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| The Crew |
(STS116-S-002 - 21 July 2006) --- These seven astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-116 crew portrait. Scheduled to launch aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery are, front row (from the left), astronauts William A. Oefelein, pilot; Joan E. Higginbotham, mission specialist; and Mark L. Polansky, commander. On the back row (from the left) are astronauts Robert L. Curbeam, Nicholas J.M. Patrick, Sunita L. Williams and the European Space Agency's Christer Fuglesang, all mission specialists.
(JSC2002-01566 - 8 August 2002) --- The STS-116 and Expedition Eight crews pose for a group photo prior to a training session in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). From the left are astronauts Terrence W. Wilcutt and William A. Oefelein, STS-116 mission commander and pilot, respectively; Christer Fuglesang and Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., both STS-116 mission specialists; C. Michael Foale, Expedition Eight mission commander; William S. (Bill) McArthur, Jr. and cosmonaut Valery I. Tokarev, both Expedition Eight flight engineers. Fuglesang represents the European Space Agency (ESA) and Tokarev represents Rosaviakosmos.
| Flight Suits |
| STS-116 art |
(STS116-S-001 - July 2006) --- The STS-116 patch design signifies the continuing assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). The primary mission objective is to deliver and install the P5 truss element. The P5 installation will be conducted during the first of three planned spacewalks, and will involve use of both the shuttle and station robotic arms. The remainder of the mission will include a major reconfiguration and activation of the ISS electrical and thermal control systems, as well as delivery of Zvezda Service Module debris panels, which will increase ISS protection from potential impacts of micro-meteorites and orbital debris. In addition, a single expedition crewmember will launch on STS-116 to remain onboard the station, replacing an expedition crewmember that will fly home with the shuttle crew. The crew patch depicts the space shuttle rising above the Earth and ISS. The United States and Swedish flags trail the orbiter, depicting the international composition of the STS-116 crew. The seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major are used to provide direction to the North Star, which is superimposed over the installation location of the P5 truss on ISS.
Our emblem of mission STS-116 has remained approved and can be used. Each crew designs its own emblem although generally with the aid from an artist for artistical detail. In each emblem there is a lot of symbolism, some are small some are clear to see. In our case details used show the northeren participation in the crew, the swedish flag and the Amerian flag. Furthermore there are the seven stars for the first seven Nasa astronauts the Mercury-7. Also the stars and the North star are taken from the Alaska State flag. The Space Shuttle has two names written on its wings, 116 for our mission and 12A.1 for the 12th construction mission to ISS. On the Space Station you can see a star (the North Star) on the part that we will add to ISS. Parts of the USA are coverd with clouds, both Beamers and Terrys childhood States, Baltimore and Kentucky, as well as the two important states for our activity: Texas were we train, and Florida were we start and land. On the edge of the patch are ofcourse the names of the crew and at the bottom (if that remains the same) the names of the ISS crews thet we will take with us during launch and landing.
The STS-116 emblem and logo are now official and are ready for use. We had already developed the patch before the Columbia disaster, but could never made it official. The new crew members found the design with the American and Swedish flag which lift the Shuttle from the ground also very beautiful. On the wings of the Shuttle stands 116 for the flight number (STS-116) and 12A.1 for the flight to the Space Station. Right is the Space Station ISS visible and shows the P5 truss which we will assemble to ISS. And the shining star is in relation to the constellation on the left. Which is also a symbol for Alaska, the homestate of Billy O. It has been taken from the flag of the State Alaska which also shows the Costelation and the Star on a blue background.
It took a long time to get the emblem approved, long were the discussions on which name of ISS crewmember we would use on the patch, this would also dependent on when we would launch. Several persons qualified and it became a discussion how we would solve that. Or should we leave that name in its entirely out ?? We have eventually decided that the name of the astronaut who would fly with us during the launch also would be on the patch. Now that it is certain that it is Sunni we have an official patch. Her surname, Williams, hangs below the patch to symbolise she will not be with us during fly back at the end of the mission.
| STS-116 payload patch |
The STS-116 payload or increment patch.
| Collecting STS-116 |
The R. Hunt patches