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Shuttle lifts-off with 7 crew, 6000 mementos (STS-121 OFK)
July 4, 2006 — Space shuttle Discovery launched the seven-person crew of STS-121 to orbit today (July 4), and with them, each took personal items to make their 12-days in space (or five months, as in the case of the soon-to-be space station resident on-board) a bit more like their life back on Earth.
The mission, NASA's 115th to be launched by the shuttle and the second test flight to follow the Columbia accident in 2003, carries in addition to the crew, 5,100 pounds of supplies and equipment for the International Space Station and new hardware to test shuttle safety techniques and perform repairs to the outpost. Stowed aboard Discovery's middeck are also thousands of fruit flies for an experiment dedicated to understanding the human immune system.
Inside a separate locker is the mission's Official Flight Kit, a collection of over 6,400 mementos being flown on behalf of NASA, its partner contractors and countries, and the organizations that have supported the crew of STS-121.
"I am carrying [inside the Official Flight Kit] a banner from the Merchant Marine Academy, [and] I believe, a hat from there," pilot Mark Kelly told collectSPACE during a series of interviews conducted several weeks earlier with the crew. "That's where I went to school as an undergrad. I am carrying stuff for them."
Separate from the Official Flight Kit (OFK), each crew member can carry a "personal preference kit," a small package of memorabilia for family and friends that NASA limits to 20 items and 1.5 pounds each.
"Personally, [I am carrying] stuff for my kids," said Kelly. "Some charms and stuff [for] my parents, my girlfriend, that sort of thing... mostly jewelry."
For their schools, civic groups and other groups, the crew members are each alocated a few items in the OFK.
"Some of the stuff actually belongs to [STS-121 mission specialist] Piers [Sellers]. "If you see the United Kingdom stuff in there, its not me. I gave him some of my spots," explained Kelly.
Sellers, who was born in the United Kingdom but is a U.S. citizen, has made local-U.K. headlines leading up to the today's launch for taking with him flags from schools in England and Scotland.
"I'm taking a few little things for family and friends, and a few things for the training team, the guys who spent years preparing us for this mission and training us. And a few flags and emblems for other organizations. Nothing much, nothing that you couldn't fit into a shoebox," Sellers told collectSPACE.
Collectors on the crew
Though the two women on the crew consider themselves collectors, neither is carrying items from their hobbies.
"I have a large collection of rubber stamps," described first-time mission specialist Lisa Nowak. "I like to make cards with them and sometimes just play with them. My little girls recently found out there are all kinds artwork they can create with them, not necessarily all on paper."
Asked if she was therefore flying a rubber stamp with her to space, Nowak admitted to overlooking that possibility.
"That would have been a good thing! I didn't put down that on my list of things, but no I am not taking one."
Instead, Nowak is taking with her a more personal item.
"My grandmother died a few years ago at age almost 100, and one of the special presents she left to me was her very beautiful engagement ring. I am taking that with me. That's probably one of the most treasured items that's going up there," she said.
Nowak's fellow female crewmate also collects stamps but of a different kind: the banned-from-flight postal variety.
"We are not allowed to bring any stamps to space, much to my dismay," said mission specialist Stephanie Wilson.
Federal regulations for the personal preference kits (PPK) and OFK specifically preclude "items such as philatelic materials and coins that, by their nature lend themselves to exploitation by the recipients."
Exploitation however, is far from the reason why Wilson collects stamps.
"I started collecting stamps pretty young, I believe when I was eight," described Wilson. "I mostly collect stamps off letters that I receive. I usually don't go out and purchase stamps but I like to be able to tell a story about a stamp: it came from this individual, on this card."
"So, its probably not worth very much," continued Wilson, "but its more sentimental than probably a pristine stamp collection. Its interesting to me to see the designs of the different stamps from the various countries."
Her stamp remaining on Earth, Wilson chose other items special to her, including a bible.
"I have a few personal items for family members. From the Buffalo Solider Museum that is here in Houston, I am flying a flag commonly flown by one of the regiments of the Buffalo Soliders," she said.
Showing school spirit
Wilson is also carrying items from her graduate school, the University of Texas, which is the subject of a good natured rivalry with mission specialist and Texas A&M University alum Michael Fossum.
Said Wilson, "We both try to have a lot of paraphernalia from our schools. In general, when [Mike's] performing a run in our pool in the Neutral Bouyancy Laboratory, he has a bandana that has Texas A&M on it and so for different events, we'll have different mementos or memorabilia from our schools.
"I think the pictures on orbit will be interesting as we bring out the various memorabilia. I am hoping that none of mine will be missing and I am sure he's hoping none of his will be missing as well," Wilson said.
Indeed, Fossum says he hopes that both his, and more importantly, Wilson's mementos stay in their respective control.
"I certainly have my mementos that I have tucked away and I know she does, too," Fossum told collectSPACE. "I suspect we might both see a little of each others.
"My biggest fear is I'll be getting ready to go out the door for my spacewalk, and she's one of the people that will actually be helping me get into the suit and get to get prepared, and that she's going to do something like put a [University of Texas] Longhorn sticker on my forehead," joked Fossum. "I'll never live it down."
Fossum will 'be prepared' for anything Wilson plans, as obtaining the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts taught him. Still an active scout leader, he is flying badges that both he and his son earned.
"I am carrying a couple of [boy scout] uniform parts with me into space. I'm carrying actually my Eagle pin from when I earned my Eagle as a scout. I'm carrying one that my older son earned about a year ago. I am carrying it for him," Fossum told collectSPACE.
Digital deliveries
In addition to the tangible trinkets, the crew is also taking electronic files that are personal to them.
"We actually carry iPods now [so] I had my son put a lot of [music] on there for me," Commander Steven Lindsey said. "I'm not really exactly sure what I have on there. He promises that it is music that I am going to like but I've heard some of the stuff he listens to and I'm not sure I will. But fortunately, I hardly have any time to listen to it."
For European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter, the only STS-121 crewmember who will remain on the space station after Discovery undocks, electronic archives mean the ability to carry more for his five month mission than if he had been limited to hard copies.
"I also had the chance to take some personal items, most of it in electronic format. That is, by the way, also one of the big differences to my stay on-board the Russian space station Mir," Reiter told collectSPACE. "The music I had to record on minidiscs and I had to take it up. Nowadays, everything can be put in electronic form: music, electronic books, pictures of the family."
"And of course, I also take also some paper pictures, some patches from my military flying squadron, from my university, from my hometown with me."
In fact, most of Reiter's personal mementos weren't his to choose.
"My family prepared a little surprise packet for me. Of course I don't know yet what is in it, it's already stowed, so as soon as we get on orbit and it is unpacked, it will be quite interesting to see what they were thinking of and what they provided there." |
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Space shuttle Discovery lifts off from Kennedy Space Center on July 4, 2006, with the crew of mission STS-121. (collectSPACE) |
The STS-121 Official Flight Kit Manifest
The following is the STS-121 Official Flight Kit manifest, as provided by NASA. Inventory numbers that are missing indicate items that were removed prior to launch.
No.
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Description
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Sponsor/Purpose
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1.
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625 STS-121 Crew Patches
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Agency Presentation
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2.
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600 Small United States Flags
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Agency Presentation
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3.
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3 Sets U.S. States & Territories Flags
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Agency Presentation
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4.
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3 Sets United Nations Members Flags
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Agency Presentation
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5.
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20 Small Texas Flags
20 Small NASA Flags
5 NASA Lapel Pins
5 NASA Patches
2 Gold Space Station Lapel Pins
2 Texas Lapel Pins
5 U.S.~Italy Friendship Pins
5 U.S.~Germany Friendship Pins
3 Large JSC Medallions
8 Small JSC Medallions
1 Large Pewter NASA Medallion
1 Large Bronze NASA Medallion
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Agency Presentation
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6.
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Small Flags of the Following States:
20 California
10 Nebraska
20 Texas
10 New Jersey
10 South Dakota
20 Maryland
10 Colorado
10 Massachusetts
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Agency Presentation
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7.
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Small Flags of the Following Countries:
100 Italy
100 Germany
20 United Kingdom
10 Ireland
2 Jamaica
2 Puerto Rico
2 United Nations
20 China
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Agency Presentation
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8.
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Small Military Flags:
20 U.S. Air Force
20 U.S. Navy
20 U.S. Marine Corps
10 U.S. Army
10 U.S. Coast Guard
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Agency Presentation
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9.
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10 Small United States Flags
10 Small Alabama State Flags
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Marshall Space Flight Center Presentation
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10.
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2 Small United States Flags
10 Gold Medallions
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Kennedy Space Center Presentation
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11.
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10 Small Louisiana State Flags
10 Small Mississippi State Flags
5 Small NASA Flags
5 Small United States Flags
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Stennis Space Center Presentation
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12.
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200 Silver Snoopy Pins
100 Small Discovery Flags
200 Small ISS Flags
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Space Flight Awareness Presentation
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13.
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50 EVA Patches
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Agency Presentation
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14.
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50 MOD Patches
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Agency Presentation
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15.
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25 Center Operations Embroidered Patches
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Agency Presentation
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16.
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90 Small United States Flags
25 DDMS Patches
20 MAUI Payload Experiment Patches
3 1st Range Ops Medallions
6 Military Insignia
3 Navy Patches
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DoD Presentation
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17.
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120 Small Gold and White Longhorn Pins
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Agency Presentation
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18.
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8 Medium Mars Flags
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Agency Presentation
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19.
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School T-Shirt
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John H. Guyer High School, Denton, TX
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Items 20 through 84 are manifested at the request of the STS-121 crewmembers.
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20.
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Blue and Orange Honors Sash
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University of Texas at San Antonio, TX
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21.
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Band T-Shirt
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Clear Brook High School, Friendswood, TX
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22.
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Uniform Top
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Winter Guard, Friendswood, TX
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23.
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Silver Air Force Medallion
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Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, OH
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24.
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Polo Shirt
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University of Houston, Houston, TX
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25.
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Nebraska Flag
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Burwell Senior Citizens Center, Burwell, NE
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26.
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Neckerchief
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Boy Scout Troup 161, Temple City, CA
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27.
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United States Flag
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1st Church of the Nazarene, Pasadena, CA
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28.
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United States Flag
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Abraham Lincoln Traditional School, Phoenix, AZ
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29.
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Society Flag
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British Interplanetary Society, London, England
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30.
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Red Baseball Cap
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Tower of London, London, England
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31.
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ISLSCP Logo
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International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project, Greenbelt, MD
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32.
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Round Gold Ingot
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United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY
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33.
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Gold Bar
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U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Assoc., Kings Point, NY
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34.
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Gold Bar
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U.S. Merchant Marine Regiment of Midshipman, Kings Point, NY
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35.
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Signed Class T-Shirt
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Gold HIll School, Fullerton, CA
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36.
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|
Corsican Flag
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|
City of Ajaccio, Corsica, France
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37.
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Committee Banner
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National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, New York, NY
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38.
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|
Air Force Patch
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|
Air Force Academy Squadron 11, Colorado Springs, CO
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39.
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Aeronautical Systems Center Commander Medallion
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Air Force Material Command/Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson
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40.
|
|
University Flag
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|
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
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41.
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Cadet Flag
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Corp of Cadets, College Station, TX
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42.
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Philmont Staff Patch
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Philmont Boy Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM
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43.
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Council Identification Patch
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Rio Grande Council of Boy Scouts, Harlingen, TX
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44.
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Lodge Pocket Flap Patch
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Wewanoma Boy Scout Lodge, Harlingen, TX
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45.
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Council Identification Patch
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Sam Houston Area Boy Scouts, Houston, TX
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46.
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|
Large Boy Scout Patch
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|
Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America, Irving, TX
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47.
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|
Nickel Bar
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Air Force Academy Association of Graduates, Colorado Springs, CO
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|
48.
|
|
School Flag
|
|
McAllen High School, McAllen, TX
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49.
|
|
University Flag
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|
Rice University, Houston, TX
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|
50.
|
|
White Quilt/Red Backing
|
|
Stearns Elementary School, Pittsfield, MA
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|
51.
|
|
White and Green School Pennant
|
|
Crosby Elementary School, Pittsfield, MA
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|
52.
|
|
Green School Banner
|
|
Taconic High School, Pittsfield, MA
|
|
53.
|
|
Crimson Banner
|
|
Harvard University Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge
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54.
|
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White Banner
|
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University of Texas Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Austin, TX
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|
55.
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STS-121 Silver Medallion
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Harvard University Atmospheric Research Project, Boston, MA
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|
56.
|
|
Company Flag
|
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Buffalo Soliders National Museum, Houston, TX
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|
57.
|
|
United States Flag
|
|
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Denver, CO
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|
58.
|
|
Red Baseball Cap
|
|
National Brotherhood of Skiers, Pasadena, CA
|
|
59.
|
|
Photo of Museum
|
|
The Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA
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|
60.
|
|
Class of '85 Flag
|
|
United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
|
|
61.
|
|
Patch
|
|
Navy Aerospace Engineering Corp., Washington, DC
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|
62.
|
|
Coozie
|
|
Tilden Middle School, Rockville, MD
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|
63.
|
|
Silver Pin with Statue of Liberty Face
|
|
National Organization of Italian American Women, New York, NY
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|
64.
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|
Blue School Lanyard
|
|
Luxmanor ELementary School, Rockville, MD
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|
65.
|
|
Blue School Patch with Eagle
|
|
United States Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, MD
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|
66.
|
|
Gold Pin with Simulated Diamonds and Emeralds
|
|
Saint Elizabeth Church, Houston, Texas
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|
67.
|
|
Gold Pin with Purple Violet
|
|
African Violet Society, Beaumont, TX
|
|
68.
|
|
Round Space Patch
|
|
Boy Scouts of America, Irving, TX
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|
69.
|
|
Rectangular Space Patch
|
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Girl Scouts of America, Irving, TX
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|
70.
|
|
Green Flag
|
|
House of Commons, London, England
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|
71.
|
|
Red Flag
|
|
House of Lords, London, England
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|
72.
|
|
Green and White University Flag
|
|
Leeds University, Leeds, United Kingdom
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73.
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|
Climbing Carabiner (Metal Ring)
|
|
Ed Tom Foundation, Houston, TX
|
|
74.
|
|
Flag
|
|
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Houston, TX
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|
75.
|
|
Flag on Small Staff
|
|
Blue Peter British Children's Program, London, England
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|
76.
|
|
Foundation Flag
|
|
Make-A-Wish Foundation, Houston, TX
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|
77.
|
|
2004 Class Picture
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|
Cranbrook School, Kent, United Kingdom
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|
78.
|
|
School Patch
|
|
Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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|
79.
|
|
Large Silver Royal Society Medallion
|
|
The Royal Society, London, England (UK National Academy of Science)
|
|
80.
|
|
Gold Astronaut Pin
|
|
Agency Presentation
|
|
81.
|
|
Gold Astronaut Pin
|
|
Agency Presentation
|
|
82.
|
|
Gold Astronaut Pin
|
|
Agency Presentation
|
|
83.
|
|
Gold Astronaut Pin
|
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Agency Presentation
|
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84.
|
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Gold Air Force Wings
|
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Agency Presentation
|
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Items 85 through 94 are manifested at the request of the STS-121 payload customers.
|
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85.
|
|
150 ULF 1.1 Cloth Patches
200 ULF 1.1 Decals
200 ULF 1.1 Pins
25 Increment 13 Pins
|
|
ULF 1.1 Payload Customer Presentation
|
|
86.
|
|
200 FPMU Decals
48 Engineering Support Contract Patches
100 FIT Placards
50 POEMS Placards
45 Space Life Sciences Lab Patches
49 ISS Research and Technology Patches
|
|
JSC ISS Payloads Customer Presentation
|
|
87.
|
|
100 STS-121 Crew Patches
15 SEM Satchel Placards
|
|
SPACEHAB Presentation
|
|
89.
|
|
100 Italian-ALTEC Pennants
|
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Italian Space Agency (ASI) Presentation
|
|
90.
|
|
200 LMC Decals
50 LMC Patches
50 LMC Pins
|
|
Goddard Space Flight Center LMC Presentation
|
|
91.
|
|
100 DTO 849 Pins
50 DTO 851 Patches
30 DTO 851 Patches
200 DTO 848 Decals
2 RCC Repair Decals/1 Pennant
200 DTO 848 Patches
|
|
Customer DTO Presentation
|
|
92.
|
|
250 Decals
150 Patches
|
|
Wireless Instrumentation System Presentation
|
|
93.
|
|
300 Sheets SSP Bookmarks
|
|
Space Shuttle Program Presentation
|
|
94.
|
|
50 MAUI Patches
|
|
DoD Presentation Items
|
|
95.
|
|
1 Dominican Republic Flag
|
|
Agency Presentation
|
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STS-121 OFK Addendum: Expedition 13 Crewmember Thomas Reiter (Up on STS-121 — Over to ISS — Down on STS or Soyuz)
Expedition 13 — ISS Official Flight Kit (OFK)
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1.
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Flag
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City of Neu Isenburg, Germany
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2.
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Rock
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Der Weg Der Steine Project (The Journey of the Rock), Neu Isenburg
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3.
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Patch
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Astrolab - ESA
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4.
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Patch
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European Astronaut Centre
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5.
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Patch
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European Space Agency (ESA)
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6.
|
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Flag
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ESA - DLR (German Space Agency)
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7.
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Flag
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European Union
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