Flown embroidered Gemini 5 mission patch, 4″ in diameter, picturing a Conestoga wagon with the motto “8 Days or Bust.” Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Charles Conrad which reads, in part: “This patch flew aboard Gemini V during the period of 21 August to 29 August 1965…The Administrator of NASA, Mr. James E. Webb, felt that if one objective of the flight was not achieved, the inscription, ‘Eight Days or Bust,’ would not have been appropriate. The decision was made so late that he only allowed the suit patches to be flown with canvas sewn over the wagon cover so as to remove the words.” Letter is also signed by Gordon Cooper, Gemini 5 Command Pilot. In fine condition. This patch was the first US manned space flight to feature an astronaut crew-designed mission cloth patch. All of the previous six Mercury and prior two Gemini space flights never had a crew patch designed by a crew, therefore, none were flown.
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