STS-86 Crew Patch

STS086-S-001 (May 1997) --- This is the crew patch for STS-86, the seventh Shuttle-Mir docking mission, symbolized by seven stars. The international crew includes astronauts from the United States, Russia and France. The flags of these nations are incorporated in the rays of the astronaut logo. The rays of light streaking across the sky depict the orbital tracks of the two spacecraft as they prepare to dock. During the flight, an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut will perform a extravehicular activity (EVA). The mercator projection of Earth illustrates the global cooperative nature of the flight. 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