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Author Topic:   Subdued NASA logo (meatball) patches
Ronpur
Member

Posts: 1244
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012

posted 01-27-2016 06:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ronpur   Click Here to Email Ronpur     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have never seen this patch before. A book on the NACA/NASA patches from NASA says it was for NASA personnel in the Middle East. Has anyone seen this before?

EDIT: Okay, I just found this version through Military Uniform Supply, Inc.

usafspace
Member

Posts: 179
From: Los Angeles, CA USA
Registered: May 2006

posted 01-27-2016 09:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for usafspace   Click Here to Email usafspace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Don't think it's made by AB Emblem.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 46040
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-27-2016 11:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have one of these, as pictured, from around the time of the 2005 STS-114 mission. They were worn by the members of the SWAT team that guarded the shuttle crew as they exited the O&C Building at Kennedy Space Center and boarded the AstroVan.

mach3valkyrie
Member

Posts: 727
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 01-28-2016 12:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mach3valkyrie   Click Here to Email mach3valkyrie     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That would make sense because military/police applications often call for subdued patches depending on the uniform.

mmcmurrey
Member

Posts: 127
From: Austin, TX, USA
Registered: Jun 2012

posted 01-28-2016 02:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mmcmurrey   Click Here to Email mmcmurrey     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There is a large difference between "subdued" and "desert/tan" military patches.

p51
Member

Posts: 1708
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 01-28-2016 07:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have two of them, recently given to me from a NASA pal of mine who was at Armstrong for a couple of weeks recently. He wasn't 100% sure of the use, said one of the people he was working with had a box of them and was handing them to anyone who wanted one.

Ronpur
Member

Posts: 1244
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012

posted 01-28-2016 08:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ronpur   Click Here to Email Ronpur     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I ordered one from the Uniform Supply store I mentioned above. I will post a photo when I get it.

Mike Dixon
Member

Posts: 1534
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003

posted 01-28-2016 11:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Dixon   Click Here to Email Mike Dixon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The "S" in NASA is considerably shorter than the "N" and the two "A's". Weird.

Ronpur
Member

Posts: 1244
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012

posted 02-02-2016 09:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ronpur   Click Here to Email Ronpur     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I received the patch yesterday. It is a really interesting addition to my NASA logo patches.

Cozmosis22
Member

Posts: 1070
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011

posted 02-02-2016 01:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Cozmosis22     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If SWAT or SRT was wearing these camo things it had to be recently. In the early days they did not.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 46040
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-02-2016 01:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here are a couple of my shots from the STS-121 walkout. Unfortunately, they don't show the NASA logo patch, but do show why this version could fit with the outfit.

Ronpur
Member

Posts: 1244
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012

posted 02-02-2016 02:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ronpur   Click Here to Email Ronpur     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The NASA ebook, "Emblems of Exploration" that I found the original photo from did mention Middle East, on page 114. But, I can't find anything about NASA Personnel in that theater.
For example, deployments to the Middle East have led to modifications of the standard meatball patch. In one application, crews of the NASA WB-57F aircraft flying over Afghanistan had special “desert meatball” patches made that blended with their flight suits. In addition, NASA aircraft flying in those areas do not carry markings.

pupnik
Member

Posts: 121
From: Maryland
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 02-02-2016 04:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for pupnik     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Subdued tan patches were also simply popular in the early and mid 00's as a sort of "support the troops" sense of feeling. A lot subdued versions of regular patches were privately made and sold in that period.

p51
Member

Posts: 1708
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 02-02-2016 05:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Camo NASA patches are clearly used by security forces, look at this one in woodland camo.
quote:
Originally posted by Ronpur:
But, I can't find anything about NASA Personnel in that theater.
I asked my friend who got me the two I have and he said he was told that ER-2 people use these patches on occasion as well as some of the ground support people for various applications. He didn't find anything to support that the security people wore them and was specific that he never saw anyone wearing them when he was there a few months ago. The two that I have in my collection have Velcro sewn to the back of them.

Ronpur
Member

Posts: 1244
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012

posted 02-02-2016 11:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ronpur   Click Here to Email Ronpur     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by p51:
...look at this one in woodland camo.
Now that is another patch I need to find!
quote:
The two that I have in my collection have Velcro sewn to the back of them.
Is your patch the same as the ones above?

I have been looking, and have still not found a photo of anyone in Afghanistan using this patch. It is almost like they are camouflaged...

Kevin T. Randall
Member

Posts: 1290
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008

posted 04-17-2019 05:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kevin T. Randall   Click Here to Email Kevin T. Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
AB Emblem have just released a "Subdued NASA Meatball Vector" patch today. It is described as;
Subdued NASA vector sample, black twill and two colours of grey. Logo measures 3" diameter (not including the vector).

No production run was made. Limited quantity.

25 patches were available from their "Lost in Space" website page.

The SKU patch design number is 409051 (April 2019 number). The date code on these patches is 0402 55, which relates to April 2002 — which is an error? It should read 0419 55 to be correct.

Update: Now all 25 patches are sold out after just 18 hours on sale.

Besixdouze
Member

Posts: 236
From: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 04-18-2019 12:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Besixdouze   Click Here to Email Besixdouze     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for heads up Kevin. Managed to snag one last night. Interesting addition to my Meatball collection.

streetsnake
Member

Posts: 182
From: Ohio
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 04-18-2019 01:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for streetsnake   Click Here to Email streetsnake     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, thank you Kevin. Snagged one as well. New to collecting the Vectors but would like begin that process.

If anyone knows a source for the desert tan version or similar please let me know.

p51
Member

Posts: 1708
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 04-18-2019 01:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I found one here, which looks good.

Here's mine on the left, the one with Velcro attached to the back (it's been on my camera bag, made by Tactical Taylor, ever since).

streetsnake
Member

Posts: 182
From: Ohio
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 04-18-2019 01:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for streetsnake   Click Here to Email streetsnake     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sweet, Thanks. I looked on Amazon and couldn't find one. You must have the touch.

streetsnake
Member

Posts: 182
From: Ohio
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 04-24-2019 06:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for streetsnake   Click Here to Email streetsnake     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
No luck with the Amazon purchase. The seller canceled my order. So back to looking for someone's extra. Thanks.

Kevin T. Randall
Member

Posts: 1290
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008

posted 04-18-2021 06:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kevin T. Randall   Click Here to Email Kevin T. Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It seams that AB Emblem have produced another version of the subdued NASA Meatball patch. This one is just 2.75" in diameter and is without a protruding vector. The details are as follows;
  • 425165 Made In USA 0620 20 (old style plain white label) Sold Out on their website in late February 2021.
  • 425165 A-B Emblem Made In USA 04/21 20 (new style "crown" emblem label) Re-listed on their website on the 9th April.

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