Pick a Patch: Polls Under Way to Select End-of-Shuttle Emblem

by Robert Z. Pearlman

Date: 12 January 2010 Time: 08:51 AM ET

NASA Selects Finalists for End-of-Shuttle Patch Contest

Three of the 15 finalist designs in NASA's space shuttle commemorative patch contest. To see all 15, see collectSPACE.com.
CREDIT: NASA/collectSPACE

NASA's space shuttle program held an in-house contest over the past few months to have its prior and present employees design a commemorative patch marking the orbiters' upcoming retirement scheduled for later this year.

Eighty-five submissions were offered by space program workers ranging from shuttle technicians to flight controllers to astronauts.

Shuttle program managers, serving as judges, recently chose their 15 favorite designs to take part in a "People's Choice" poll among NASA's employees. The judges will take into account the result of that vote when selecting the winning artwork, which will fly aboard STS-132, the final scheduled flight of space shuttle Atlantis.

The open-to-employees-only People's Choice poll runs from Jan. 11 through Jan. 29. After hearing the desire for a public vote, collectSPACE.com organized its own Fans' Choice poll. Though unofficial, the Fans' Choice will be open for the same dates as NASA's official poll to learn if the fans pick the same design as the employees.

NASA’s spaces shuttle program is slated to end in the fall after five final missions to complete the International Space Station. The agency’s next shuttle flight – the STS-130 mission of Endeavour – is set to launch on Feb. 7.

View and vote now on the "Top 15" space shuttle commemorative patches at collectSPACE.com.

Just 5 Missions Left for NASA's Space Shuttles
Video Show - Riding the Space Shuttle
The Strangest Moments in Space Launch History