Apollo Program Patches

Race to the Moon -
Apollo: Race to the Moon

After being caught off-guard by the Soviet Sputnik I, and then again by Sputnik II, the US sought to accelerate space exploration. An astonished nation rallied support for a full-force "space race".

NASA's space program, with sites set far beyond the moon (remember, Venus had already been attempted and achieved by both the US and Soviet space programs in unmanned fly-bys), devised a means to orbit the moon, deploy a lunar landing module, and transport two astronauts (Armstrong and Aldrin) to the surface of the moon -- and return them safely to Earth.

Apollo 1 Patch

Apollo 1 is recognized by its emblem as the filght that never flew. During a pre-flight test, astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee were all killed by a flash fire that broke out in their sealed space capsule. The spacecraft was redesigned, setting the space program back almost two years.

Apollo 1 Launch Date: January 27, 1967, 8:31 AM EST Launch Vehicle: Saturn B1 Crew: Commander: Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Command Module Pilot: Edward H. White, Lunar Module Pilot: Roger B. Chaffee

Apollo 8 Patch

Payload: CSM-103
Demonstrate crew/space vehicle/mission support facilities during manned Saturn V/CSM mission. Demonstrate translunar injection, CSM navigation, communications, and midcourse corrections. Assess CSM consumables and passive thermal control. Demonstrate CSM performance in cislunar and lunar orbit environment. Demonstrate
communications and tracking at lunar distances. Return high-resolution photographs of proposed Apollo landing sites and locations of scientific interest. All mission objectives were achieved.

Landing:December 27, 1968; 10:52 am EST; Landing point 8deg 7.5min North and 165deg 1.2min West. Miss distance was 2.5km; Splashdown time, December 27, 1968 at 10:52 a.m. EST; MET: 147:00:42. Crew on board U.S.S Yorktown at 12:20 p.m. EST; Spacecraft aboard ship at 01:20 p.m.

Apollo 8 Launch Date: December 21, 1968, 07:51:00 a.m. EST Launch Vehicle: Saturn-V Crew: Frank Borman: Commander James A. Lovell, Jr. William A. Anders

Apollo 10 Patch

The Apollo 10 light successfully demonstrated rendezvous in lunar orbit. Successfully tested the Lunar Module Descent Stage engine in the lunar landing mission configuration and environment. Evaluated LM steerable antenna at lunar distances. The Lunar Module was flown within 50,000 feet of the lunar surface. Landing radar was tested at lunar distances. Westinghouse color TV camera tested in flight, making a 29-minute color TV transmission back to Earth of the lunar surface.

Six additional transmissions were made on the return flight to Earth. The LM Descent Stage was jettisoned and rendezvous with the CSM was accomplished. After jettisoning the LM Ascent Stage, the CSM fired its engine and returned to Earth. Splashdown occurred on May 26 in mid-Pacific after a flight lasting 192 hours, three minutes (eight days, three minutes).

Apollo 10 Launch Date: May 18, 1969, 12:49 PM EDT Launch Vehicle: Saturn V Crew: Commander: Thomas P. Stafford, Command Service Module Pilot: John W. Young, Lunar Module Pilot: Eugene A. Cernan

Apollo 12 Patch

Apollo 12 was the world's second manned lunar landing. The flight demonstrated the spacecraft's pinpoint landing capability, touching down within 600 feet of the Surveyor 3 spacecraft. The Surveyor 3 was an unmanned U.S. satellite that soft-landed on the Moon on April 17, 1967. It had returned TV pictures and data on the lunar surface by digging up a soil sample with its scoop. The crew performed two EVA's and collected rock samples as they walked more than a mile from the spacecraft. Parts were taken off the Surveyor 3. The flight marked the largest payload returned from the lunar surface. After 31 hours and 31 minutes on the lunar surface, the LM ascent stage lifted off and rendezvoused with the Command Service Module for the return trip to Earth. The astronauts landed in the Mid-Pacific on November 24, after a flight of 244 hours, 36 minutes (10 days, four hours, 36 minutes). Moon rock samples were distributed to the scientific community.

Apollo 12 Launch Date: November 14, 1969, 11:22 AM EST Launch Vehicle: Saturn V Crew: Commander: Charles Conrad, Jr. Command Service Module Pilot: Richard F. Gordon, Jr. Lunar Module Pilot: Alan L. Bean

Apollo 14 Patch

This flight marked the third lunar landing and return mission. First use of mobile equipment transporter (a small two-wheeled handcart) on the lunar surface. Time on the lunar surface, distance traversed and payload returned from the Moon were considerably greater than previous missions. After a delayed liftoff and modified translunar trajectory, the Lunar Module "Antares" landed on the Moon on February 5 at 4:18 AM EST. Landing occurred in the Fra Mauro highlands, just 87 feet from its target point. Astronauts Shepard and Mitchell made two excursions on the lunar surface totaling nine hours, 24 minutes, while Roosa conducted scientific experirnents from the CSM in lunar orbit. Lunar liftoff occurred on February 5 after 33 hours and 32 minutes on the Moon. Rendezvous, docking and transfer were normal. The Command Module and its crew landed safely at 4:05 PM EST on February 9 in Mid-Pacific, within one mile of its planned landing point.

Apollo 14 (Back-up crew patch)

The only Apollo mission that developed an official back-up crew patch

Apollo 16 Patch

The Apollo 16 flight marked the world's fifth manned lunar landing and return mission. The Lunar Module "Orion" landed on the lunar surface on April 20 at 9:24 PM EST - after a delay of more than five hours due to a thrust vector control problem on the Command Service Module. The landing was the first to be made in the Descartes area of the lunar highlands, just 755 feet from the planned landing point During three trips in the Lunar Roving Vehicle, astronauts Young and Duke covered 16.8 miles over the lunar highland surface.

They spent nine hours and seven minutes on foot conducting scientific experiments while Mattingly was conducting lunar science experiments from lunar orbit. Lunar liftoff occurred after 71 hours, two minutes on the Moon. Rendezvous and docking were normal. The Command Service Module "Casper" began its return to Earth after completing 64 lunar orbits. The astronauts landed safely in the Pacific after a mission of 265 hours, 51 minutes.

Apollo 16 Launch Date: April 16, 1972, 12:54 PM EST Launch Vehicle: Saturn V Crew: Commander: John W. Young Command Service Module Pilot: Thomas K. Mattingly Lunar Module Pilot: Charles M. Duke, Jr.

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project  (ASTP) Patch

This emblem, designed by the Soviets, was commissioned by NASA to mark the first international manned space flight. The five-year program was conducted to establish space rescue techniques for the USA and the USSR, conduct scientific experiments, and to study the feasibility of more ambitious joint future projects. This mission marked the first major cooperation between the only two nations then engaged in manned space flight. It was the first meeting of two manned spacecraft of different nations in space. The flight established workable joint docking mechanisms, thus taking the firsts steps toward developing mutual space rescue capabilities.

Apollo Program Logo Patch

In July, 1960 NASA was preparing to implement its long range plans for a manned lunar project. The name "APOLLO" was chosen by NASA from ancient Greek mythology. Apollo was the god of archery, prophecy, poetry, music and god of the Sun. On the emblem, the Earth and Moon flank a large stylized letter "A" against a background of stars. Constellation Orion, The Mighty Hunter, is positioned so its three central stars form the bar of the letter "A". The face of the Moon represents the mythical god, Apollo.

Apollo 7 Patch

First manned Apollo flight. First manned Saturn 1B flight. First manned launch from Launch Complex 34 at the Kennedy Space Center. The Command Service Module (CSM) performed rendezvous and station-keeping maneuvers; extensive checkout of CSM systems were performed. A total of eight Service Propulsion Systems firings were accomplished causing several charges in the spacecraft's orbital path. Seven television transmissions from the spacecraft were broadcast live over commercial television, both in the U.S. and abroad.

The Command Service Module seperated from the Lunar Module prior to re-entry and landed in the Atlantic near target point at 7:11am EST on October 22. The highly successful flight lasted 260 hours, nine minutes, nearly 11 days. America's first three-man mission logged more time in orbit than all other Soviet flights combined.

Apollo 7 Launch Date: October 11, 1968 11:03am EST Launch Vehicle: Saturn 1B Crew: Commander: Walter M. Schirra,Jr. Command Serive Module Pilot: Donn F. Eisele Lunar Module Pilot: Walter Cunningham

Apollo 9 Patch

First launch of the complete Apollo configuration: Saturn V vehicle, Command Service Module (CSM) and Lunar Module (LM). Sucessful docking in space of CSM and LM. First firing of LM ascent and descent engines in space. First transfer by U.S. astronaut from one space vehicle to another. First separation, rendezvous and re-docking of two spacecraft. First EVA by an astronaut (Schweickart) completely free of spacecraft life support equipment. Splashdown occurred on March 13, completing a flight of 241 hours, one minute (10 days, one hour, one minute).

Apollo 9 Launch Date: March 3,1969, 11:00 AM EST Launch Vehicle: Saturn V Crew: James A. McDivitt, Command Service Module Pilot: David R. Scott, Lunar Module Pilot: Russell L. Schweickart

Apollo 11 Patch

World's first crewed lunar landing and return. All three stages of the Saturn V fired normally and on time. The Command Service Module (CSM) separated, turned and docked with the Lunar Module (LM). A single spacecraft firing was utilized to escape Earth orbit and set a course to the Moon. In the vicinity of the Moon, the crew sent back a 29-minute color TV transmission.

The Commander and the LM pilot undocked the LM and descended to the Moon's surface, landing on the Sea of Tranquility on July 20, at 4:17 PM EDT. Six hours later at 10:55 PM EDT, Neil Armstrong became the world's first human to walk on the Moon. He deployed a television camera and the event was seen by an estimated half-billion people on Earth. The astronauts collected Moon rock samples and conducted scientific experiments. They also talked "live" to President Nixon. Lift-off from the Moon occurred on Monday, July 21 at 1:54 PM EST. Rendezvous with the CSM was accomplished and, after jettisoning the LM ascent stage, the CSM fired its engine to return to the Earth. Six additional live TV transmissions were made on the return trip home. Splashdown occurred July 24 in mid-Pacific after a flight of 195 hours, 18 minutes (eight days, three hours, 18 minutes).

Apollo 11 Launch Date: July 16, 1969, 9:32 AM EST Launch Vehicle: Saturn V Crew: Commander: Neil A. Armstrong, Command Service Module Pilot: Michael Collins Lunar Module Pilot: Edwin E. Aldrin Jr

Apollo 13 Patch

Apollo 13 was planned to be the third manned lunar landing. Lunar trajectory insertion occurred on schedule. The Command Service Module (CSM) then turned and docked with the Lunar Module (LM) and continued on toward the Moon. Then, almost 56 hours after liftoff, a fire broke out in the #2 oxygen tank in the CSM. This led to the loss of all fuel cell power and the other system failures.

The mission was aborted and the task of getting the astronauts home safely began. The CSM was powered down and the astronauts entered the LM and used it as a "lifeboat" on the long journey home. As the crippled spacecraft neared Earth, the astronauts re-entered the CSM and jettisoned the Service Module and the Lunar Module. Fortunately, re-entry into Earth's atmosphere occurred normally. The astronauts were safely recovered at the splashdown point in Mid-Pacific after a flight of 142 hours, 54 minutes (five days, 22 hours and five minutes).

Apollo 13 Launch Date: April 11, 1970, 2:13 PM EST Launch Vehicle: Saturn V Crew: Commander: James A. Lovell, Jr. Command Service Module Pilot: John L. Swigert, Jr. Lunar Module Pilot: Fred W. Haise, Jr.

Apollo 15 Patch

This flight marked the world's fourth lunar landing and return mission. After a 25-minute delay in the CSM-LM undocking, the Lunar Module "Falcon" landed on the Moon July 30 at 6:16 PM EDT. This was the first mission to deploy the Lunar Roving Vehicle, which traveled 17.2 miles across the lunar surface.

First lunar orbital science payload carried in the Service Module bay. First ground-controlled remote operation of a TV camera on the Moon. First sub-satellite launched from the CSM in lunar orbit. The Lunar Module lifted off the Moon 66 hours, 55 minutes after touchdown. The CSM "Endeavor" departed for Earth after 74 lunar orbits. After completing a 12-day, seven hour, 12 minute mission, Apollo 15 landed safely in Mid-Pacific.

Apollo 15 Launch Date: July 26, 1971, 9:34 AM EDT Launch Vehicle: Saturn V Crew: Commander.- David R. Scott, Command Service Module Pilot: Alfred M. Worden, Lunar Module Pilot: James B. Irwin

Apollo 17 Patch

The Apollo 17 mission marked the sixth successful lunar landing and return flight as well as the last flight of the Apollo Program. The flight to the Moon was near routine and the Lunar Module "Challenger" landed at Tarus-Littrow on December 11 at 2:00 PM EST. During three traverses with the Lunar Roving Vehicle, astronauts Cernan and Schmitt stopped at numerous pre-Planned points to conduct geological observations and to collect rock samples while astronaut Evans operated scientific equipment in the Command Service Module "America" in lunar orbit.

The mission marked the first geological astronaut (Schmitt) on the lunar surface; the longest time spent on the Moon (74 hours, 59 minutes); the greatest distance traveled by the Lunar Roving Vehicle an one trip (21.75 miles); the most lunar rock samples returned to Earth (250 lbs.). Lunar liftoff occurred on December 14 at 5:45 PM EST. After completing a record 75 revolutions of the Moon, the Command Service Module "America" departed for Earth, The astronauts landed safely in Mid-Pacific on December 19. Mission duration was 12 days, 14 hours

Apollo 17 Launch Date: December 7, 1972, 10:33 AM EST Launch Vehicle: Saturn V Crew: Commander: Eugene A. Cernan, Command Service Module Pilot: Ronald E. Evans, Lunar Module Pilot: Hanison H. Schmitt

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) Patch

The Soyuz was launched just over seven hours prior to the launch of the Apollo CSM. Apollo then maneuvered to rendezvous and docking 52 hours after the Soyuz launch. The Apollo and Soyuz crews conducted a variety of experiments over a two-day period. After separation, Apollo remained in space an additional 06 days. Soyuz returned to Earth approximately 43 hours after separation.