The final patch design for the Space Shuttle Program has been selected by a NASA committee from a pool of entries by NASA employees and contractors.

It beat out 84 other prospective patches to be the final commemorative token of the program that defined this generation of space travel.

"As the Space Shuttle Program has been an innovative, iconic gem in the history of American spaceflight, the overall shape of the patch and its faceted panels are reminiscent of a diamond or other fine jewel," wrote the winning artist, Blake Dumesnil a Hamilton Sundstrand employee, who works at Johnson Space Center.

The tradition of creating NASA program and mission patches was borrowed from the military. It began with the Gemini program of the 1960s.

"There's a long history of patches, so there's a very rich tradition of when someone says 'a mission patch' or 'a shuttle patch,' there's an idea that comes to mind," said Robert Pearlman, a space historian and creator of collectSPACE.com.

NASA selected 15 patches as finalists, which were then voted on by NASA employees and winnowed down by a committee. The People's Choice winner above was also the judge's selection.

Like the other finalists, it hewed very closely to the visual tradition established by NASA's original Shuttle patch (right) and the more than 130 that have come since. But, outside the top 15 selected by NASA, some would-be patch designers broke the mold and tried to create some innovative and, um ... different, patches. Below, are some of our favorite patches that didn't win. We present the work with the original descriptions by the artists (unnamed by NASA), along with awards for the grooviest, and the most macho and most Soviet patches, among others.



Wired Science Award: Grooviest

"This was a Journey that will be remember for a life time. The goals that was accomplish and the lost of brave people dedicate there lives with the shuttle program. For years of training putting together this greatest technology of wonder. The ISS and Hubble, both fine work. With these's they will have more great discovery out there more far beyond the universe. With is picture is the memories of our lost and hard work."



Wired Science Award: Machoest

"The patch depicts a strong American arm with American flag sleeve, placing a Space Shuttle into orbit. In the background is the Earth and the SRBs and External Tank. The International Space Station is also in the background. The patch is a simple depiction of America’s might provided by the most sophisticated spacecraft system built by man ... yet!"



Wired Science Award: Abstractest

"The design is to have all five shuttles launching (triangles) with exhaust flames billowing in red/white covering the left side of the patch under the shuttles. Showing the Space telescope (rectangle) and Space Station (the other object) against a blue sky. If there is enough room on the patch a part of the earth could be added to the right side. The astronauts' names can be added to the outside of the circle. But as this is the last fight you may not want to add the names."



Wired Science Award: Lovingest

"The dove represents peace.

The nucleus symbol represents science.

The stars represent the 5 shuttles.

The shuttle with wings represents the fallen astronauts.

The purple heart represents the astronaut’s bravery."



Wired Science Award: Microsoft Paintbrushiest

"• Major successes for Space Shuttle

• 3 symbols represent Spacelab science

• Hubble Telescope

• International Space Station

• Number of Flights – 139

• Name of all shuttles (test & operational)

• 1 star for each lost crew member

• History of shuttle 1977 – 2010

• Main Shuttle launch/landing point marked (KSC)

• Shuttle flying-off into history"



Wired Science Award: Sovietest

No description given.

See Also:

WiSci 2.0: Alexis Madrigal's Twitter, Google Reader feed, and green tech history research site; Wired Science on Twitter and Facebook.**