We’ve seen the 12 days of Christmas in many different directions and versions, but for those with a passion for space, let’s sing along to the ’12 Space Patches of Christmas’, designed by an artist for the ‘stars’, Tim Gagnon. .
Before we begin, if you haven’t heard of the “KSC Artist,” we’d like to introduce you to a major contributor to both the space community and history. Tim is originally from East Hartford, Connecticut, and like so many of us, his love for space began at an early 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 TV with ‘rabbit ears’ that could receive very few channels,” Gagnon recalls. on his website.
“For my 16th birthday present in 1972, my parents arranged for Dad and I to attend the Apollo 17 launch as invited guests of NASA.” Within the next decade, he picked up a paintbrush to bring to life a painting of Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert and began creating scrapbooks for his daughter and niece a collection of female astronauts. “The first response to contributions arrived on Saturday, January 25, 1986. The package contained a handwritten note, an autographed photo, and other photos,” Gagnon also shared on his website. “The note read in part: “…you can do anything you want, as long as you get a good education.” It was signed by NASA astronaut Judy Resnik. Three days later, Judy Resnik was dead. Stunned by the tragedy of the Challenger, I decided that the message in that letter should not die with her.”
Related: Chickasaw astronaut ‘signs’ patches for Native American Girls’ Space Camp fund
Since then, Tim started volunteering at the Young astronaut programand created memorable paintings featured in the Center for Space EducationElmira City Hall, New York, and the IMAX Theater at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to name a few. But as this talented painter wove colors onto a canvas, he was also nurturing another big dream in his mind: creating a flight crew patch.
“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 flight crew patch, to use my artistic talent to contribute to the space program” , says Gagnon. recalled on 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, California, STS-62A. That mission was canceled after the Challenger.”
But in an inspiring story for those who believe that the best is yet to come and that those moments are worth the wait, Tim fulfilled his destiny in 2004 when he was 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 more design commissions in collaboration with another passionate space enthusiast and pen pal Dr. Jorge Cartes of Madrid, Spain, for both the Space Shuttle Program and the crews of the International Space Station since 2007. “Perseverance is what makes my dream possible,” Tim told Space.com when asked what advice he has for others with dreams as big as the galaxy. “If I can do it, because I dropped out of college, never went to art school and all the other obstacles I put in my own way, if I can do this, then they can do anything.”
As we close out 2023 with the holidays in full swing, it’s time to present the ’12 Space Patches of Christmas’, which I’m sure will be worth far more to collectors near and far than a plain old gold ring! Tim shares his favorite 12 of the year, so let’s get into the mood with a little rhyme. Enjoy the history and symbolism contained in each piece, commemorating many moments in time.
12. 25th Anniversary of the Virginia Space Flight Academy
This year marks a silver anniversary for a Virginia nonprofit. Offering summer adventure camps and an online STEM academy is sure to cheer up many kids. Virginia’s history is captured in this patch, focusing on launches from Wallops Island, when the US space program and the launch of ISS elements took off, to ships landing at Jamestown… this is a patch that a Virginian close to my heart!
11. SPACECOM /49th Space Congress
If you want to see Earth from space, then this patch is for you! North America and the “Space Coast” seem to shine below, while the ISS almost plays peek-a-boo! You can see Tim giving us a window seat, which lets in sunlight to enhance the view. The customer didn’t want to use it for a patch, so it’s still alive for print and online, woohoo!
10. Tulsa Air and Space Museum Runway Run “Ladies Launch Since 1983”
For the leading ladies of space, this patch celebrates you! A space shuttle in the center, and you see the Canadarm holding a dream catcher as another shuttle flies through! The theme behind this patch was Sally Ride’s anniversary, but best of all for all the participants of the run: you can also get this design on a commemorative T-shirt!
9. Shades of Blue aviation symposium
This symposium helps with recruitment for airlines, starting at school age. So they needed a corresponding patch to give those interested something cool! The design emphasizes aviation, both for commercial and military purposes. And then he also adds the trifecta – including this one in space travel.
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 the Sally Ride, the first American woman, flying through space, and in honor of the inaugural Mercury crew and STS-7, the gold “7” also has a special place.
7. America’s first female astronauts
On this patch you will see the last names of the original six ladies of space travel. The first American female astronauts who were all mission specialists of the shuttle program, and three of them advised on this so positive and smart design! The left side of the woman honors Judy Resnik, as she previously wrote to Tim’s daughter on Challenger in 1986, you also see the female symbol, with the Shuttle Orbiter, the artist’s monogram in ghost stitch, underneath.
6. Moon Pioneers: Mission One
Since we belong to the Artemis generation, here is a patch to emphasize the moon! It was created for a Moon Pioneers mission, commemorating teamwork and exploring the surface above!
5. Outpost mission one
Welcome to the ‘space frontier’, the theme of the company that wanted this patch! A nod to the founder with a beach on the west coast and a street sign where their offices are located. It shows Outpost’s satellite in flight, also highlighting its slogan and mission motto. All to commemorate the first mission and celebrate everything they are trying to do!
4. LSI teachers
Limitless Space Institute, this was a special design for you! It’s all about researching STEAM fields, and as a meteorologist I would proudly wear this patch on a mission too! If you look closely, you will see all the icons of many different areas as careers that we can explore. And in the middle, the spaceship ‘Enterprise’ remains on course to become a star!
3. Kellie Gerardi: “Even the Sky Is No Limit”
The personal patch for Kellie Gerardi, worn while realizing her dream of becoming a scientific researcher in space! You can see her silhouette above Earth gliding through the galaxy, “reaching for her star” in just the perfect spot! If you look behind her, you will see a group of small stars honoring the women who floated before. The patch features her motto to inspire others, in the hope that there will be so many more after her in space!
2. Celebrating Fred Haise’s 90th birthday
Every year we celebrate another trip around the sun. So how about your own personally designed patch? I’m sure it was fun for Tim! 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 home Biloxi, a replica of his shuttle and F-86D jet. Stars to represent his Group 5 astronaut classmates, and for the Society of Experimental Test Pilots emblem front and center, the “X”.
1. 15th anniversary of SwissApollo
And last but certainly not least: another party to design and bring to light! Highlighting space flight goals and dreams from Switzerland, with a spacecraft on its way to the moon. There are 15 rays of sunshine, which will mark the company’s 15th anniversary next year. 12 stars to each of their men who walked on the moon, as Apollo looks forward to the success that will come there in the future!