During the launch of the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle the crew wore USAF high-altitude escape suits with an embroidered mission patch attached. The closeup images on the right show the details of the patch taken from a couple of different photos. On the left is the patch on Crippen's suit during suiting-up just before the actual launch. On the right is a clearer image showing the patch on Young's suit during a pre-flight training exercise. |
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The patch used by the crew of STS-1 during the flight was one of a run of patches produced by AB Emblem especially for NASA. These patches were also used by NASA in presentations to people who worked on the mission.
The design, shown on the right, is often identified by the four distinct colors of thread used in the flames below the Shuttle (yellow, pale orange, then two shades of red).
The STS-1 crew patch is pretty scarce, and most often seen mounted to letters of appreciation addressed to "Shuttle Team Members" as in a recent example which sold for $128[1]. Other examples of this patch sold more recently for $256[2], $152[3], $154[4], $113[5] and $123.[6]
[1] eBay item no. 320196275255 Dec 20, 2007, sold at $128.05.
[2] eBay item no. 360011899895 Jan 14, 2008, sold at $256.99.
[3] eBay item no. 160200693093 Jan 26, 2008, sold at $152.50.
[4] eBay item no. 230228506156 Mar 9, 2008, sold at $154.49.
[5] eBay item no. 150224680975 Mar 18, 2008, sold at $113.50.
[6] eBay item no. 180227589474 Apr 2, 2008, sold at $122.50.
