Gordon Cooper’s personally-owned and -worn blue jacket bearing an official NASA ‘meatball’ logo patch on the left breast and a Gemini 5 ‘Eight Days or Bust’ patch on the right breast. The original Land Mfg. Co. Flite Wear tag is sewn into the collar area. Expected wear and light soiling from use, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Cooper's wife, in part: "This authentic vintage Gemini V NASA 'Flite Wear' jacket…belonged to my husband L. Gordon Cooper. It was manufactured by Land Manufacturing Co. of Kansas and worn with pride by Gordo for many years."
The affixed ‘8 Days or Bust’ mission patch is considered one of the rarest and most highly sought after patches associated with the manned space program—with only a handful ever having been produced; an authentic flown example recently sold at auction for $7,500. Material from this early period of the space program is scarce, and as one of Cooper’s personal items representing his historic mission this jacket is a unique and wonderful piece.
