Human spaceflight is one of the most ambitious and inspiring endeavor ever undertaken. Since Yuri Gagarin became the first person to orbit the Earth in 1961, men and women from around the world have launched into space aboard a wide variety of spacecraft, representing not just their nations or agencies, but the spirit of exploration shared by all humanity. Throughout this journey, a unique visual tradition has emerged, the mission patch, a small emblem worn by astronauts and displayed on spacecraft, created to symbolize each individual mission’s goals, crew, and legacy.
The ebook brings together about 450 mission patches together with 25 space programs overviews, forming a comprehensive visual archive of human spaceflight missions from the dawn of the space age to the present day. From the early Vostok and Mercury missions, through the long programs of Apollo, Soyuz, and the Space Shuttle, and all the way to modern-day crewed flights by SpaceX, Roscosmos and the Chinese space agency, this collection captures the evolving story of space exploration through its symbolic art.
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Each patch tells a story. Some are minimalistic and abstract; others are richly detailed with spacecraft, celestial bodies, and the names of the crew. They represent technological milestones, international partnerships, personal dreams, and historical turning points. As you move through the pages of the book, you witness not only the progression of human spaceflight but also the changing design languages, cultural influences, and graphic styles that reflect the time and spirit of each mission.
Number of space programs /space agencies summaries: 25 (Vostok, Mercury, Voskhod, Gemini, Soyuz, Apollo, Salyut, Skylab, Space Shuttle (First Flights), Soyuz T, Soyuz TM, Space Shuttle (Operational Years), Mir, ESA, International Space Station, Soyuz TMA, Shenzhou, Space Shuttle (Final Flights), Soyuz TMA-M, Soyuz MS, Space X (Crew Dragon), Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin (New Shepard), Axiom, Boeing (Starliner)