Tom Stafford’s flown 5.5˝ x 5.5˝ swatch of Beta cloth bearing a 3.5˝ diameter emblem of the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, signed around the insignia in blue ink or ballpoint by Vance Brand, Valeri Kubasov, Alexei Leonov, and Thomas Stafford, who adds, “Flown on ASTP, July 1975.” Includes a signed letter of authenticity from Commander Stafford, in part: “This is to certify that the accompanying Apollo/Soyuz Test Project Beta Cloth Patch bearing the signatures of the American and Soviet crew was carried, by me, aboard our spacecraft during the first flight of international cooperation…During the ASTP Program, NASA’s policy allowed astronauts to keep disposable equipment or personal memorabilia from their mission as personal mementos, and I accordingly chose to include this beta cloth patch presentation among mine. The ASTP Beta cloth patch bearing the American and Soviet crew signatures…has remained a treasured part of my personal space collection for over thirty years, ever since NASA presented it back to me in 1975, shortly after my return to Earth.” In very fine condition. Accompanied by an ALS from Stafford, forwarding the Beta patch to the consignor. The ASTP Beta cloth patch remains both a historic piece of the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project’s rich history which ended the Cold War human space race, and a rare example of an astronaut flight-certified artifact from the first international joint manned space mission.
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