posted 09-04-2017 12:47 PM               

As per the space qualification process, prior to flight these NASA 60th anniversary pins and patches were integrated into one of the MISSE Sample Carrier clean room facilities in Houston, Texas near NASA's Johnson Space Center. Once integrated, the MSCs containing the pins and patches were vibration, thermal and vacuum tested for flight verification and when testing was complete, they were shipped to Cape Canaveral, Florida. After arriving at the Cape the first payloads were then loaded onto a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

The first payload containing the 12 month pins and patches launched aboard SpaceX CRS-14 on 2 April 2018 at 20:30:38 UTC, where they orbited for several days before docking with the International Space Station on 4 April 2018 at 13:00 UTC.

The 6 month pins and patches were launched aboard the Grumman Cygnus NG-10, otherwise known as the S.S. John Young, on 17 November 2018 at 09:01:31 UTC. It docked a day later at the International Space Station on 19 November 2018 at 12:31 UTC.

Once docked, the MSCs were removed from the SpaceX Dragon capsule and S.S. John Young by the astronauts on board the station, after which the MSCs were sent outside of the airlock and transferred to the MISSE-Flight Facility using the ISS robotic arm, where one batch remains in a 6 month flight in orbit around Earth, and a second batch remains in a 12 month orbit around Earth. During its flight aboard the space station the pins and patches will be subjected to the most hostile environment imaginable... space.

While in space the pins and patches will be subject to:

• Temperatures of -100 degrees C (-148 F) up to 120 degrees C (248 F)
  
• Electromagnetic Radiation (UV-A, UV-B, UV-C
  
• Visible Light (IR)
  
• Microgravity (weightlessness)
  
• Vacuum of space

Each pin and patch will come with photographs and certification documentation.

You can find more information and pre-order yours here.

posted 09-04-2017 05:25 PM               

Please don't forget to let me know which Serial Number(s) you would like (best to choose at least three just in case your first and second choice is taken).

posted 09-05-2017 01:26 PM               

Additionally, NASA allows use of their logo so long as the product or company of manufacture does not appear to be endorsed by NASA. You will find a statement to this effect at the bottom of the pages linked above, specifically "legal disclaimer."

To save you a click, here it is:

Legal Disclaimer: The Space Collective is in no way partnered with, endorsed by, sponsored by or affiliated with SpaceX or NASA. Equally, SpaceX and NASA are completely unaffiliated with the above mentioned pins and patches.

posted 09-05-2017 01:31 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Greggy_D:
Thank you for organizing this.

---

posted 09-08-2017 07:30 AM               

Will the pins and patches come with documentation?

posted 12-19-2017 01:59 PM               

I received a call just now from the MISSE team, it appears that NASA removed the entire payload from CRS-13 with barely any notice prior to flight (science experiments, our pins and patches, etc). The MISSE container has been reassigned to CRS-14 (March flight), sad news for us as well as the teams waiting on their experiments.

I apologise to everyone who has bought one, had I been told prior to flight I would have of course made everyone aware - as it happens I was informed 5 minutes ago, so this is my first job!

Delays happen, such is the nature of spaceflight, but that doesn't make it any easier to hear.

posted 04-02-2018 03:47 PM               

We even got to see the MISSE container as the Dragon separated, which contains the pins and patches!

The pins and patches with serial numbers 1-150 for the six-month journey are due to launch aboard a future resupply mission, with the intention being that both payloads return to Earth the same Dragon.

posted 11-21-2018 04:13 PM               

Both payloads are due to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule in May 2019.

Here is an image of the S.S. John Young docked with the ISS, the payload still aboard.

posted 11-22-2018 04:28 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Philip:
Fitting tribute launch!

---

posted 04-01-2019 03:04 AM               

I know that the aluminium decks which hold the MISSE experiments in place darken due to the exposure of space.

posted 04-02-2019 05:11 PM               

To everyone who has pre-ordered the 6 month flight pins/patches, I have good news or bad news depending on your philosophical outlook. Personally I think you're lucky.

The pins/patches with serial numbers 1-150 which were intended to orbit Earth for 6 months and return in May will now orbit for an additional 6 months, meaning they're going to be flown for a total of 12 months.

The reason for this is that there is a scientific experiment in the same payload which needs another 6 months in space, erego, the pins/patches have to remain for the extra 6 months too. As it stands this batch is now slated to return to Earth in Dec 19/Jan 20.

Although you have to wait another 6 months for your order, the good news is that the pin/patch will have been flown in space for 12 months. You're getting double the time in space!

Not only that, but given that both payloads are now 12 month flights, the price of the 1-150 pins/patches has now gone up to match the original 12 month flight payload ($325). So you've also saved yourself $50.

posted 06-04-2019 04:10 PM               

I received an email just now from the carrier and they have confirmed that the first payload returned to Earth yesterday aboard the CRS-17 Dragon! The Dragon CRS-17 spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 5:48 p.m. EDT (21.48 GMT).

The total mission duration from launch to splashdown was 14 months, 1 day, 1 hour, 18 minutes, 0 seconds.

The returning payload was for serial numbers 151-250. The payload will be deintegrated from the carrier and then sent to me in late July. So realistically these will start shipping to you in August.

Thank you to everyone who ordered one of these, it has been an amazing journey. And we're only half way through!

posted 07-16-2019 04:54 AM               

The paperwork is not far behind. I will be compiling all of the data over the coming weeks and creating a package worthy of these artifacts. I aim to dispatch mid-August.

Fun fact, the packets and foil from the patches was flown aboard the ISS too. And the white material holding the pins was also flown.

posted 01-18-2020 08:25 AM               

The payload is due to return to Earth in March in what will be a 14 month orbit. It will take NASA 4-6 weeks to have the payload returned to me and I'll have every pre-order shipped out 2 weeks after that.