by We have seen the 12 days of Christmas in many different directions and versions, but for those who love space, let’s sing along to the “12 Space Patches of Christmas” designed by artist to the “stars,” Tim Gagnon. .
Before we begin, if you haven’t heard of the “KSC artist,” let us introduce you to someone who has contributed greatly to the space community and history. Tim is a native of East Hartford, Connecticut, and like many of us, his love for 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 TV with ‘rabbit ears’ that not many broadcast stations could get,” recalls Gagnon. on their website.
“For my 16th birthday present in 1972 my parents arranged for Dad and me 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 picture of Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert and began scrapbooking his daughter and niece with a collection of female astronauts. “The first response to the contributions came on Saturday, January 25, 1986. The package contained a handwritten note, an autographed photograph as well as other photographs,” Gagnon also shared on his 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 was dead. I decided a tragedy Challenger. that the message in that letter should not die with her.”
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Since then, Tim started volunteering with the Young Astronaut Programand created memorable paintings that are displayed in the Space Education CentreElmira City Hall, New York, and the IMAX Theater at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center to name a few. But while this talented painter put colors together on a canvas, he also had another big dream sewn into his mind – to create a patch for the flight crew.
“Ever reading about the design of the Skylab 1 patch in an article written by artist Frank Kelly Freas in 1973, I dreamed about creating a patch for a flight crew, to use my artistic talent to contribute to the space program,” Gagnon recalled on their website. “I came close in 1985 when Bob Crippen invited me to submit designs for the first space shuttle mission to be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, STS-62A. That mission was canceled after the Challenger accident.”
But in an encouraging 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 and was chosen by astronaut John Phillips to dream up a patch design for the Expedition 11 mission to the International Space Station.
His work was so well received that more design assignments came 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 . dreams are possible,” Tim told Space.com when asked what advice he has for others with galactic dreams. “If I can do it after college, not to ever art school, and all the other obstacles I put in my way, if I can do this they can do anything.”
Now that we’re approaching 2023 and the holidays are in full swing, it’s time to present the “12 Space Patches of Christmas” to collectors far and wide, which I’m sure are worth a lot more than a plain old gold ring ! Tim shares his 12 favorite years, so let’s get in the spirit with a little verse. Enjoy the history and symbolism embedded in each one, commemorating many moments in time.
12. Virginia Space Flight Academy 25th Anniversary
For a nonprofit in Virginia, it’s a silver anniversary this year. Offering Summer Adventure Camps and an online STEM Academy, it’s sure to make so many kids smile. This patch covers the history of Virginia, highlighting launches from Wallops Island to the start of the US space program and the launch of the ISS element, to ships landing at Jamestown…this is a patch that is very Virginian heart!
11. SPACECOM /49th Space Conference
If you wanted to see the view of Earth from space, then this patch is for you! North America and the “Space Coast” seem to flash below, and the ISS is almost playing peek-a-boo! You can see how Tim gives us a front window seat, bringing in the sunlight to enhance the view, the client didn’t want to use it for a patch so it’s still live now for print and online , woohoo!
10. Tulsa Air and Space Museum Runway “Ladies Launch Since 1983”
To the greats of space, this patch celebrates you! A space shuttle in the middle, and you see that the Canadarm is still holding a dream as another shuttle flies through! The theme behind this patch was the Sally Ride anniversary, but the best part for all the participants in the run – you could also find this design on a commemorative tee!
9. Shades of Blue Airline Symposium
This symposium helps in recruiting for airlines, starting as soon as children are in school. So they needed a patch to go with it, to give some swag to those who are interested, which is really nice! The design emphasizes aviation, both commercial and military. And it also puts it there in the trifecta – including it in spaceflight.
8. National Astronaut Day 2023
Every year on May 5th, we celebrate “National Astronaut Day,” remembering the first American in Space, Alan Shepard, who made his flight a reality. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the arrival of Voyager Sally, the first American Woman, very high through space, and to honor the inaugural Mercury crew and STS-7, the gold has a special place “7 ” too.
7. America’s First Female Astronauts
On this patch you see the surnames of the six original space flight women. The first US female astronauts were all shuttle program mission specialists, and three of them consulted on this design so positively and brilliantly! The left side of the woman pays tribute to Judy Resnik, writing to Tim’s daughter before on Challenger in 1986, you can also see the female symbol included, with the Shuttle Orbiter below, the artist’s monogram in ghostly.
6. Moon Pioneers: Mission One
While we are in the Artemis generation, a patch to highlight the moon is featured here! It was created for the Moon Pioneers mission, celebrating teamwork and exploring the surface up there!
5. Outpost Mission One
Welcome to the “space frontier,” the theme for 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. The Outpost satellite in flight, the motto and the mission motto are also highlighted. All to commemorate the inaugural mission, and to celebrate everything they are trying to do!
4. LSI educators
Limitless Space Institute, this was a special design for you! It’s about studies in STEAM fields, and as a meteorologist, I’d proudly wear this patch on a mission too! If you look closely, you can see all the icons of many different fields as professions that we can explore. And in the middle of his starship “Enterprise” waiting on the course towards becoming a star!
3. Kellie Gerardi: “Even The Sky’s Not The Limit”
The personal patch for Kellie Gerardi, spent achieving her dream of becoming a science researcher in space! You can see his silhouette shimmering above Earth through the galaxy, “reaching for his star” in the great place! If you take a look behind her, a group of tiny stars in honor of the woman who soared before. Her motto in the patch is to inspire others, and she hopes that after her in space there will be many more!
2. Fred Haise’s 90th Birthday Celebration
Every year we celebrate another trip around the sun. So how about your own personally designed patch? I’m sure Tim found this one fun! Happy 90th Birthday to former US astronaut Fred Haise from Apollo 13. Lots of symbols here to see! There are nods to his Biloxi home, a replica of his shuttle and an F-86D jet. Stars to represent his fellow Group 5 astronauts, and front and center the Experimental Test Pilots Association emblem, the “X”.
1. SwissApollo’s 15th Anniversary
And last but certainly not least, another celebration to design and bring to light! Highlighting space flight goals and dreams from Switzerland, with a spacecraft on the way to the moon in flight. There are 15 sunrays, making the company’s 15th anniversary next year. 12 stars for each of their men who walked on the moon and Apollo looks forward to the future success from there!
