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STS-129 Mission Patch
For STS-129 the sun shines brightly on the International Space Station (ISS) above and the United States below, representing the bright future of U.S. human spaceflight.
The integrated shapes of the patch signify the two EXPRESS logistics carriers that will be delivered by STS-129. Vividly silhouetted by the sun, the space shuttle represents the orbiters' stellar performance for the U.S. space program. The space shuttle ascends on the astronaut symbol portrayed by the red, white and blue swoosh bounded by the gold halo. This symbol is worn with pride by this U.S. crew representing their country on STS-129. The names of the crew members are denoted on the outer band of the patch.
As STS-129 launches, the space shuttle is in its twilight years. This fact is juxtaposed by the 13 stars on the patch, symbolizing the crewmembers' children who are the future. The moon and Mars represent just how close humankind is to reaching further exploration of those heavenly bodies, and how the current space shuttle and ISS missions are laying the essential ground work for those future endeavors.
Image credit: NASA