Artist-supplied caption:
The main shape of the patch is elliptical in tribute to Kepler's first law that all orbits are ellipses. Starting on the left, there is an astronaut on EVA. In reflections to the past (as borrowed from Al Beans Straightening Our Strips), he has the US Flag. As well, you see the reflection a tribute to the crews of Columbia (mu-g) and Challenger(apple). At the top of the patch is the Hubble Space Telescope. Without the shuttle, this wondrous tool would not have been possible. To the right is the International Space Station which the shuttle has been responsible for helping build. At the bottom is the earth signifying the people who help support this space program. In the center is the space shuttle, one of the most beautiful spacecrafts ever designed. Seventeen stars adorn the sky. The cluster of three to the left recognizes the Apollo 1 crew which came before the program but whose sacrifices allowed this program to happen. The remaining 14 stars represent the lives of the shuttle crewman who lost their lives for the conquest of space. Each of the stars appropriately is the same size and brightness. Lastly, the red vector from the NASA logo is subtly covered by the patch, and in the distance the moon is starting to rise, representing the future and hope for all mankind.
