Image:Sts-50-patch.png

The crew patch of STS-50, United States Microgravity Laboratory-One (USML-1), captures a Space Shuttle traveling above Earth while trailing the USML banner. The Orbiter is oriented vertically in a typical attitude for microgravity science and in this position represents the numeral 1 in the mission's abbreviated title. This will be the first in a series of USML flights where the primary objective is microgravity science, planned and executed through the combined efforts of our country's government, industry, and academia.

Visible in the orbiter's payload bay are the Spacelab module, and the extended duration Orbiter "cryo" pallet which is being flown for the first time on STS-50. The small g and Greek letter mu on the Spacelab module symbolize the microgravity environment being used for research in the areas of materials science and fluid physics. The large block letter U extends outside of the patch's perimeter, symbolizing the potential for the experiments on this flight to expand the current boundaries of knowledge in microgravity science.

The Stars and Stripes of the USML block letter and the U.S. landmass visible in the Earth scene below the Orbiter reflect the crew's pride in the United States origin of all on-board experiments.

NASA http://nix.larc.nasa.gov/info;jsessionid=1cbemfkfrje94?id=MSFC-9248932&orgid=11

01.01.1992

NASA

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