This guide serves as an introduction for the beginning collector and may clarify some questions for the experienced collector. If you have questions not covered here, we encourage you to contact us. The information found here is derived from the research we have done to answer customer questions over the years since 1995 when we began dealing in NASA Mission Emblems.

1. A Short History of NASA Emblems
2. Seeking Authenticity
3. Categories of Collectables
4. Evolution of the NASA Logo
5. Manufacture and Materials
6. Starting Your Collection
7. Purchasing Emblems for Your Collection

A Short History of NASA Emblems
for a comprehensive history of early mission patches, see Relics of the Space Race by Russell Still (1)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States (NASA) has a long history of issuing emblems for the space flights and technical programs. Every manned flight since the days for Project Gemini in the mid 1960s has had an official emblem which was usually designed by the astronauts who would fly the mission. Unmanned space flights of robotic spacecraft sometimes have official emblems and other times they don't. In general the robotic missions have some form of commemorative emblem but since there isn't a human crew to wear them, the origins of these emblems varies.

For manned space flights, there is always a mission patch made up and worn on the flight suits of the astronaut crew. This tradition began during Project Gemini when the flamboyant astronauts of that period often created controversy with their designs. There was little consistency in the format of the early patches which varied in size but were generally about three inches in diameter. Today, reproductions of the early patches are normally three inches in diameter which is consistent with military patches of that period.

By the time of the first Apollo flights, the process of emblem design was more formal and the patches became more consistent. All of the Apollo era patches are a four inch diameter format and that tradition continued on through Skylab, ASTP, Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station.

During Project Mercury (the first American manned flights), the astronauts did not wear emblems on their space suits. The emblems available today for the Mercury missions are commemoratives which were based on the insignia painted on the outside of the spacecraft. If you find someone claiming to have a mission patch worn by John Glenn (Mercury 6) or Gus Grissom (Mercury 3), they are mistaken about its origin.

Right: Alan Sheppard preparing for the flight of Mercury Redstone 3. Note that there are no emblems on his "Buck Rogers" silver space suit. The Mercury 3 Emblem would be created after the flight. During the Mercury program, the astronauts did not wear emblems on their space suits.

Image Credit: NASA

Image Credit: NASA

Left: Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra of Gemini 6 appear in their space suits with the Gemini 6 emblem on the right front below their names. The emblem appears to be a little larger than three inches but not as large as the four inch format that would be used on Apollo and later programs. The first record of a patch being made for a mission was for Gemini 5 and was designed by the commander, Gordon Cooper. (1)

Right: Wally Schirra, mission commander on Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo flight, emerges from the command module in bad weather after splashdown. The red arrow points to the four inch format emblem on the left front of his flight suit.	Image Credit: NASA
"The murky history of mission patches begins to clear up slightly with Apollo 11. With a multitude of companies making mission patches for commercial sale, the FBI stepped in in an attempt to enforce NASA's claim of copyright. The issue was finally put to rest around the time of Apollo 12 when NASA dropped its claim on mission emblems." - Russell Still (2)

Below: the crew of International Space Station Expedition 25 in 2010 are shown with the large format emblem on their flight suits. On their left shoulders can be seen the flag of the country they represent (Russian Federation far right, United States second from right). The custom of wearing the country flag on the left shoulder began during Project Gemini. For the long duration ISS Expeditions, the dress of the crew becomes more casual than that shown in this formal photo.

Image Credit: NASA

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Seeking Authenticity

If you browse on-line documents discussing space mission collectibles, you will find some harsh words regarding the authenticity of emblems. Words such as fake, copy, cheap, bogus, and lie are used. For some collectors, authentic means that the emblem was worn by an astronaut on a space flight. For others it means that the emblem has been authorized by NASA as an official version for the mission or program represented.

If you are of the first opinion, then only flown (see definition below) items will be authentic. If you are of the second opinion, then there are a variety of collectables to choose from. When assessing authenticity there are several things to keep in mind.:

1. Prior to Gemini 5 in August 1965, NASA manned missions did not have patches.
   
   
2. Accuracy of the emblem can be checked against the NASA art work which is published on NASA web sites.
   
   
3. After 1969 NASA ceased to enforce the copyright on NASA mission art work and consequently manufacturers can produce objects displaying the emblem without NASA approval.
   
   
4. Check with the manufacturer of the emblem to determine whether NASA has endorsed the representation.
   
   
5. It is common practice for crew members to carry with them some copies of the mission emblem for distribution to friends, family, and dignitaries. Once the item has been into space, it is designated as a "flown item" by collectors.
   
   
6. Mission emblems used on commemorative items such as lapel pins, coffee mugs, jewelry, clothing and toys, may have to be stylized to accommodate the reproduction medium. For example, some mission emblem art work contains too much detail to be rendered onto a one inch diameter lapel pin.
   
   
7. Almost all mission emblems continue to be produced in the years following the mission. Therefore, most emblems that are currently for sale were manufactured in the past year or so.
   
   

Space mission emblems have had a long and varied history. Consequently, you will see a variety of different representations and interpretations. For the collector, the question is "do you like the way the object represents the mission emblem and is the price reasonable."

For example, in my personal collection of space memorabilia I have an Apollo 11 Lunar Landing pennant with the inscription "One small step for man, a giant leap for mankind". At it's tip is a representation of the Apollo 11 mission emblem. These pennants were sold by the thousands in 1969 and probably cost $2 or less. The emblem isn't a very accurate representation of the Apollo 11 Eagle landing on the moon. It's old, crudely made, and is one my favorite items in the collection. To refer to it as fake, cheap, or bogus hardly seems fair, when it represents popular culture of the period.

Above: Vintage 1969 Apollo 11 pennant. Notice that the mission emblem at the tip of the pennant is quite different from the authentic reproduction of the Apollo 11 patch in the lower right corner of the frame. However, on July 20, 1969, the celebrants who flooded NASA Road 1 outside the Johnson Space Center in Houston didn't pay much attention to the difference. Image Credit: GalacticVoyager.com

Above left: John Young and Robert Crippin, the crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-1, are shown with the STS-1 mission patch they would wear on the first space shuttle mission in 1981. Image Credit: NASA Above right: 2010 modern reproduction of the STS-1 mission patch made with the approval of NASA by A-B Emblem. Note that the modern reproduction appears to closely match the design and colors of the patch worn by the crew in 1981. Right: image of the art work from the 1981 press kit distributed by NASA. Below left: a poorly made lapel pin representing the STS-1 Emblem. Notice that the pin is rather crudely made and some of the colors are incorrect. Image Credit: GalacticVoyager.com Below right: one inch tall NASA authorized lapel pin for Shuttle Mission STS-1. The pin is made by A-B Emblem and approved by NASA. Although this is a high quality pin, it is not possible to reproduce all of the detail from the mission art work in such a small space. Image Credit: GalacticVoyager.com

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Categories of Collectibles

Mission emblems and all other space collectibiles can be grouped into several useful categories. These categories can make it easier to understand the value of each type of object. Below we discuss these catagories and what they mean to your collecting efforts.

• Flown

To be designated as a flown item, an object must have been carried on a flight in space. There are very few flown items available on the open market. Be very cautious when purchasing an item advertised as "flown". Ask to see the documentation that establshes the authenticity. Over the years a custom has developed for astronauts to carry a small quantity of mission emblems among their personal items on their flight. These flown emblems are later given to friends, relatives, and others that the astronaut meets. If you are offered such an emblem, it is definitely worth more than its earth bound twin but be sure to obtain documentation that the emblem was actually flown.

Every few months we receive a question from a visitor which reads something like this:

My grandfather gave me the patch that Neil Armstrong wore when he first stepped onto the moon. How much is it worth?

I am sure that Grandpa meant well and what he probably said was

This patch is just like the one Neil Armstrong wore when he stepped onto the moon.

In other words, it is a reproduction made at the time of the Apollo 11 flight. If the patch actually is a vintage reproduction, it will have a slightly higher value than a modern reporduction.
• Reproduction

Before a mission flies, NASA approves offical art work for the mission emblem. This art is normally designed by the crew if it is a manned mission. The emblem can then be re-produced on a variety of objects ranging from the mission patches to cocktail glasses. In the 1960s there were disputes over the intellectual property rights to the mission art work but eventually the effort to restrict the copyright was abandoned. Consequently the mission art can be simulated by anyone who wants to manufacture an object with the emblem on it. There is nothing wrong with a martini glass bearing the Apollo 13 emblem but most serious collectors concentrate on the NASA authorized patches and lapel pins.

Patches are classified as reproductions when they are made to NASA specifications and match the patch used during the particular mission. Due to variations in dye lots of threads, there may small variations in the colors on a patch depending on when it was made. If you find a small variation in the color of a new copy of a patch from a mission flown in 1981, don't consider it a "fake" because the blue background in the 1981 photo is a little lighter than the patch you have in your hand. Small variations in color are to be expected in emboroidered items. This organic characteristic of an embroidered patch make it appealing to many collectors because no two patches are exactly alike.

Pins are not worn by the astronauts on space flights, so technically all lapel pins are reproductions of the mission emblems. Lapel pin representations of the mission emblems which have been approved by NASA will bear the letters NASA embossed on the back.

• Commemorative

A commemorative patch or pin is one that has been made to commemorate a mission, anniversary, or a significant event. They are not strictly the mission art work but they frequently incorporate the mission art work. Several types of commemoratives are shown at the right. A popular commemorative is the Astronaut Memorial Patch which was made in 2003 to honor all of the American astronauts who lost their lives in the quest for the high frontier. The missions noted are Apollo 1 (AS 204), STS-51L Challenger, and STS-103 Columbia. Beginning collectors are frequently surprised to learn that all of the Project Mercury patches and pins are commemoratives because emblems were not worn during the filghts. The flight commemorative emblems were made later and one of the deisgn elements was the insignia painted on the outside of each capsule. Robotic spacecraft missions such as Voyager, Viking, Hubble, Galileo, Stardust, etc. don't normally have well designed mission insignia although they do have associated art work and imagery. It has become customary to create commemorative patches for the robotic mission based on some particular features of the mission. For example, the popular 1997 Mars Pathfinder commemorative shows the spunky little Sojourner rover climbing up a Martian hillside with the lander in the background. Space Shuttle Program First Shuttle Flight 25th Anniversary Voyager Program

Astronaut Memorial First Lunar Landing Mars Pathfinder

• Vintage vs Modern

Keep in mind that all of the NASA mission emblems are still made today. For example, the very first patch to fly on a NASA mission was Gemini 5 in 1965. Today you can purchase a brand new Gemini 5 patch that is an accurate reproduction of the 1965 version. The recently made patches are referred to as Modern. If you had a Gemini 5 patch made in 1965, it would be considered Vintage. However, it is necessary to have some form of documentation to establish the emblem as a vintage collectable.

For example, if you have an STS-1 (the first shuttle flight) lapel pin that was given to a relative when they worked at the Kennedy Space Center along with a letter dated 1981 that came with the gift, you have a collectable that has greater value that a modern STS-1 lapel which has a value of $4.50. If the supporting document is signed by a well known person the combination of emblem and document gain in value.

When you have a documented vintage emblem, the most common question is how much is it worth? The value varies widely with the mission and strange as it may seem, the less popular missions are actually worth more than the very popular. The reason is that so many copies of the popular mission were made that they tend to drive down the value.

In almost every situation an inherited vintage emblem is worth more to the family of the original owner than to anyone else. So if you inherited your great uncle's collection of project Mercury patches from the 1960s, you should hold on to it as a reminder of him.

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Evolution of the NASA Logo

As the Space Shuttle program began in the mid 1970s, NASA decided it needed a more modern image. The result was the NASA logotype shown below. This emblem was nicknamed "the worm" for obvious reasons. The venerable meatball was retired from service. The red NASA worm can be seen at the right in the STS-1 picture of Commander John Young in 1981.

STS-1 - 1981 Image Credit: NASA

Following the loss of the Challenger in 1986 and several problematic unmanned missions in the late 1980s, a high level decision was made to refocus NASA on the accomplishments of its glory days of the 1960s and 70s. Part of the effort was the return of the meatball. In the 1992 crew photo from STS-42, you can see that the NASA blue logo used in the Apollo days appears as well as the worm. Two other emblems are illustrated in this photo. Note the triangular blue Shuttle Program patch on the right front. The Shuttle Program emblem has been used for three decades but its appearance on flight suits has not been consistent. Also note the American Flag patch on the left shoulder has a white border. The flag is used with both white and gold borders.

STS-42 - 1992 Image Credit: NASA

During the 1990s, the worm was quietly phased out of use on astronaut uniforms and NASA facilities. The 2007 crew photo from STS-120, shows only the NASA Vector patch and the mission emblem on the front of the launch suit. The worm is missing. Notice that in this photo the American flag on the left shoulder has a gold border. Recently the NASA worm has been used in special circumstances. This may be due to its popularity with the general public. GalacticVoyager.com has the NASA vector logo available as a lapel pin and in the form of a patch in 2, 3, 4, and 8 inch diameters. The 3 inch size is the one worn on astronaut flight suits. The 4 and 8 inch sizes are better suited for larger displays such as the back of a jacket. The 4 inch size also displays well with the Space Shuttle or Apollo Mission patches which are all the 4 inch diameter format. The 2 inch size is well suited for hats, golf shirts, and children's clothing. All of the versions are made by A-B Emblem, the NASA contractor for mission emblems.

STS-120 - 2007 Image Credit: NASA

A form of the NASA Worm featuring gold embroidery on a black background (shown at right) is very striking and popular but it was never used officially by NASA. This unofficial form of the logo became familiar to fans of the 1990s television series Northern Exposure when it was frequently worn by the character Maurice Minnifield (played by actor Barry Corbin), a millionaire entrepreneur and former Merury astronaut. For the record, there was no Mercury Astronaut named Maurice Minnifield and although the gold on black NASA insignia is very attractive, it was never used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in an official capacity.

Image Credit: CBS Television Inc.

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Manufacture and Materials

Patches are embroidered using top quality background fabrics. Yarns are custom dyed for uniformity and routinely tested for durability and color-fastness. A laminated backing is used to maintain original shape and appearance of the emblem.

The enlargement below shows the Skylab II patch and the STS-133 patch and illustrates the two forms of edge finishing that are commonly used. The first type is known as overlocked, loop locked, or merrow. All three terms refer to the same process. The second type is the hot needle cut.

The overlocked finish is best suited for emblems which are circular or oval and do not have any sharp angles. Angular edges are difficult to cover with a uniform finish. The hot needle cut edge is better suited for complex patterns such as can be seen in the STS-133 lower edge.

The decision on the style of the edge is made by the NASA Astronaut Office. A-B Emblem always makes the emblems in the designated official style. Some collectors would like to have all loop locked designs but these do not follow the official design specifications.

Over the 50+ years of manned space flight, both styles have been used. From the 1950s through the 1970s almost all patches were round or oval and made using the loop lock edge. At Right: The Apollo 10 mission patch was one of the few early American space program patches with an angular design. Notice that is has the overlocked border characteristic of all the patches designed before 1980. The majority of patches designed over the past 10 years for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station have used the hot needle cut edge. We can speculate that as the tools have become more accurate, it is no longer as important to use the overlock to provide a smooth edge.

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Starting Your Collection

For many people interested in collecting NASA and space emblems, it is difficult to know where to start. The large number of individual emblems usually makes purchasing all of them at once prohibitive and it bypasses the fun of seeing your collection expand over time.

Below is a overview table of the number of manned missions in the various programs:

The NASA Missions are fairly easy to obtain. The Soviet and Russian missions are not readily available.

When the program emblems and the various commemoratives such as those for unmanned spacecraft missions like Voyager, Viking, Pathfinder, Cassini, Galileo, and many others are included, a good space collection can easily include over 200 emblems. Serious collectors may have close to 500.

With so many to choose from, where does one start? Here are some suggestions based on what collectors have told us in the past.

1. Begin at the Beginning - start with the early missions of Project Mercury and work your way forward in time to the present day International Space Station.


2. Begin at the Present - start with the latest ISS Expedition and/or Shuttle mission and work back to the 1960s. You can add new missions as they occur.


3. Follow Your Interest - let curiosity be your guide. Pick some event or program that has caught your attention and follow the related missions. For example, if you are intrigued by the Hubble Space Telescope, look up all the missions that were involved in deploying and servicing it.


4. Follow an Astronaut - if you know an astronaut or find one interesting, look for all of their missions and build your collection from there. For example, if you follow the career of Story Musgrave, you will have a lot of emblems to collect. As a variation you might look for all the women who have flow in space.


5. Follow What is Popular - by far the best known space missions are Apollo 11 and Apollo 13. If you start with these missions, you can follow paths that take you back in time to when the space programs began or take you forward to the question of why was the success of Apollo allowed to pass into history with little follow up.


6. Build On What You Have - if you have emblems from several missions in the past or perhaps have inherited some from a friend or relative, fill in the missing missions from the programs you have and build out from there.


7. Follow the Art You Like - each mission emblem is a little work of art. If you find some symbolism that appeals to you, look for all the emblems which contain that symbol. A recent visitor was working on a costume to be decorated with mission emblems. After browsing the library of emblems, she recalled that she has always loved sailing ships so she collected all the mission emblems which included sailing ships.


8. Use the "Set of the Month" Approach - take advantage of the discounted pricing available on sets of patches. GalacticVoyager.com offers sets for each of the early programs and the space shuttle missions by year. The ISS Expeditions are grouped in two year sets. If you plan to purchase one set per month for your collection, you will find a fascinating source of entertainment of the next three years.

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Purchasing Emblems for Your Collection

Since most retailers are selling the same product, it is worth while to compare prices. You will find that the prices at GalacticVoyager.com are among the lowest. A-B Emblem has established the retail price as $5.99 each for 4 inch mission patches and $4.50 each for authorized lapel pens. Some vendors sell them for more than this.

GalacticVoyager offers collector sets at a discount from the cost of the patches or pins purchased separately. The collector sets are available for each of the early programs, Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Apollo Soyuz. There is also a collector set for all 135 Space Shuttle missions. Because the Shuttle set is so large, GalacticVoyager also offers Space Shuttle sets by year. Normally there are 3 to 7 Shuttle flights in any year. The exception was 1985 when there were a record 9 shuttle flights.

If you are an Ebay member, you can find the complete inventory of Galactic Voyager items available through our Ebay store at the following link: http://stores.ebay.com/GalacticVoyager

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1. Relics of the Space Race, Russell F. Still, Copyright 1995, 1998, PR Products, Roswell, GA, USA


2. Ibid. Still, Page 170


3. SOYUZ A Universal Spacecraft, Rex D. Hall and David J. Shayler, Copyright 2003 Praxis Publishing, Ltd., Chichester, UK