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The STS-51C crew wore the standard AB Emblem embroidered mission emblems on their flight suits and on their in-flight clothing during the mission. However, for the crew portrait photo (which was taken some months prior to the flight) they wore embroidered patches with significantly wider tabs at the bottom, as shown on the right.

These "wide-tab" patches may have been pre-production samples from AB Emblem and would likely be very difficult to find today.

Embroidered Mission Patches

Patch id:

STS-51C AB Emblem patch

Worn by crew? Yes.
Flown? Yes.
Manufacturer: AB Emblem
Distribution: Sold as souvenirs.
Dimensions: 4¼" / 108mm across (wing tip to wing tip)
Type: Fully embroidered. Stitched border with cut edge.
Scarcity: Common.
Value: Minimal value.
Notes: The AB Emblem patch was the version used by the crew during the mission. The patch has a separate name tab sewn on at the bottom.
Patch id:

STS-51C Lion Brothers patch

Worn by crew? No.
Flown? No.
Manufacturer: Lion Brothers
Distribution: Was available commercially.
Dimensions: 4" / 100mm across (wing tip to wing tip)
Type: Fully embroidered. Stitched border with cut edge.
Scarcity: Scarce.
Value: Examples sell for around $15-$30.
Notes: The Lion Brothers STS-51C mission patch only exists with a vacuum-sealed plastic backing. It looks similar to the Cape Kennedy Medals design but the colors are different, the Lion Brothers version has the gold border extended out around the eagle's wing tips and the Shuttle in the center of the Lion Brothers version has a distinctive band of thick grey thread running along its top edge.
Patch id:

STS-51C Swissartex patch

Worn by crew? No.
Flown? No.
Manufacturer: Swissartex Emblem Inc.
Distribution: Sold as souvenirs.
Dimensions: Unknown
Type: Unknown
Scarcity: Uncommon.
Value: Vintage examples sell for $10-$15.
Notes: The vintage version of the Swissartex STS-51C mission patch exists both with a waxy plastic backing and with a vacuum sealed clear plastic coating on the reverse. The fronts of the two versions are virtually identical.
The patch has the wing tips of the eagle enclosed in the outer border.
Patch id:

STS-51C Cape Kennedy Medals patch

Worn by crew? No.
Flown? No.
Manufacturer: Cape Kennedy Medals
Distribution: Unknown.
Dimensions: 4⅛" / 105mm across
Type: Partially embroidered on velvet. Stithed border with cut edge.
Scarcity: Uncommon.
Value: Unknown.
Notes: The Cape Kennedy Medals version of the patch is a one piece patch with a cut edge.
Footnotes
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