Official STS-6 Crew Patch/Insignia

S82-39531 (December 1982) --- This is the official insignia for space shuttle mission STS-6. The crew members for this mission are astronauts Paul J. Weitz, commander; Karol J. Bobko, pilot; F. Story Musgrave, mission specialist; and Donald H. Peterson, mission specialist. The sixth space shuttle flight is represented by the hexagonal shape of the insignia and the six stars, in the portrayed constellation Virgo. The sign Virgo is also symbolic of the first flight of the space shuttle Challenger. Depicted above the spacecraft?s open cargo bay is the combined Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) and a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. This is the first shuttle flight of the IUS rocket, which will carry the first TDRS to a geosynchronous orbit of 24,000 statute miles. The NASA insignia design for space shuttle flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the forms of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which is not anticipated, the change will be publicly announced. Photo credit: NASA