STS-72 Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV-105), crew insignia

STS072-S-001 (May 1995) --- The crew patch of STS-72 depicts the space shuttle Endeavour and some of the payloads on the flight. The Japanese satellite, Space Flyer Unit (SFU) is shown in a free-flying configuration with the solar array panels deployed. The inner gold border of the patch represents the SFU's distinct octagonal shape. Endeavour will rendezvous with and retrieve SFU at an altitude of approximately 250 nautical miles. The Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology's (OAST) flyer satellite is shown just after release from the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). The OAST satellite will be deployed at an altitude of 165 nautical miles to fly free for two days gathering scientific data. The payload bay contains equipment for the secondary payloads - the Shuttle Laser Altimeter (SLA) and the Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Instrument (SSBUI). There are two spacewalks planned to test hardware for assembly of the International Space Station. The stars represent the hometowns of the crew members in the United States and Japan. 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