STS-78 was the fifth Life and Microgravity Spacelab Mission (LMS) and involved space shuttle Columbia, five NASA astronauts and two international astronauts – Jean-Jacques Favier (CNES) and Robert Thirsk (CSA).
NASA’s official mission patch for STS-78 uses the art of North America’s northwest coast Indians. The Canadian Space Agency also produced its own mission patch to commemorate Bob Thirks’s first spaceflight, during which he participated in 41 life and microgravity experiments.
This mission also flew a package of Canola seeds for Canolab, an educational activity in which Canadian students compared the growth of space-flown and ground control seeds.
Mission Name: STS-78
Mission Date: 20 June 1996
Space Agency: NASA
Symbolism:
Credits: NASA/ESA
Mission Name: STS-78
Mission Date: 20 June 1996
Space Agency: CSA
Designer: Tsimshian artist Bill Helin of Parksville, BC.
Symbolism:
The patch design showcases the art and mythology of Canada’s West Coast native cultures.
The majestic eagle represents the power of Columbia as the space shuttle overcomes Earth’s gravity and enters the dark void of space and the domain of the Sun Chief, where the pulsating sun represents Columbia’s 16 life sciences experiments.
The eagle’s chest contains a stylised representation of the six paired experiment racks and the aft end cone of the Spacelab module. The extended duration orbiter pallet is represented by an ovoid within the eagle’s abdomen, with the legs and claws forming the shape of the orbital manoeuvring system (OMS) engines. The crystal seen within the Spacelab module represents the 27 microgravity sciences investigations.
The feathers of the outstretched wings, traditionally symbolic of peace amongst West Coast natives, represent the
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