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  Unknown flag from Deke Slayton estate

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Author Topic:   Unknown flag from Deke Slayton estate
Roger K
Member

Posts: 210
From: Torrance CA
Registered: May 2012

posted 11-20-2016 05:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Roger K   Click Here to Email Roger K     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A little while ago, I took a chance and purchased on eBay an unknown flag that came from the Deke Slayton estate (originally purchased from the 2012 Ira & Larry Goldberg auction). I wondered for a while what kind of flag this could be, until I accidentally found a picture (drawing) of it in one of Andrew Chaikin's books. If I remember correctly, it was described as a Mars colony flag. Here are some pictures.

I was wondering if anybody has more information about this flag? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-20-2016 06:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From "Going to Mars: The Stories of the People Behind NASA's Mars Missions Past, Present, and Future," by Brian Muirhead and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens (2004):
The Mars flag was designed in 1984 by Thomas O. Paine, former NASA Administrator and chairman of the National Commission on Space.

Paine wanted to create a symbol that would serve as a rallying point for building support for the human exploration of Mars. The first use he intended for the flag was to make it an award for those individuals who make notable contributions to making Mars a part of our future.

Fittingly, The Planetary Society now presents the Mars flag each year to the winner of the Thomas O. Paine Memorial Award to continue to honor those achievements.

The Mars flag shows a representation of a sliver of Earth to one side, as a reminder of where we came from, and a star to the other side, to remind us of where we are going. In the center of the field is a representation of Mars itself, with an arrow pointing out to the star, acknowledging that Mars is not our destination, merely a way station on a journey that has no ending.

Roger K
Member

Posts: 210
From: Torrance CA
Registered: May 2012

posted 11-20-2016 06:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Roger K   Click Here to Email Roger K     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you so so much Robert, that's fantastic information!

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