NASA creates a mission patch for each mission, and the Astronauts and mission team members all wear it on their uniforms. Mission patches are colorful pictures and symbols the goals of the mission and its hopes for the future. The final Mission Patch you send to Mission Control may be a composite of ideas or one patch selected as most representative of your class as a whole.
STS 51 Crew Insignia:
This mission patch symbolizes the mission of the shuttle flight 51-L, to fly and to teach. The shuttle, being launched from the United States of America, encircles the planet to signify its U.S. presence in space to explore new frontiers. The shuttle in flight with open cargo doors represents the 51-L mission to launch a communication satellite (TDRSS), to collect data from Comet Halley, and to conduct scientific experiments. The apple next to the teacher's name signifies the educational mission of the crew to touch the future through the lessons taught in space. The scene is encircled by the surnames of the crew members. They were astronauts Francis R.(Dick) Scobee, commander; Michael J. Smith, pilot; Ron McNair, Ellison Onizuka, and Judy Resnik, all mission specialists; Greg Jarvis, payload specialist; and Christa McAuliffe, teacher.
Below are patches submitted to us from visiting schools.
Click on a button to view patches from each mission.
