Crew & Mission

(STS052-S-002 - 01 November 1992) ---These five NASA astronauts and a Canadian payload specialist are assigned to the STS-52 flight aboard Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, scheduled for later this year. Pictured on the back row are (left to right) Pilot Michael A. Baker, Commander James D. Wetherbee, and Payload Specialist Steven G. MacLean. In the front row are (left to right) Mission Specialist (MS) Charles Lacy Veach, MS Tamara E. Jernigan, and MS William M. Shepherd. Crewmembers are wearing launch and entry suites (LESs) with the flags of the United States (U.S.) and Canada displayed behind them. MacLean represents the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

The Artwork

(STS052-S-001) --- The STS-52 insignia, designed by the crewmembers, features a large gold star to symbolize the crew's mission on the frontiers of space. A gold star is often used to symbolize the frontier period of the American West. The red star in the shape of the Greek letter lambda represents both the laser measurements to be taken from the Laser Geodynamic Satellite (LAGEOS II) and the Lambda Point Experiment, which is part of the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-l). The LAGEOS II is a joint Italian\U.S. satellite project intended to further our understanding of global plate tectonics. The USMP1 is a microgravity facility which has French and U.S. experiments designed to test the theory of cooperative phase transitions and to study the solid\liquid interface of a metallic alloy in the low gravity environment. The remote manipulator and maple leaf are emblematic of the Canadian payload specialist who will conduct a series of Canadian flight experiments (CANEX-2), including the Space Vision System test. The names of the STS-52 flight crewmembers are located along the border of the patch. Each crewmember contributed to the design of the insignia.