Commemorative #BeAnAstronaut Patch

About the Commemorative #BeAnAstronaut Patch – Yuri’s Night Fundraiser

From December to February, 18,300 people, the largest number in history, applied to #BeAnAstronaut with NASA as part of the 2017 Astronaut Candidate class. To celebrate that fact and to honor the very first human in space, Yuri’s Night commissioned noted space patch graphic artist Tim Gagnon (http://www.kscartist.com) to design a special commemorative. The patches will be available in a limited “1st launch” window for $5 USD each (plus shipping) until April 30th with partial proceeds going to Yuri’s Night, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Even for those who didn’t apply to be a NASA Astronaut, these patches show support for the future of human spaceflight and the upcoming class of NASA astronauts. For those that did apply, this patch is “Critical Space Hardware” that applicants will want to have on their journeys to the cosmos.

About the Patch Design

The design shows a large number of people “reaching for the stars.” To illustrate that many are called though few are chosen, two hands reach out to grasp the silver astronaut pin awarded by a space suited astronaut. The Moon and Mars are visible in the sky beckoning us to explore the unknown. On the space suit arm we see the reflected image of the International Space Station (ISS) symbolically looking to the past. The Class of 2017 will be the 22nd (XXII) Astronaut Candidate Class for NASA. #BeAnAstronaut was the hashtag used on social media to enhance the excitement of the application process, which had a record breaking 18,300 applicants apply. Popular culture may have helped this application record breaking number as “The Martian” movie was released in October and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was released a few days after the call for applicants opened. “So you’re saying there’s a chance…” can be contributed to an adaption of Jim Carrey’s famous movie line as Lloyd Christmas. The final detail is that the shape of the patch is representative of the future human spacecraft capsules.

Orders are now closed.

Thanks for your interest in the #BeAnAstronaut Patch! We’ve had a record breaking fundraiser and we’re excited to keep you up to date on your purchase throughout the fulfillment process. Manufacturing and fulfillment may take up to six weeks. Check back for updates or email us at gear@yurisnight.net

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