(S86-39756 --- 1986) STS-62A crew portrait, The crew takes time out from training to pose for this portrait. It is scheduled to be the first launch from Vandenberg AFB, California. The crew for this DOD mission are astronauts (front row, left to right) Guy S. Gardner, pilot; Richard M. Mullane, MS; Jerry L. Ross, MS; and Dale A Gardner, MS. In the back row (left to right) are astronauts Edward "Pete" C. Aldridge, Jr, DOD PS; Robert L. Crippen, commander; and Brett Watterson, DOD PS.

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Payload specialist Edward 'Pete' Aldridge was also the Undersecretary of the Air Force. Most of this crew flew STS-27 in 1988 on board Atlantis.

The mission was called STS-62A, this meant: 6=Fiscal year 1986, 2=Vandenberg [1=Kennedy Space Center], and A=first flight from that launch site.)

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Artwork

May 16, 1985

Dear Mr. Gagnon:

I have tentatively asked for some ideas for a patch for 62-A but thus far have 
received none. you are very kind to volunteer your services. As you might 
know, we have no way to reimburse you for this effort. If that is acceptable, 
we would be pleased to see what you might come up with. There is also no way 
that I can guarantee that we would end up selecting your work as the crew 
patch.

For some details, I'm partial to round pathces, but other shapes are okay 
if there are minimum protuberances. Also, simple is good. too much detail 
in a patch doesn't work. As for colors, I'm partial to red, white and blue, 
but that is not a constraint. However, the maximum number of colors should be 
about ten. it would be desirable if the first launch from Vandenberg was 
symbolized somehow. One idea is, we commonly use the term V1 when talking 
about that flight. In addition, a polar orbit indicator would be appropriate. 
Crew names are Crippen, Gardner, Mullane, Gardner, and Ross. We will add any 
Payload Specialist(s) names at the bottom.

We should be working toward a design complete date of September 16, 1985.

thank you for your help.

Sincerly,

Robert L. Crippen
NASA Astronaut

Above: Draft A, B, C and D.

A: The Shuttle configuration is shown in profile during the first launch from Vandenberg AFB. in California, (V 1). The Earth is shown with the launch site ond orbital path highlighted in gold. As in draft "B", the seven star constellation Ursa Minor represent the orbital path of the mission and the possible seven member crew. The names of the orbiter Discovery and crew surround the patch in a royal blue, white and gold band.

B: The orbiter Discovery is shown during its "V 1" launch, (first launch from vandenberg AFB), as the SRB's seperate from the configuration. The payload bay doors are hidden denoting this DOD mission. The "Northeren Lights" and constellation Ursa Minor with the north star Polaris combine to illustrate the polar orbital path of this flight. The constellation has seven stars to represent the seven member crew. The names of the orbiter and crew surround the patch in a gold and red band.

C: The Shuttle and DOD mission is represented by an American Bald Eagle in its first launch from Vandenberg AFB. The Eagle holds a red, white and blue banner in its talons with the name of the orbiter Discovery and launch designation "V 1". There are seven stars in the sky to represent the possible seven member crew. The crew names surround the patch.

D: The Shuttle configuration is shown during its first launch from Vandenberg AFB in California, (V 1), rising over two spheres of the earth. The north pole on the left and the south pole on he right illustrate the orbital path of the mission. The name of the orbiter Discovery seperates the Shuttle from the two spheres of the Earth. the names of the crew surround the patch in a blue, white and red band.

Note, on every patch I had the vehicle launching in the wrong direction. I had it going north instead of south. I'm sure they got a "chuckle" out of that.

Tim Gagnon

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