Space Shuttle Program Patch Designs

The Contests

NASA conducted a contest in 2009-2010 to design a Space Shuttle Program Commemorative Patch. The contest invited all current and former employees of NASA and its contractors to submit ideas for a patch to commemorate the retirement of the space shuttle. The winning patch would be used to celebrate the accomplishments of the Space Shuttle Program when it retired.

I created four different designs and variations for the contest. From those, I chose as my entry the one that I believed best captured the spirit of what NASA was looking for to commemorate the many great accomplishments of the Space Shuttle program (Concept 1).

My design was one of the top 15 finalists chosen out of a total of 85 entries received. Entries were judged by a team of managers from the Space Shuttle Program. The winning patch design would be flown on one of the final missions, and the winner would be presented with their flown artwork as an award.

A "People's Choice Award" vote was also conducted for NASA employees in January 2010. My design placed fifth among the top 15 finalists in the NASA employees' voting. I received 506 votes (6.7%) out of a total of 7606. Thanks to all who voted for my design.

collectSPACE.com conducted its own unofficial "Fans' Choice" poll at the same time NASA was having its "People's Choice Award" vote. My design placed sixth among the top 15 finalists in the collectSPACE poll, receiving 275 votes (8.6%) out of a total of 3206.

Space Shuttle patch design artwork has flown aboard Atlantis

On May 14, 2010, Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off on what was then its planned last flight into space. Riding onboard the spacecraft in the cargo bay was my artwork designed to commemorate the Space Shuttle Program.

A pair of triangular stowage boxes had been carefully bolted between the braces on Atlantis' docking airlock for the STS-132 mission. The boxes were loaded with commemorative patches and flags. Tucked away inside the starboard side container were two CDs with digital versions of the patch designs submitted to NASA as entries in the contest to commemorate the Space Shuttle Program. Among the designs on the CDs was my patch artwork.

During its 12 days in space, the artwork made 186 orbits of the planet and traveled 4,879,978 miles.

Concept 1

The design celebrates the Space Shuttle's thirty years of orbital operations (1981 – 2010)* and the many great accomplishments of the Space Shuttle program. It is modeled after the traditional mission crew patches that have been used on space flights since the 1960's.

(* At the time of the contest, the last planned flight of the Space Shuttle was to be in 2010.)

The Space Shuttle Orbiter is shown prominently over the Earth. Three other spacecraft join the Space Shuttle in this design, symbolizing just a few of the many achievements made possible by the Shuttle program.

To the left of the Shuttle is the International Space Station (ISS), which was launched, assembled, and populated largely by Space Shuttle missions (together with Russian modules and vehicles).

Shown above the ISS is an astronaut floating free in space using a Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). The MMU was first demonstrated in space on a Shuttle flight.

To the right of the orbiter is the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble was launched into space, placed in orbit, and serviced several times using the Space Shuttle. Stars and a galaxy represent the expanding knowledge of the universe the Hubble has given us.

The Moon and Mars are illustrated to represent the future direction of human space exploration, and the many science achievements the Space Shuttle program has contributed toward those goals.

Six small stars represent the six orbiters in the Shuttle fleet. The names of the six vehicles of the fleet (including Enterprise) surround the design.

The two seven pointed stars, placed near the names of Columbia and Challenger pay tribute to the loss of those orbiters and the seven member astronaut crews of each of those missions.

Concept 2

The simple graphic design emphasizes the three decades the U.S. space program used shuttles to send humans and equipment into orbit.

The Space Shuttle Orbiter is shown in glowing silhouette orbiting a brilliant blue crescent Earth. The Earth's near circle creates part of the number 30, the number of years the Shuttles will have flown in space since the first flight in 1981 to the final flight projected to be in 2010.

The names of the six vehicles of the fleet (including Enterprise) surround the design.

Concept 3

The design celebrates the Space Shuttle's thirty years of orbital operations.

The Space Shuttle Orbiter is shown in glowing silhouette. The booster rockets and external tank are rendered in white and gray, recalling the design of the original Space Shuttle program patch as well as the painted white external tank used during the first launches.

The names of the six vehicles of the fleet (including Enterprise) surround the design.

Concept 4

These simple triangular designs celebrate the Space Shuttle's thirty years of orbital operations.

The Space Shuttle Orbiter is shown in glowing silhouette. Three blue shock diamonds represent the three decades the Space Shuttle has been in service.

The triangular shape recalls the design of the original Space Shuttle program patch.

The names of the six vehicles of the fleet (including Enterprise) fan out below the Orbiter.