STS-46 Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, crew insignia

STS046-S-001 (May 1992) --- Designed by the crew members assigned to the flight, the crew patch depicts the space shuttle Atlantis in orbit around Earth, accompanied by major payloads: the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) and the Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1). In the depiction, EURECA has been activated and released, its antennae and solar arrays deployed, and it is about to start its ten-month scientific mission. The tethered satellite is linked to the orbiter by a 20-kilometer tether. The purple beam emanating from an electron generator in the payload bay spirals around Earth's magnetic field. The TSS mission will study the dynamics and electrodynamics of tethered systems in space and the physics of Earth's ionosphere. Visible on Earth's surface are the United States of America and the thirteen-member countries of the European Space Agency (ESA), in particular, Italy - partner with the United States in the TSS program. The American and Italian flags, as well as the ESA logo, further serve to illustrate the international character of STS-46. 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