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The crew
Charles Simonyi, Gennadi Padalka and Michael Barratt.
The competition
At the end of October, 2008, Roscosmos announced an international competition for children under age 15: 'Let's design a logo for Soyuz TMA-14 crew'. The winning design would provide the basis for the crew patch, which would receive official status by the approval of the head of Roscosmos. This would be only the second time a Russian crewpatch had such a status, following the Soyuz TMA-13 logo, although this was never worn by the cosmonauts.
In total, some 150 drawings were sent in from Russia, USA, Kazachstan, Netherlands, Belarus, Turkey, United Kingdom, India, Poland, Belgium and Philippines. On December 29, 2008, the winner was announced at a press conference at the Moscow Flight Control Centre in Korolev near Moscow.
The winner was Anna Chibiskova, age 12, of Moscow. Her design of two hands, protectively cradling the Earth was considered the best by mission commander Padalka and Roscosmos head Perminov. It was to be used as the central element of the patch.
Left: Anna's original winning artwork. Right: the completed patch design; final art by Jorge Cartes, copyright Chibiskova/Roscosmos/Spacepatches.
Anna Chibiskova speaking at the press conference announcing her winning design. Seated at her right side is Alexei Krasnov, head of the Manned Space Flight Program Department, with Roscosmos director Anatoly Perminov and Energia director Vitaly Lopota seated further along the table. Standing in the center of the picture is Roscosmos press officer Sveta Gavrish, who played a vital role in the coordination of the TMA-14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 children's contests and patches. Next to her is Alexander Vorobiov, head of the Roscosmos press office, who was responsible for the patch project.
As soon as the winning design was picked. Roscosmos approached Spacepatches to create the definitive design of the patch and take care of producing the embroidered version.
Starting point were Anna's artwork and Roscosmos' specifications: they requested a 4'' circular patch, that included the Russian and American flags as well as the surnames Padalka, Barratt and Simonyi. A
total of 1000 patches were made in a one off production run, of which almost all went to Roscosmos. They kindly allowed us to make the limited remainder of the patches available to fellow collectors.
The crew of Soyuz TMA-14 during walkout some three hours before launch.
This is the personal Soyuz TMA-14 mission logo for Charles Simonyi. Left: the version worn on his Sokol suit, right: the smaller version worn on on-board clothing. Simonyi explained the patch to Robert Pearlman of collectSpace.
The Institute for Advanced Study patch Simonyi was seen during the final weeks of his training and on board ISS.
Contact us at order@spacepatches.nl if you are interested in an original Soyuz TMA-14 patch. A very limited number is still available.
Gennadi Padalka and Michael Barratt reviewing some of the designs.
From sketch to Sokol
The original art by Anna Chibiskova and the first sketch of the patch by Luc van den Abeelen
Left: a computer generated simulation of the patch, produced by the manufacturer, right: the prototype patch.
Colour by colour, detail by detail, the patch takes shape during production at the embroiderer in January, 2009.
The patch is fitted on a cloth backing at the Zvezda spacesuit plant near Moscow.
The patch is attached to the Sokol of 'spaceflight participant' Charles Simonyi, shown at right during pressure test of his taylor-made suit in February, 2009.
Anna Chibiskova and the crew during the traditional farewell tea party in Star City on March 5, 2009.
The patch in action
Charles Simonyi's patches
Collecting Soyuz TMA-14