by We’ve seen the 12 Days of Christmas taken in many different directions and versions, but for those passionate about space, let’s sing along to the “12 Christmas Space Patches” designed by an artist for the “stars,” Tim Gagnon. .
Before we begin, if you haven’t heard of the “KSC artist,” let us introduce you to an important contributor to both the space community and history. Tim is a native of East Hartford, Connecticut and, like many of us, his love of space began at a young age and during one of the most exciting periods of exploration. “I remember watching the missions of my childhood heroes on a small black-and-white television with ‘rabbit ears’ that could receive only a few stations,” Gagnon recalls. on their website.
“For my 16th birthday present in 1972, my parents arranged for Dad and I to attend the launch of Apollo 17 as guests of NASA.” Over the next decade, she picked up a paintbrush to bring to life a painting of Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert and began scrapbooking her daughter and her niece with a collection of female astronauts. “The first response to the contributions arrived on Saturday, January 25, 1986. The package contained a handwritten note, an autographed photograph, and other photographs,” Gagnon also shared on her website. “The note read in part: ‘…you can do anything you want if you get a good education.'” It was signed by NASA astronaut Judy Resnik. Three days later, Judy Resnik died. Stunned by the Challenger tragedy, I decided May the message of that letter not die with it.”
Related: Chickasaw astronaut ‘signs’ patches for Native American Girls’ Space Camp fund
Since then, Tim began volunteering at the Young Astronaut Programand created memorable paintings that have been exhibited at the Space Education CenterElmira City Hall, New York, and the IMAX Theater in the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to name a few. But while this talented painter was weaving colors onto a canvas, another big dream was also sewn into his mind: to create a patch for a flight crew.
“Ever since I read about the design of the Skylab 1 patch in an article written by artist Frank Kelly Freas in 1973, I dreamed of creating a patch for a flight crew and using my artistic talent to contribute to the space program,” Gagnon recalls in his website. “I came close in 1985 when Bob Crippen invited me to submit designs for the first space shuttle mission scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, STS-62A. That mission was canceled after the Challenger accident.”
But in an inspiring story for those who believe that the best is yet to come and that those moments are worth waiting for, in 2004 Tim fulfilled his destiny by being selected by astronaut john phillips to come up with the patch design for the Expedition 11 mission to the International Space Station.
His work was so well received that it led to further design commissions in collaboration with another passionate space enthusiast and pen pal, Dr. Jorge Cartes, of Madrid, Spain, for the crews of the Space Shuttle Program and the International Space Station since 2007. “Perseverance is what made my dreaming possible,” Tim told Space.com when asked what advice he would give to others with dreams as big as the galaxy. “If I can do it after leaving college, never having gone to art school and all the other obstacles I’ve put in my way, if I can do this, then they can do anything.”
As we end 2023 with the holidays in full swing, it’s time to introduce the “12 Christmas Space Patches,” which to collectors near and far, I’m sure, are worth much more than a simple gold ring. Tim shares his 12 favorites of the year, so let’s get into the spirit with a little rhyme. Enjoy the history and symbolism each one includes, commemorating many moments in time.
12. Virginia Space Flight Academy 25th Anniversary
For a nonprofit in Virginia, it’s a silver anniversary and this year. By offering summer adventure camps and an online STEM academy, you are sure to get many kids excited. Virginia’s history is captured in this patch, highlighting the launches from Wallops Island to the start of the US space program and the launch of elements of the ISS, to the ships that landed at Jamestown… this is it! a patch very dear to the heart of Virginia!
11. SPACECOM /49th Space Congress
If you’ve wanted to see the view of Earth from space, this patch is for you! North America and the “Space Coast” seem to glow below, and the ISS is almost playing hide-and-seek! You can see how Tim gives us a seat in the front window, letting in the sunlight to increase the view, the client didn’t want to use it as a patch so now it’s still available for print and online, woohoo!
10. Tulsa Air and Space Museum Runway “Launching Ladies Since 1983”
For the protagonists of space, this patch celebrates you! A space shuttle in the middle, plus you see the Canadarm clinging to a dream catcher as another shuttle flies by! The theme behind this patch was the anniversary of the Sally Ride, but the best thing for all race participants: you can also get this design on a commemorative t-shirt!
9. Shades of Blue Airline Symposium
This symposium helps recruit airline personnel, starting when children are in school. So they needed a patch to go with it, to give those interested some loot which is pretty cool! The design highlights aviation, both commercial and military. And then you also add the trifecta: including it in spaceflight.
8. National Astronaut Day 2023
Every year on May 5, we celebrate “National Astronaut Day,” remembering the first American in space, Alan Shepard, whose flight truly paved the way. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of when Sally Ride, the first American woman, soared through space, and to honor the inaugural crew of Mercury and STS-7, the golden “7” also has a special place .
7. America’s first female astronauts
On this patch you can see the last names of the six original ladies of space flight. The first American female astronauts, all mission specialists for the shuttle program, three of whom advised on this very positive and brilliant design. The left side of the woman honors Judy Resnik, as she wrote to Tim’s daughter earlier in Challenger in 1986, you can also see the female symbol included, with below the Shuttle Orbiter, the artist’s monogram in ghost stitch.
6. Pioneers of the Moon: Mission One
Since we’re in the Artemis generation, here’s a patch to highlight the moon! It was created for a Moon Pioneers mission, commemorating teamwork and exploring the surface up there!
5. Advanced Mission One
Welcome to the “space frontier”, the theme of the company that wanted this patch! A nod to the founder with a west coast beach and a sign on the street where his offices are located. Features the Outpost satellite in flight, the mission’s slogan and motto highlighted as well. All to commemorate the inaugural mission and celebrate everything they are trying to do!
4. LSI Educators
Limitless Space Institute, this was a special design for you! These are studies in STEAM fields and as a meteorologist, I would proudly wear this patch on a mission too! If you look closely you can see all the icons for many different areas like careers that we can explore. And in the center, your starship “Enterprise” continues its course towards the star!
3. Kellie Gerardi: “Not even the sky is the limit”
Kellie Gerardi’s personal patch, worn to fulfill her dream of being a scientific researcher in space! You can see the silhouette of her gliding over Earth through the galaxy, “reaching for her star” in the perfect spot! If you look behind her, a group of tiny stars honoring the women who flew before her. The patch contains her motto to inspire others, with the hope that there will be many more after her in space!
2. Fred Haise’s 90th Birthday Celebration
Every year we celebrate another return to the sun. So how about your own personally designed patch? I’m sure Tim found this one fun! Happy 90th birthday to former American astronaut Fred Haise of Apollo 13. There are a lot of symbols to see here! There are nods to his Biloxi home, a replica of his shuttle and his F-86D plane. Stars to represent his fellow Group 5 astronauts, and for the Society of Experimental Test Pilots emblem front and center, the “X.”
1. 15th anniversary of SwissApollo
And last but not least, another celebration to design and bring to light! Highlighting the goals and dreams of spaceflight from Switzerland, with a spacecraft en route to the moon in flight. There are 15 rays of sunshine, which will mark the company’s 15th anniversary next year. 12 stars for each of his men who walked on the moon as Apollo looks forward to the success that will come in the future from there!
