Manufacturer: AB Emblem.
Dimensions: 12.1 cm.
Program: Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
Flown Status: unflown.
Description:
This is the regular AB Emblem patch which can be distinguished from the 'crew' version by the absence of a gap between the blue and red thread blocks surrounding the stars and the outer red border. Vintage versions of these patches with bare cloth backs are quite rare to find, as the ASTP flight occurred in 1975, and AB Emblem transitioned to coated backs just a few years later in the late 70s.
It is important to note that there are noticeable variations in certain embroidery details of AB's vintage Apollo-Soyuz patches. Some feature an orange-thread sun with a gold center, while others have the reverse color scheme. Additionally, the color fill areas on the front of the command module may vary, with some patches using dark blue thread above pale blue and others following the opposite arrangement. These differences likely stem from variations between production runs, as the patches are otherwise too similar to be attributed to different manufacturers.
The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) was a joint space mission conducted by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1975. It marked the first time that American and Soviet spacecraft docked in space. The mission aimed to test the compatibility and procedures for future international space missions.
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