Discovery (Raumfähre)

Das Space Shuttle kurz nach der Zündung der Triebwerke – Start der Discovery zur Mission STS-95 vom Kennedy Space Center (1998)
Die Discovery und ihre Missionen

Die Raumfähre Discovery (englisch für Entdeckung) wurde am 12. August 1983 fertiggestellt und startete zu ihrem Jungfernflug am 30. August 1984 (STS-41-D). Die interne Bezeichnung für das Space Shuttle lautet OV-103, wobei OV für Orbiter Vehicle steht. Mit der Landung am 9. März 2011 beendete die Raumfähre ihre letzte Mission STS-133. Mit 39 Flügen ist die Discovery das am häufigsten eingesetzte Weltraumfahrzeug.

Geschichte

Die Discovery ist nach einem der Schiffe benannt, mit denen James Cook den Pazifik befuhr und 1778 Hawaii entdeckte.

Mit 39 Flügen absolvierte die Discovery mehr Flüge als alle übrigen Orbiter. Außerdem wurde sie jeweils für den ersten Flug nach den Unglücken der Challenger und der Columbia ausgewählt.

1990 transportierte die Discovery das Hubble-Weltraumteleskop ins All.

Große Beachtung fand 2005 die Mission STS-114, der erste Flug eines Shuttles nach der Columbia-Katastrophe im Jahr 2003. Auch dieser Flug wurde von einigen Pannen begleitet, was erneut zur Aussetzung der Shuttle-Flüge führte.

Im Juli 2006 absolvierte die Discovery mit der Mission STS-121 erfolgreich einen weiteren Versorgungsflug zur Internationalen Raumstation (ISS).

Im Mai/Juni 2008 führte der Orbiter die Mission STS-124 durch. Das mit sieben Mann besetzte Shuttle dockte am 2. Juni 2008 an der ISS an. Hauptaufgabe der Mission war es, das japanische Labormodul Kibō zur ISS zu bringen. Außerdem brachte das Shuttle Ersatzteile zur Reparatur der defekten Weltraumtoilette in der ISS mit.

Am 29. August 2009 startete die Discovery mit dem Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo zur ISS, um dort Vorräte und Material anzuliefern.

Am 24. Februar 2011 um 22:53 Uhr startete das Shuttle nach 27 Dienstjahren mit STS-133 zum letzten Mal. Am 26. Februar 2011, 20:14 Uhr, dockte sie an der ISS an und landete am 9. März 2011 um 17:57 Uhr zum letzten Mal auf der Landebahn des Kennedy Space Center in Florida.[1] Die Discovery ist mit 238,5 Millionen Kilometern die am weitesten gereiste Raumfähre der NASA-Shuttleflotte.

Discovery auf dem Rücken einer Boeing 747-100 (NASA Shuttle Carrier aircraft) im Flug über dem Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 2012
Blick auf die Hitzschutzkacheln, die mit Messsensoren bestückt sind (letzter Flug)
Discovery im Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Seit dem 19. April 2012 steht die Discovery als Museumsstück im James S. McDonnell Space Hangar im Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center des Smithsonian-Instituts in der Nähe vom Washington Dulles International Airport. Dort hat sie den Prototyp der Space Shuttles, die Enterprise, ersetzt.

Missionen

Nr.StartBezeichnungEmblemBesatzung
130. August 1984STS-41-DLogo von STS-41-DHenry Hartsfield, Michael Coats, Judith Resnik, Steven Hawley, Richard Mullane, Charles Walker
28. November 1984STS-51-ALogo von STS-51-AFrederick Hauck, David Walker, Anna Fisher, Dale Gardner, Joseph Allen
324. Januar 1985STS-51-CLogo von STS-51-CThomas Mattingly, Loren Shriver, James Buchli, Ellison Onizuka, Gary Payton
412. April 1985STS-51-DLogo von STS-51-DKarol Bobko, Donald Williams, Rhea Seddon, Jeffrey Hoffman, David Griggs, Charles Walker, Jake Garn
517. Juni 1985STS-51-GLogo von STS-51-GDaniel Brandenstein, John Creighton, Shannon Lucid, John Fabian, Steven Nagel, Patrick Baudry, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
627. August 1985STS-51-ILogo von STS-51-IJoe Engle, Richard Covey, James van Hoften, John Lounge, William Fisher
729. September 1988STS-26Logo von STS-26Frederick Hauck, Richard Covey, John Lounge, George Nelson, David Hilmers
813. März 1989STS-29Logo von STS-29Michael Coats, John Blaha, James Bagian, James Buchli, Robert Springer
923. November 1989STS-33Logo von STS-33Frederick Gregory, John Blaha, Story Musgrave, Manley Carter, Kathryn Thornton
1024. April 1990STS-31Logo von STS-31Loren Shriver, Charles Bolden, Steven Hawley, Bruce McCandless, Kathryn Sullivan
116. Oktober 1990STS-41Logo von STS-41Richard Richards, Robert Cabana, William Shepherd, Bruce Melnick, Thomas Akers
1228. April 1991STS-39Logo von STS-39Michael Coats, Blaine Hammond, Guion Bluford, Gregory Harbaugh, Richard Hieb, Donald McMonagle, Charles Veach
1312. September 1991STS-48Logo von STS-48John Creighton, Kenneth Reightler, James Buchli, Charles Gemar, Mark Brown
1422. Januar 1992STS-42Logo von STS-42Ronald Grabe, Stephen Oswald, Norman Thagard, David Hilmers, William Readdy, Roberta Bondar, Ulf Merbold
152. Dezember 1992STS-53Logo von STS-53David Walker, Robert Cabana, Guion Bluford, James Voss, Michael Clifford
168. April 1993STS-56Logo von STS-56Kenneth Cameron, Stephen Oswald, Michael Foale, Kenneth Cockrell, Ellen Ochoa
1712. September 1993STS-51Logo von STS-51Frank Culbertson, William Readdy, James Newman, Daniel Bursch, Carl Walz
183. Februar 1994STS-60Logo von STS-60Charles Bolden, Kenneth Reightler, Jan Davis, Ronald Sega, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Sergei Krikaljow
199. September 1994STS-64Logo von STS-64Richard Richards, Blaine Hammond, Jerry Linenger, Susan Helms, Carl Meade, Mark Lee
203. Februar 1995STS-63Logo von STS-63James Wetherbee, Eileen Collins, Michael Foale, Janice Voss, Bernard Harris, Wladimir Titow
2113. Juli 1995STS-70Logo von STS-70Terence Henricks, Kevin Kregel, Nancy Currie, Donald Thomas, Mary Weber
2211. Februar 1997STS-82Logo von STS-82Kenneth Bowersox, Scott Horowitz, Mark Lee, Steven Hawley, Gregory Harbaugh, Steven Smith, Joseph Tanner
237. August 1997STS-85Logo von STS-85Curtis Brown, Kent Rominger, Jan Davis, Robert Curbeam, Stephen Robinson, Bjarni Tryggvason
242. Juni 1998STS-91Logo von STS-91Charles Precourt, Dominic Gorie, Wendy Lawrence, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Janet Kavandi, Waleri Rjumin
2529. Oktober 1998STS-95Logo von STS-95Curtis Brown, Steven Lindsey, Scott Parazynski, Stephen Robinson, Pedro Duque, Chiaki Mukai, John Glenn
2627. Mai 1999STS-96Logo von STS-96Kent Rominger, Rick Husband, Daniel Barry, Tamara Jernigan, Ellen Ochoa, Julie Payette, Waleri Tokarew
2720. Dezember 1999STS-103Logo von STS-103Curtis Brown, Scott Kelly, Steven Smith, Michael Foale, John Grunsfeld, Claude Nicollier, Jean-François Clervoy
2811. Oktober 2000STS-92Logo von STS-92Brian Duffy, Pamela Melroy, Leroy Chiao, Michael López-Alegría, William S. McArthur, Kōichi Wakata, Peter Wisoff
298. März 2001STS-102Logo von STS-102James Wetherbee, James Kelly, Paul Richards, Andrew Thomas
3010. August 2001STS-105Logo von STS-105Scott Horowitz, Frederick Sturckow, Daniel Barry, Patrick Forrester
3126. Juli 2005STS-114Logo von STS-114Eileen Collins, James Kelly, Charles Camarda, Wendy Lawrence, Noguchi Sōichi, Stephen Robinson, Andrew Thomas
324. Juli 2006STS-121Logo von STS-121Steven Lindsey, Mark Kelly, Michael Fossum, Piers Sellers, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson, Thomas Reiter
3310. Dezember 2006STS-116Logo von STS-116Mark Polansky, William Oefelein, Robert Curbeam, Nicholas Patrick, Joan Higginbotham, Christer Fuglesang
3423. Oktober 2007STS-120Logo von STS-120Pamela Melroy, George Zamka, Scott Parazynski, Stephanie Wilson, Douglas Wheelock, Paolo Nespoli
3531. Mai 2008STS-124Logo von STS-124Mark Kelly, Kenneth Ham, Karen Nyberg, Ronald Garan, Michael Fossum, Akihiko Hoshide
3615. März 2009STS-119Logo von STS-119Lee Archambault, Dominic Antonelli, Joseph Acaba, Richard Arnold, John Phillips, Steven Swanson
3729. August 2009STS-128Logo von STS-128Frederick Sturckow, Kevin Ford, John Olivas, Patrick Forrester, José Hernández, Christer Fuglesang
385. April 2010STS-131Logo von STS-131Alan Poindexter, James Dutton, Rick Mastracchio, Clayton Anderson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Naoko Yamazaki
3924. Februar 2011STS-133Logo von STS-133Steven Lindsey, Eric Boe, Steve Bowen, Benjamin Drew, Michael Barratt, Nicole Stott

Siehe auch

Weblinks

Commons: Space Shuttle Discovery – Sammlung von Bildern, Videos und Audiodateien

Einzelnachweise

  1. STS 133 Mission Updates. NASA, 26. Februar 2011, archiviert vom Original am 3. März 2011; abgerufen am 26. Februar 2011 (englisch).

Auf dieser Seite verwendete Medien

Sts-41-d-patch.png
STS-41D Mission Insignia
  • The official mission insignia for the 41-D Space Shuttle flight features the Discovery - NASA's third orbital vehicle - as it makes its maiden voyage. The ghost ship represents the orbiter's namesakes which have figured prominently in the history of exploration. The Space Shuttle Discovery heads for new horizons to extend that proud tradition. Surnames for the crewmembers of NASA's eleventh Space Shuttle mission encircle the red, white, and blue scene.
Sts-29-patch.png
STS-29 Mission Insignia
The STS-29 patch was designed to capture and represent the energy and dynamic nature of this nation's space program as America continues to look to the future. The folded ribbon border, the first of its kind in the Shuttle patch series, gives a sense of three dimensional depth to the emblem. The stylistic orbital maneuvering system (ONS) burn symbolizes the powerful forward momentum of the Shuttle and a continuing determination to explore the frontiers of space. The colors of the U.S. flag are represented in the patch's basic red, white, and blue background. In the border, the seven stars between the STS-29 crew names are a tribute to the crew of Challenger.
Discovery - Transport.jpg
Autor/Urheber: Smithsonian Institute, Lizenz: CC0
View of Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) (A20120325000), mated to a Boeing Model 747-100 NASA Shuttle Carrier aircraft, in flight over the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, April 17, 2012.
Sts-33-patch.png

STS-33 Mission Insignia

This is the crew patch for STS-33, designed by the five crewmembers. It features a stylized falcon soaring into space to represent America's commitment to manned space flight. The crewmembers feel the falcon symbolizes courage, intelligence, tenacity, and love of flight. They intend the orbit around Earth to represent the falcon's lofty domain; however, the bird, with its keen vision and natural curiosity, is depicted looking forward beyond that domain to challenge the edge of the universe. The bold red feathers of the wings drawn from the American flag overlaying the random field of stars illustrate the determination to expand the boundaries of knowledge by American presence in space. The single gold star on a field of blue honors the memory of the late Rear Admiral S. David Griggs, originally assigned to this crew.
Sts-60-patch.png
STS-60 crew patch
  • The design of the crew patch for NASA's STS-60 mission depicts the Space Shuttle Discovery's on-orbit configuration. The American and Russian flags symbolize the partnership of the two countries and their crew members taking flight into space together for the first time. The open payload bay contains: the Space Habitation Module (Spacehab), a commercial space laboratory for life and material science experiments; and a Getaway Special Bridge Assembly in the aft section carrying various experiments, both deployable and attached. A scientific experiment to create and measure an ultra-vacuum environment and perform semiconductor material science – the Wake Shield Facility – is shown on the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) prior to deployment.
Sts-41-patch.png

STS-41 Mission Insignia

The STS-41 crew patch, designed by the five astronaut crewmembers, depicts the Space Shuttle orbiting Earth after deployment of its primary payload -- the Ulysses satellite. The orbiter is shown passing over the southeastern United States, representative of its 28-degree inclination orbit. Ulysses, the Solar Exploration Satellite, as the fastest man-made object in the universe, traveling at 30 miles per second (over 100,000 mph) is represented by the streaking silver teardrop passing over the sun. Ulysses' path is depicted by the bright red spiral originating from the Shuttle cargo bay. The three-legged trajectory, extending out the payload bay, is symbolic of the astronaut logo and is in honor of those who have given their lives in the conquest of space. The five stars, four gold and one silver, represent STS-41 and each of its crewmembers.
STS-133 patch.png
Das STS-133 Missionsemblem basiert auf Skizzen des verstorbenen Künstlers Robert McCall, sie waren die letzten Werke seiner langen und herausragenden Karriere. Im Vordergrund steigt ein einsamer Orbiter in einen dunkelblauen Himmel über einer wirbelnden feurigen Rauchfahne auf. Ein Sternenregen umgibt den Orbiter und eine von oben beleuchtete Mondsichel formt den Hintergrund des Aufstiegs. Die Nummer der Mission, STS-133, schmückt die Mitte des Emblems und die Namen der Crewmitglieder sind auf einer himmelblauen Umfassung der Szene aufgezählt. Das Shuttle Discovery wird im Aufstieg auf einer flammenden Rauchsäule dargestellt, so als ob gerade eine Mission beginnt. Es ist jedoch nur der Orbiter, ohne die Feststoffraketen und den externen Tank, so wie am Missionsende. Dies kennzeichnet die Beendigung der betriebsfähigen Phase der Discovery und den Anfang ihrer neuen Rolle als Symbol des stolzen Vermächtnisses von NASA und Nation in der menschlichen Raumfahrt.
Sts-116-patch.png
The STS-116 patch design signifies the continuing assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). The primary mission objective is to deliver and install the P5 truss element. The P5 installation will be conducted during the first of three planned spacewalks, and will involve use of both the shuttle and station robotic arms. The remainder of the mission will include a major reconfiguration and activation of the ISS electrical and thermal control systems, as well as delivery of Zvezda Service Module debris panels, which will increase ISS protection from potential impacts of micro-meteorites and orbital debris. In addition, a single expedition crewmember will launch on STS-116 to remain onboard the station, replacing an expedition crewmember that will fly home with the shuttle crew. The crew patch depicts the space shuttle rising above the Earth and ISS. The United States and Swedish flags trail the orbiter, depicting the international composition of the STS-116 crew. The seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major are used to provide direction to the North Star, which is superimposed over the installation location of the P5 truss on ISS. The NASA insignia design for shuttle space flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the form of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which is not anticipated, such will be publicly announced.
STS-53 patch.svg
Emblem of Nasa's STS-53 mission
  • Designed by the crewmembers, the STS-53 insignia shows the Space Shuttle Discovery rising to new achievements as it trails the symbol of the Astronaut Office against a backdrop of the American flag. The five stars and three stripes also serve to symbolize the mission designation (STS-53) and America's continuing commitment to world leadership in space. The pentagonal shape of the patch represents the Department of Defense (DOD) and its support of the Space Shuttle Program. The band delineating the flag from space includes the four colors of the military services of the crewmembers. The names of the flight crewmembers are located along the border of the patch. They are Commander David M. Walker, Pilot Robert D. Cabana, Mission Specialist (MS) Guion S. Bluford, MS James S. Voss, and MS Michael R. U. Clifford. Each crewmember contributed to the design of the insignia.
Sts-51-g-patch.png
Shuttle mission 51-G patch
  • The STS-51G insignia illustrates the advances in aviation technology in the United States within a relatively short span of the twentieth century. The surnames of the crewmembers for the Discovery's mission appear near the center edge of the circular design.
Sts-85-patch.png
The mission patch for STS-85 is designed to reflect the broad range of science and engineering payloads on the flight. The primary objectives of the mission were to measure chemical constituents in Earth's atmosphere with a free-flying satellite and to flight-test a new Japanese robotic arm designed for use on the International Space Station (ISS). STS-85 was the second flight of the satellite known as Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-2 CRISTA-SPAS-02. CRISTA, depicted on the right side of the patch pointing its trio of infrared telescopes at Earth's atmosphere, stands for Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere. The high inclination orbit is shown as a yellow band over Earth's northern latitudes. In the Space Shuttle Discovery's open payload bay an enlarged version of the Japanese National Space Development Agency's (NASDA) Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD) robotic arm is shown. Also shown in the payload bay are two sets of multi-science experiments: the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker (IEH-02) nearest the tail and the Technology Applications and Science (TAS-01) payload. Jupiter and three stars are shown to represent sources of ultraviolet energy in the universe. Comet Hale-Bopp, which was visible from Earth during the mission, is depicted at upper right. The left side of the patch symbolizes daytime operations over the Northern Hemisphere of Earth and the solar science objectives of several of the payloads.
Sts-70-patch.png
STS-70 Mission Insignia
The STS-70 crew patch depicts the Space Shuttle Discovery orbiting Earth in the vast blackness of space. The primary mission of deploying a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) is depicted by three gold stars. They represent the triad composed of spacecraft transmitting data to Earth through the TDRS system. The stylized red, white, and blue ribbon represents the American goal of linking space exploration to the advancement of all humankind.
Sts-42-patch.png

STS-42 Mission Insignia

Designed by the crewmembers, the STS- 42 Intemational Microgravity Lab- 1 insignia depicts the orbiter with the Spacelab module aboard. The spacecraft is oriented in a quiescent, tail-to-Earth, gravity-gradient attitude to best support the various microgravity payloads and experiments. The international composition of the crew is depicted by symbols representing Canada and the European Space Agency. The number 42 is represented by six white stars --- four on one side of the orbiter and two on the other. The single gold star above Earth's horizon honors the memory of astronaut Manley L. (Sonny) Carter, who was killed earlier this year in a commuter plane crash. A crew spokesperson stated that Carter ...was our crewmate, colleague and friend. Blue letters set against white give the surnames of the five astronauts and two payload specialists for the flight.
Sts-105-patch.svg
The STS-105 crew patch symbolizes the exchange of the Expedition Two and Expedition Three crews aboard the International Space Station. The three gold stars near the ascending Orbiter represent the U.S. commanded Expedition Three crew as they journey into space, while the two gold stars near the descending Orbiter represent the Russian commanded Expedition Two crew and their return to Earth. The plumes of each Orbiter represent the flags of the United States and Russia and symbolize the close cooperation between the two countries. The Astronaut Office symbol, a star with three rays of light, depicts the unbroken link between Earth and the newest and brightest star on the horizon, the International Space Station (ISS). The ascending and descending Orbiters form a circle that represents both the crew rotation and the continuous presence in space aboard the ISS. The names of the four astronauts who will crew Discovery are shown along the border of the patch. The names of the Expedition Three and Expedition Two crews are shown on the chevron at the bottom of the patch. The NASA insignia design for Shuttle flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the form of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which we do not anticipate, it will be publicly announced.
Sts-56-patch.png

STS-56 Mission Insignia

The STS-56 patch is a pictorial representation of the STS56/ATLAS-2 mission as seen from the crew's viewpoint. The payload bay is depicted with the ATLAS-2 pallet, Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultra Violet (SSBUV) experiment, and Spartan -- the two primary scientific payloads on the flight. With ATLAS-2 serving as part of the Mission to Planet Earth project, the crew has depicted the planet prominently in the artwork. Two primary areas of study are the atmosphere and the sun. To highlight this, Earth's atmosphere is depicted as a stylized visible spectrum and the sunrise is represented with an enlarged two-colored corona. Surnames of the commander and pilot are inscribed in the Earth field, with the surnames of the mission specialists appearing in the space background.
Atlantis taking off on STS-27.jpg
Aufstieg der Raumfähre Atlantis am 2. Dezember 1988 mit der Mission STS-27.
Sts-63-patch.png

STS-63 Mission Insignia

Designed by the crew members, the STS-63 crew patch depicts the orbiter maneuvering to rendezvous with Russia's Space Station Mir. The name is printed in Cyrillic on the side of the station. Visible in the Orbiter's payload bay are the commercial space laboratory Spacehab and the Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN) satellite which are major payloads on the flight. The six points on the rising sun and the three stars are symbolic of the mission's Space Transportation System (STS) numerical designation. Flags of the United States and Russia at the bottom of the patch symbolize the cooperative operations of this mission.
Space Shuttle Discovery Tribute.jpg
This is a printable version of space shuttle Discovery's orbiter tribute, or OV-103, which hangs in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery's accomplishments include the first female shuttle pilot, Eileen Collins, on STS-63, John Glenn's legendary return to space on STS-95, and the celebration of the 100th shuttle mission with STS-92. In addition, Discovery supported a number of Department of Defense programs, satellite deploy and repair missions and 13 International Space Station construction and operation flights. The tribute features Discovery demonstrating the rendezvous pitch maneuver on approach to the International Space Station during STS-114. Having accumulated the most space shuttle flights, Discovery's 39 mission patches are shown circling the spacecraft. The background image was taken from the Hubble Space Telescope, which launched aboard Discovery on STS-31 and serviced by Discovery on STS-82 and STS-103. The American flag and bald eagle represent Discovery's two Return to Flight missions -- STS-26 and STS-114 -- and symbolize Discovery's role in returning American astronauts to space. Five orbiter tributes are on display in the firing room, representing Atlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Endeavour and Discovery.
STS-95 Patch.svg
The STS-95 patch, designed by the crew, is intended to reflect the scientific, engineering, and historic elements of the mission. The Space Shuttle Discovery is shown rising over the sunlit Earth limb, representing the global benefits of the mission science and the solar science objectives of the Spartan Satellite. The bold number '7' signifies the seven members of Discovery's crew and also represents a historical link to the original seven Mercury astronauts. The STS-95 crew member John Glenn's first orbital flight is represnted by the Friendship 7 capsule. The rocket plumes symbolize the three major fields of science represented by the mission payloads: microgravity material science, medical research for humans on Earth and in space, and astronomy.
Sts-64-patch.png

STS-64 Mission Insignia

The STS-64 patch depicts the Space Shuttle Discovery in a payload-bay-to-Earth attitude with its primary payload, Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE-1) operating in support of Mission to Planet Earth. LITE-1 is a lidar system that uses a three-wavelength laser, symbolized by the three gold rays emanating from the star in the payload bay that form part of the astronaut symbol. The major objective of the LITE-1 is to gather data about the Earth's troposphere and stratosphere, represented by the clouds and dual-colored Earth limb. A secondary payload on STS-64 is the free-flier SPARTAN 201 satellite shown on the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm post-retrieval. The RMS also operated another payload, Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment (SPIFEX). A newly tested extravehicular activity (EVA) maneuvering device, Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER), represented symbolically by the two small nozzles on the backpacks of the two untethered EVA crew men. The names of the crew members encircle the patch: Astronauts Richard N. Richards, L. Blaine Hammond, Jr., Jerry M. Linenger, Susan J. Helms, Carl J. Meade and Mark C. Lee. The gold or silver stars by each name represent that person's parent service.
Discovery - Hitzschutzkacheln.jpg
Autor/Urheber: Smithsonian Institute, Lizenz: CC0
View of a wedge installed under Space Shuttle Discovery's (OV-103) (A20120325000) port wing for a boundary layer transition experiment on its final mission, June 24, 2013. Small black squares where sensors were attached for data collection are visible on nearby tiles.
Sts-82-patch.png
STS-82 Mission Insignia
  • STS-82 is the second mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The central feature of the patch is HST as the crew members will see it through Discovery's overhead windows when the orbiter approaches for rendezvous, retrieval and a subsequent series of spacewalks to perform servicing tasks. The telescope is pointing toward deep space, observing the cosmos. The spiral galaxy symbolizes one of HST's important scientific missions, to accurately determine the cosmic distance scale. To the right of the telescope is a cross-like structure known as a gravitational lens, one of the numerous fundamental discoveries made using HST Imagery. The names of the STS-82 crew members are arranged around the perimeter of the patch with the extravehicular activity's (EVA) participating crew members placed in the upper semicircle and the orbiter crew in the lower one.
Sts-92-patch.svg
Designed by the crew members, the STS-92 patch symbolizes the second mission to carry U.S.-built elements to the International Space Station (ISS) for assembly. The black silhouette of the Space Shuttle Discovery stands out against the deep blue background of space in low Earth orbit. In the foreground in gray is a profile view of the ISS as it appears when the shuttle and crew arrive, with the station consisting of the Unity node, its two pressurized mating adapters (PMA), the Zarya functional cargo block, the Zvezda service module, and the Progress cargo vehicle.
Following the shuttle's rendezvous and docking, the ISS configuration will be augmented by the two elements delivered by Discovery–the Z1 truss and PMA-3. These two elements, depicted in red, will be installed using the shuttle's robot arm and be connected to ISS during four spacewalks. The multi-national nature of both the STS-92 crew and the ISS are reflected in the multi-colored Astronaut Office symbol.
Sts-96-patch.svg
Designed by the crew members, this is the mission insignia for the STS-96 space flight, the second Space Shuttle mission dedicated to the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). The crew patch highlights the major themes of the Station Program: Earth-directed research, the advancement of human space exploration, and international cooperation. The Space Shuttle Discovery is depicted shortly after reaching orbit as the crew prepares to carry out the first docking with the new Station. At this early stage in its construction, ISS consists of two modules: Zarya and Unity, shown orbiting Earth. The triangular shape of the patch represents building on the knowledge and experience of earlier missions, while the three vertical bars of the astronaut emblem point toward future human endeavors in space. The five-pointed star that tops the astronaut emblem in this depiction is symbolic of the five space agencies participating in the development of ISS: NASA, the Russian Space Agency, the European Space Agency, the National Space Development Agency of Japan, and the Canadian Space Agency. The blend of red, white, and blue is a tribute to the nationalities of the crew members who are from the United States, Canada, and Russia.
STS-114 patch.svg
Emblem of Nasa's STS-114 mission.
  • The STS-114 patch design signifies the return of the Space Shuttle to flight and honors the memory of the STS-107 Columbia crew. The blue Shuttle rising above Earth’s horizon includes the Columba constellation of seven stars, echoing the STS-107 patch and commemorating the seven members of that mission. The crew of STS-114 will carry the memory of their friends on Columbia and the legacy of their mission back into Earth orbit. The dominant design element of the STS-114 patch is the planet Earth, which represents the unity and dedication of the many people whose efforts allow the Shuttle to safely return to flight. Against the background of the Earth at night, the blue orbit represents the International Space Station (ISS), with the EVA crewmembers named on the orbit. The red sun on the orbit signifies the contributions of the Japanese Space Agency to the mission and to the ISS program. The multi-colored Shuttle plume represents the broad spectrum of challenges for this mission, including Shuttle inspection and repair experiments, and International Space Station re-supply and repair.
STS-51 patch.svg
Emblem of Nasa's STS-51 mission.
Sts-120-patch.svg
The STS-120 patch reflects the role of the mission in the future of the space program. The shuttle payload bay carries Node 2, the doorway to the future international laboratory elements on the International Space Station. On the left the star represents the International Space Station; the red colored points represent the current location of the P6 solar array, furled and awaiting relocation when the crew arrives. During the mission, the crew will move P6 to its final home at the end of the port truss. The gold points represent the P6 solar array in its new location, unfurled and producing power for science and life support. On the right, the moon and Mars can be seen representing the future of NASA. The constellation Orion rises in the background, symbolizing NASA's new exploration vehicle. Through all, the shuttle rises up and away, leading the way to the future.
Sts31 flight insignia.png
STS-31 shuttle mission flight insignia. The mission insignia for NASA's STS-31 mission features the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in its observing configuration against a background of the universe it will study. The cosmos includes a stylistic depiction of galaxies in recognition of the contribution made by Sir Edwin Hubble to our understanding of the nature of galaxies and the expansion of the universe. The STS-31 crew points out that is it in honor of Hubble's work that this great observatory in space bears his name. The depicted Space Shuttle trails a spectrum symbolic of both the red shift observations that were so important to Hubble's work and new information which will be obtained with the HST. Encircling the art work, designed by the crew, are the names of its members.
STS-102 Patch.svg
The STS-102 crew insignia depicts the International Space Station as it looked when Space Shuttle Discovery was docked. Visible elements include the P6 and Z1 trusses, solar arrays from the Russian segment, 2 Pressurized Mating Adapters, and the Multi Purpose Logistics Module that was temporarily attached to the underside of the Unity Node. The numbers "102" represent the mission tail number. The red, white, and blue ribbons surrounding the space station represent that this is a crew rotation flight. The colors represent the nationalities of the crewmembers (Russian and American). Underneath the ribbons are the flags of the three nations who are the major contributors to the mission (from left to right: Russia, United States, Italy). The names of the 4 permanent crewmembers are displayed in gold around the top of the emblem. Attached to the bottom are six names depicting the six rotating crewmembers (Expedition 2 on top and Expedition 1 on bottom).
STS-121 patch.svg
The STS-121 patch depicts the Space Shuttle docked with the International Space Station (ISS) in the foreground, overlaying the astronaut symbol with three gold columns and a gold star. The ISS is shown in the configuration that it will be in during the STS-121 mission. The background shows the nighttime Earth with a dawn breaking over the horizon. STS-121, ISS mission ULF1.1, is the final Shuttle Return to Flight test mission. This utilization and logistics flight will bring a multipurpose logistics module (MPLM) to the ISS with several thousand pounds of new supplies and experiments. In addition, some new orbital replacement units (ORUs) will be delivered and stowed externally on ISS on a special pallet. These ORUs are spares for critical machinery located on the outside of the ISS. During this mission the crew will also carry out testing of Shuttle inspection and repair hardware, as well as evaluate operational techniques and concepts for conducting on-orbit inspection and repair.
STS-128 patch.png
Das STS-128 Emblem symbolisiert die Mission 17A und repräsentiert die Geräte, das Volk und die Partnernationen, die zum Flug beitragen. Das Space Shuttle Discovery sieht man in der Orbitalkonfiguration mit dem Multi Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Leonardo in der Nutzlastbucht. Die Erde und die Internationale Raumstation wölben sich um das Symbol des Astronautenbüros, um uns an die fortgesetzte menschliche Präsenz im Weltraum zu erinnern. Die Namen der STS-128 Crewmitglieder säumen das Emblem in einer umwickelnden Weise. In die Namen einbezogen ist das Crewmitglied der ISS-Expedition, das mit STS-128 startet und an Bord der ISS bleibt und ein anderes Expeditionsmitglied ersetzt, welches mit STS-128 heimkehrt. Das Band vervollständigt auch das Symbol des Astronautenbüros und beinhaltet die amerikanischen und die schwedischen Flaggen, welche die Länder der STS-128 Crew repräsentieren.
STS-124 patch.svg
Emblem of Nasa's STS-124 mission.
  • The STS-124/1J patch depicts the Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station (ISS). STS-124/1J is dedicated to delivering and installing the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) known as Kibo (Hope) to the ISS. The significance of the mission and the Japanese contribution to the ISS is recognized by the Japanese flag depicted on the JEM Pressurized Module (JPM) and the word Kibo written in Japanese at the bottom of the patch. The view of the sun shining down upon the Earth represents the increased "hope" that the entire world will benefit from the JEM's scientific discoveries. The JPM will be the largest habitable module on the ISS and is equipped with its own airlock and robotic arm for external experiments. In addition to delivering and installing the JPM, the STS-124 crew will relocate the JEM Logistics Pressurized (JLP) module to its permanent home on the zenith side of the JPM. During three planned space walks, the crew will perform external ISS maintenance and JPM outfitting, as well as extensive robotic operations by the ISS, space shuttle, and JEM robotic arms. It will be the first time that three different robotic arms will be operated during a single space flight mission.
Discovery - Frontalansicht.jpg
Autor/Urheber: Smithsonian Institute, Lizenz: CC0
View of Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) (A20120325000) on display in the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, May 3, 2012. The Shuttle Remote Manipulator Arm (SRMS, Canadarm) is displayed in the foreground, under the Shuttle's left wing and the MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit) can be seen floating above the flight deck windows.
STS-119 Patch.svg
The shape of the STS-119/15A patch comes from the shape of a solar array viewed at an angle. The International Space Station (ISS), which is the destination of the mission, is placed accordingly in the center of the patch just below the gold astronaut symbol. The gold solar array of the ISS highlights the main cargo and task of STS-119/15A -- the installation of the S6 truss segment and deployment of S6's solar arrays, the last to be delivered to the ISS. The surnames of the crew members are denoted on the outer band of the patch. The 17 white stars on the patch represent, in the crew's words, "the enormous sacrifice the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia have given to our space program." The U.S. flag flowing into the space shuttle signifies the support the people of the United States have given our space program over the years, along with pride the U.S. astronauts have in representing the United States on this mission.
STS-95 launch.jpg
Thousands of gallons of water released as part of the sound suppression system at the launch pad create clouds of steam and exhaust as Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off from Launch Pad 39B at 2:19 p.m. EST Oct. 29 on mission STS-95. Making his second voyage into space after 36 years is Payload Specialist John H. Glenn Jr., senator from Ohio. Other crew members are Mission Commander Curtis L. Brown Jr., Pilot Steven W. Lindsey, Payload Specialist Chiaki Mukai, (M.D., Ph.D.), with the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), Mission Specialist Stephen K. Robinson, Mission Specialist Pedro Duque of Spain, representing the European Space Agency (ESA), and Mission Specialist Scott E. Parazynski. The STS-95 mission includes research payloads such as the Spartan solar-observing deployable spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform, the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker, as well as the SPACEHAB single module with experiments on space flight and the aging process. Discovery is expected to return to KSC at 11:49 a.m. EST on Nov. 7.
STS-131 patch.png
Das STS-131/19A Mannschaftsemblem hebt das Space Shuttle im Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver hervor. Dieses Manöver wird von den Astronauten der Internationalen Raumstation mit hoher Aufmerksamkeit fotografiert und die Fotos werden zurück auf der Erde analysiert, um das Hitzeschutzsystem des Space Shuttles klar für den Wiedereintritt zu machen. Das RPM veranschaulicht das Zusammenspiel und das Sicherheitsprozedere bei jedem Space Shuttle Start. Im Shuttlefrachtraum befindet sich das Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Leonardo, welches mehrere Wissenschaftsracks, das letzte von vier Wohnquartieren und Nachschub für die ISS beherbergt. Nicht im Blick und direkt hinter dem MPLM ist der Ammoniaktank (Ammonia Tank Assembly - ATA), welcher den gegenwärtigen Tank ersetzen wird. Das wird während drei Weltraumausstiegen (EVAs) geschehen. Der 51.6° Space Shuttle Orbit wird durch die drei goldenen Balken des Astronautensymbols illustriert und sein elliptischer Kranz beinhaltet die Bahn der ISS. Der Stern auf dem Astronautensymbol ist die dämmernde Sonne, welche ihr frühes Licht über die Erde ausbreitet. Das Hintergrundsternenfeld beinhaltet sieben Sterne, einen für jedes Crewmitglied, die während der Mission mit Stolz die Vereinigten Staaten und Japan repräsentieren.
STS-103 Patch.svg
Designed by the crewmembers, the STS-103 emblem depicts the Space Shuttle Discovery approaching the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) prior to its capture and berthing. The purpose of the mission is to remove and replace some of the Telescope's older and out-of-date systems with newer, more reliable and more capable ones, and to make repairs to HST's exterior thermal insulation that has been damaged by more than nine years of exposure to the space environment. The horizontal and vertical lines centered on the Telescope symbolize the ability to reach and maintain a desired attitude in space, essential to the instrument's scientific operation. The preservation of this ability is one of the primary objectives of the mission. After the flight, the Telescope will resume its successful exploration of deep space and will continue to be used to study solar system objects, stars in the making, late phases of stellar evolution, galaxies and the early history of the universe. HST, as represented on this emblem was inspired by views from previous servicing missions, with its solar arrays illuminated by the Sun, providing a striking contrast with the blackness of space and the night side of Earth.
  • The NASA insignia design for Shuttle flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the form of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which is not anticipated, it will be publicly announced.
STS-39 patch.svg
Emblem of Nasa's STS-39 mission.
Sts-26-patch.png
The predominant themes are: a new beginning (sunrise), a safe mission (stylized launch and plume), the building upon the traditional strengths of NASA (the red vector which symbolizes aeronautics on the original NASA insignia), and a remembrance of their seven colleagues who died aboard Challenger (the seven-starred Big Dipper). The patch was designed by artist Stephen R. Hustvedt of Annapolis, MD.
Sts-51-c-patch.png
The crew insignia for STS Flight 51-C includes the names of its five crewmembers. The STS 51-C mission marked the third trip of the Space Shuttle Discovery into space. It was the first Space Shuttle mission totally dedicated to the Department of Defense. The U. S. Air Force Inertial Upper Stage Booster Rocket was successfully deployed. Due to the nature of the mission, few additional details of the flight were made available. Landing was made at the Kennedy Space Center, FL on January 27 at 4:23 PM EST. Mission duration was three days, one hour and 33 minutes.
Sts-91-patch.svg
This is the crew patch for the STS-91 mission – the ninth flight of the Shuttle-Mir Phase One docking missions. The crew will bring back Andrew S. W. Thomas, the last long-duration American crew member flown on the Russian Space Station Mir. This mission marks the end of the Shuttle-Mir Phase One Program and will open the way for Phase Two: construction of the International Space Station (ISS).

The crew patch depicts the rendezvous of the Space Shuttle Discovery with the Space Station Mir. The flags of the United States and Russia are displayed at the top of the patch and both countries are visible on the Earth behind the two spacecraft. The names of the American crew members surround the insignia on the outer areas, with the name of cosmonaut Valeriy Ryumin in Cyrillic at the lower right.

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) is an international payload planned to fly in the payload bay of Discovery. Two thin golden streams flowing into the AMS represent charged elementary particles. The detection of antimatter in space will help scientists better understand the physics and origins of the universe.
Sts-48-patch.png

STS-48 Mission Insignia

  • Designed by the astronaut crewmembers, the STS 48 patch represents the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery in orbit about the Earth after deploying the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS) depicted in block letter style. The stars are those in the Northern Hemisphere as seen in the fall and winter when UARS will begin its study of Earth's atmosphere. The color bands on Earth's horizon, extending up to the UARS spacecraft, depict the study of Earth's atmosphere. The triangular shape represents the relationship among the three atmospheric processes that determine upper atmospheric structure and behavior: chemistry, dynamics and energy. In the words of the crewmembers, This continuous process brings life to our planet and makes our planet unique in the solar system."