Gemini 9A
The patch is in the shape of a shield, showing Gemini docked to
Agena, with a spacewalking astronaut whose umbilical traces out
the number 9.
In the course of events, the originally planned Agena target was
lost due to a failed launch; and the launch shroud on the replacement
ATDA (augmented target docking adapter) failed to deploy properly,
thwarting the docking attempt. Stafford described the sight of the
ATDA with its partially opened shroud as an "angry alligator". Cernan
later observed, "What a patch that would have made!"
While the mission designation was changed to Gemini-Titan IXA to
reflect this substitution and the corresponding change in mission
objectives, the patch was not updated -- in contrast to the revision
of the Gemini 6A patch under similar circumstances.
It is worth noting that this was the first mission flown by a
backup crew -- the prime crew of Charles A. Bassett II and Elliot
M. See having been killed in a plane crash the previous February.
There is no evidence that Bassett and See had worked on a patch design.
The patch was worn on the right breast.
It is interesting to note that the next time Stafford and Cernan
flew together -- on Apollo 10
-- the mission patch for that flight was again in the shape of a
shield. In fact, the whole design of the two patches is remarkably
similar.
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[ge09-aw1]
NASA photo ID: S66-28075
Taken: 4 Apr 1966
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[ge09-em1]
An embroidered Gemini 9 patch. Most embroidered version
of this patch have the crew names added across the middle
of the patch, or on an extension at the bottom of the patch.
This patch adheres closely to the design.
102mm w × 75mm h
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[ge09-em2]
A variant embroidered patch that, while not as faithful
to the design reference (the shape is altered, the design
elements smaller, and the Agena elongated), is very similar
to the patch actually worn by the Gemini 9A crew -- except
for the addition of the crew names. Patch authority John
Bisney believes that the original patches were manufactured
in this style, and that the tab containing the names was
trimmed off before being affixed to the crew pressure suits.
106mm w × 84mm h
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[ge09-em3]
Probably the version that was flown, but with the addition
of the tab carrying the crew names. Notice the vertical
elongation compared to [ge09-em2]; and also that the top
doesn't curve up as noticably at the sides.. This version
matches the design that was hung in the MOCR. Thanks to
Donnis Willis for this image.
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[ge09-em4]
The 2010 remake by AB Emblem. Since the desire was to recreate the flown version, this patch deviates from the artwork considerably, just as the flown patch did. Since the flown patch had no tab for the crew names, neither does this one.
104mm w × 73mm h
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NASA Photo ID 72-H-1503
A photo taken around the time of Apollo 17 shows Gene Cernan affixing an Apollo 17 patch to an engine nacelle of his T-38 aircraft.
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A detail from the photo to the left shows Cernan's jacket had a Gemini 9 patch that had the crew names on an elongated version of the patch without a tab. Note also the absence of a point on the bottom of the shield.
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This page copyright © 2000-2010 Eugene Dorr.
All rights reserved.
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