacrosse surveillance satellite. Recently declassified NASA archival information has identified STS-27's payload (USA 34) as Lacrosse 1. Lacrosse 1 was a side-looking radar, all weather surveillance satellite launched from the shuttle mission STS-27 for the US National Reconnaisance Office and the CIA. It was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Denver and completed operations in March 1997. |
SparkR_13
Member Posts: 102
From: Martinsburg, WV 25401, USA
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 03-27-2013 03:09 PM
Quick search of the term "Spirit of 44" finds a nice article referring to a bomber of the 91st bomb wing that made it back home after a mission. Pretty much destroyed, but made it home... could be a reference to that since it was one of the first flights to resume after the Challenger? |
dogcrew5369
Member Posts: 750
From: Statesville, NC
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 03-31-2013 12:01 PM
In this context, could it be related to the fact the crew almost didn't make it home with the damage to the tiles? Just a thought. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42984
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-31-2013 12:05 PM
A bit hard to do since the patch flew on STS-27, so obviously existed before the tile damage... |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 03-31-2013 02:11 PM
I think garyd2831 might be right, Jim Brown also played Lacrosse while at Syracuse. |
dogcrew5369
Member Posts: 750
From: Statesville, NC
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 04-03-2013 10:19 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
A bit hard to do since the patch flew on STS-27, so obviously existed before the tile damage...
Oh duh. What was I thinking? Should have realized that. Thanks Robert for clarifying. |
Bill Nelson
Member Posts: 151
From: Lakewood, Colorado U.S.A.
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 04-03-2013 02:50 PM
I asked Mike Mullane from the STS-27 crew and he does not know what that patch is about. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 04-03-2013 06:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Nelson:
I asked Mike Mullane from the STS-27 crew and he does not know what that patch is about.
It is a payload patch and I doubt he would have seen it.
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