Although not generally worn by the astronauts at the time of the Gemini and Apollo missions the patches created for each NASA crewed space project are obviously collectible in their own right. Likewise, the special patch created for the Mission Control team in 1973.
Below I try to list all the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Mission Control vintage patch versions identified to-date.
This patch, with its distinctive red, white and blue border, forms part of a set of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo project patches produced by an unknown manufacturer. It is not clear whether it was actually produced at the time of the Mercury program and there is no evidence that this patch was worn by the Mercury astronauts or NASA personnel.
Space patch expert John Bisney has noted that he believes these patches were produced for Boy Scouts of America.
This souvenir patch was produced by Flint Model Supply, probably in the late 1960s to early 1970s.
This rare and sought-after vintage version of the Gemini project patch has a blue background as opposed to the black of the more common versions.
This is a high quality replica of the exceptionally rare blue backgroun Gemini project patch, produced for me by AB Emblem in mid 2012.
My original run of these patches is sold out, but you can now buy a re-issue direct from A-B Emblem.
This is apparently a variant of the rare blue background Gemini project patch. The lettering is somewhat bolder, although the apparent color difference with the above version may be just a question of lighting or fading due to uv exposure.
Although originally offered alongside the poorly-regarded 3" souvenir versions of the Gemini mission patches, this AB Emblem Gemini project patch is a good representation of the program logo. Since it is fairly scarce in vintage bare cloth back form it is quite collectible.
Very similar to the AB Emblem version of the patch, the Dallas Cap & Emblem version can be identified by the fact that the extra-wide "N" in the "GEMINI" lettering and the fact that the final "I" only just extends past the base of the symbol above.
Although similar in appearance to the other black background Gemini project patches this version has a selvedged border, indicating a different manufacturer. From the front it can be identified by the larger NASA text which has more marker serifs, and by the pale yellow thread of the Gemini symbol which has more curved vertical components.
Although I've not seen any evidence of this unusual Gemini project patch ever having been used by NASA employees it is uncommon and therefore of some interest to collectors. The merrowed border thread has apparently been dyed to produce a red, white and blue effect. It forms part of a set of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo project patches and was thus likely produced in the Apollo era.
Space patch expert John Bisney has noted that he believes these patches were produced for Boy Scouts of America.
Another black background Gemini project patch, but this one does not include the "NASA" text above the Gemini symbol making it more similar in appearance to the blue background version. The only example noted thus far was part of Deke Slayton's collection..
This is the AB Emblem 3" souvenir patch of the Apollo project insignia.
This Apollo project patch, formerly identified as ASPUNK2, was apparently made by Dallas Cap & Emblem.
Among the notable differences from the AB version on the right are the distinctive NASA text with the "NA" touching the inner white border and a very small "S", the shape of the white 'hook' extending to the upper right of the Earth, and the shape of the stars forming the bar of the large central "A".
This version of the Apollo project insignia patch seems to match that worn by Bill Anders on a flight jacket in this image taken during Apollo 8 training in 1968.
This is the AB Emblem 7¾" diameter version of the Apollo project insignia.
This white bordered variant of the Dallas Cap & Emblem Apollo project patch features on the cover a vintage brochure from the company, although I have not seen an example on the market to-date.
This 3" patch for the Apollo project has a stylized moon as the background.
At first glance this 4" patch for the Apollo project could be mistaken for an unfinished example of the 3" patch above, waiting to be trimmed-down and have a merrowed-edge applied. However, the extended black border seems to be a deliberate part of this design and the addition of blue thread in the stars and left edge of the moon also mark it out as a distinct design.
This patch, with its distinctive red, white and blue border, forms part of a set of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo project patches produced by an unknown manufacturer.
Space patch expert John Bisney has noted that he believes these patches were produced for Boy Scouts of America.
The AB Emblem Skylab Project patch has a pale green border.
The Lion Brothers Skylab Project patch does not have a hallmark but has a different color border to the AB version. Note that a rare plastic backed prototype version of this patch exists.
This variant of the AB Emblem 4" patch was identified by Liem Bahneman. The pale blue fill
stitching on the vertical cylinder in the center of the patch (on the solar observatory) is more
detailed in theis version, with some attempt to show individual panels around it. On the regular
version the whole area is just filled with smooth dense stitching.
Perhaps more obviously, the fill on the top of this part, at the center of the four solar panels,
is pale blue on the variant but white on the regular version.
Finally, the USA lettering in the border of the variant version is significantly smaller.
It's not clear what proportion of Skylab project patches are variants but it seems that both were produced
at around the same time as examples of both versions have been seen in $1.25 priced original packaging.
This patch appears to be a distinct varaint of the Lion Brothers Skylab Project patch. It differs from the regular version in the use of purple thread in the CSM engine bell at lower left, and perhaps more significantly in the use of a simple horizontal pattern of fill thread in the outer border where the regular version has a radial fill pattern. Note that the pattern of long anchor threads on the back is identical in the two versions.
An example was sold in 2017 from the collection of astronaut Karol Bobko, who worked on the Skylab support SMEAT program.
14 examples of this patch surfaced in early 2013 and a Lion Brothers quality control slip that accompanied the patches identified them as part of a batch of 25, although obviously this doesn't mean that only 25 were produced.
One of the 14 patches, scan here, showed a couple of distinct differences from the others, with the purple thread missing and the mid-blue fill on the Earth replaced by a very pale blue shade. It seems likely this is an error patch rather than a distinct variant.
This Skylab Project patch with a beige border may have been produced by Hallmark Emblems of Tampa, FLA.
This is one of several small souvenir versions (generally referred to as 3" versions) of the Skylab project patch.
This patch is an oversize (8") version of the Lion Brothers Skylab Project Patch. It appears to have a thin plastic coating on the reverse, perhaps similar to the experimental coating seen on a few Apollo 17 patches. Note that the text embroidered on the arm of the lateral solar panel reads "UNITED ST.."
This vintage patch features another design for the Skylab Project. It exists in two sizes - this one and the larger version on the right.
This vintage patch features the same design for the Skylab Project as SLPUNK3, but this version is sized to be worn on the back of overalls.
This vintage patch uses an alternative version of the Skylab project logo. It is sometimes attributed to Lion Brothers but the lack of a selvedged finish on the border seems to imply this is from a different manufacturer, possibly Cape Kennedy Medals.
The Mission Control insignia was commissioned by Gene Kranz and designed by artist Bob McCall in 1973. A bare cloth back embroidered patch was produced by AB Emblem at around this time, likely produced just for NASA rather than for resale.
During the Shuttle era the design was modified to refer to the broader "Mission Operations" rather than "Mission Control". Note that modern replicas of the original design exist, one of which is shown on the right.
This modern commemorative replica (a limited run of 200 produced by Space Boosters) is easily distinguished from the original.
The "P. I." on this patch likely refers to the Principal Investigators - NASA's term for the scientists who work
on different aspects of space science on each project. This was almost certainly an unofficial patch produced
by one of the Apollo P. I.s on their own initiative.
Very few examples have been seen, but six were offered in 2012 from one seller who had no background information on their origin.
NASA's Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA) were used to track and relay telemetry from a spacecraft to the ground when it was out of range of any fixed ground stations. NASA used an extensive array of ground stations to track and communicate with orbiting spacecraft, supported by tracking ships which could be moved into some ocean areas. However, the coverage provided by these ground-based tracking stations left considerable gaps.
For the Apollo project a fleet of 8 C-135 aircraft were modified to provide a flexible airborne answer to this problem. The resulting EC-135N Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA) provided spacecraft tracking, and telemetry/voice relay and recording capability for the Apollo lunar missions.
One of the ARIA officers during the Apollo era, Captain David J. Dunn, created an unofficial patch for the project in late 1970. He based the patch design on the existing Apollo project patch and had around 400 examples produced, possibly by AB Emblem.
According to Dunn these patches were very popular with the ARIA Electronics Technicians and he believes most of the patches were probably sewn to flight suits at the time. Most of these flight suits were replaced by NOMEX versions in around 1971, at which point most of the original patches would have been lost. Dunn only retains one unused example today along with one example sewn to an original flight suit which he managed to save from destruction.
Looking at the Apollo ARIA patches that have surfaced at auction over the last few years, most have appeared in pairs with one grey example and one blue. Capt. Dunn has confirmed that he never produced (or saw) any blue versions of this patch during his time at ARIA and close examination of these grey examples shows distinct differences with his 1970 originals.
Although my initial thought was that these later versions were likely reproductions the source of my example stated that it was acquired at a surplus store in around 1980 and examining this example in detail showed that it was indeed consistent with a vintage patch from the 1970s. Since Capt. Dunn left the ARIA program in 1972 it seems possible that a member of one of the later ARIA crews covering the Skylab and ASTP missions of 1973 to 1975 may have had a batch of these grey and blue ARIA patches produced during this period.
You can read more about Capt. Dunn's ARIA involvement here with more coverage of ARIA 4's role in the Apollo 13 reentry here. Finally, there's an extensive site on ARIA in general called FlyAria.
This is the vintage Apollo ARIA patch produced by Capt. David J. Dunn in late 1970 and distributed to ARIA crew members at the time. All other designs shown here are believed to be later versions.
Although the later grey versions are very close to the orginal design there are a few key differences:
This patch appears to be a later version of the original Apollo ARIA patch. These tend to appear in pairs along with a blue version as shown below.
As mentioned in the introduction above this may be a version produced after the Apollo moon landings, in the 1973-1975 Skylab to ASTP phase.
The creator of the original Apollo ARIA patch from 1970 did not create any blue version of the patch. As mentioned in the introduction it seems possible that this blue patch and the grey version shown above may have been produced around the time of the Skylab and ASTP missions, between 1973 and 1975.
Note that an example sold in 2006 at an Aurora space auction ( see image) had a clear black border around the moon on the left of the patch (like the grey versions), whilst the example shown above does not have this feature. It's not clear whether this represents a different version of the patch.
[1] Mercury Program multi-colored border [MERUNK1] patch sales:
eBay item no. 170691929061 Sep 11, 2011 sold at $122.50
eBay item no. 270838189398 Oct 28, 2011 sold at $42.99
eBay item no. 200689232042 Dec 18, 2011 sold at $38.51
eBay item no. 120832362218 Dec 24, 2011 sold at $43.01
eBay item no. 251190371021 Dec 2, 2012 sold at $50.27 [with GTPUNK3]
eBay item no. 160989449894 Mar 18, 2013 sold at $113.61
eBay item no. 181106169696 Mar 22, 2013 sold at $39.99
eBay item no. 151028083744 May 14, 2013 sold at $46.67 ($140 for Mercury/Gemini/Apollo set)
eBay item no. 151052541341 Jun 2, 2013 sold at $32.79 ($98.37 for Mercury/Gemini/Apollo set)
eBay item no. 140988543731 Jun 3, 2013 sold at $41.01
eBay item no. 321206131311 Sep 18, 2013 sold at $22.50 (with other patches)
eBay item no. 231056088074 Sep 23, 2013 sold at $45.00
eBay item no. 251740064395 Dec 15, 2014 sold at $42.95
eBay item no. 261704730149 Jan 11, 2015 sold at $42.95
eBay item no. 221847108192 Aug 17, 2015 sold at $91.10 (with 2 other project patches)
eBay item no. 263288435339 Nov 5, 2017 sold at $34.95
eBay item no. 263288435339 Nov 29, 2017 sold at $34.95
eBay item no. 163907318749 Oct 20, 2019 sold at $31.00
eBay item no. 313336706835 Dec 10, 2020 sold at $19.99
eBay item no. 335853441662 Mar 16, 2025 sold at $76
[2] Mercury Program [MERUNK2] patch sales:
eBay item no. 190580238635 Sep 29, 2011 sold at $226.17
eBay item no. 120829541967 Dec 24, 2011 sold at $45
eBay item no. 180816977167 Feb 13, 2012 sold at $99.99
eBay item no. 371095564643 Jul 10, 2014 sold at $64
eBay item no. 201282028156 Feb 15, 2015 sold at $82.20
eBay item no. 231670365294< Sep 3, 2015 sold at $67.77
eBay item no. 371517898963 Jan 2, 2016 sold at $33.00
eBay item no. 262224854272 Jan 8, 2016 sold at $40.00
eBay item no. 311835746306 Apr 28, 2017 sold at $24.95
eBay item no. 253933026442 Oct 19, 2018 sold at $69.95
eBay item no. 264215632424 Mar 17, 2019 sold at $59.95
eBay item no. 333536581613 Oct 12, 2020 sold at $39.99
[3] Gemini Program blue background [GTPUNK1V1 & 2] patch sales:
eBay item no. 120417526843 May 14, 2009 sold at $670 [variant ?]
eBay item no. 300428731878 May 24, 2010 sold at $442.82 [variant ?]
Lunar Legacies site July 2011 sold at $624.95 [variant ?]
eBay item no. 261720446424 Jan 1, 2015 sold at $495 [variant 2]
Private sale Feb 20, 2018 [variant 1]
[4] Gemini Program [GTPUNK2] patch sales:
eBay item no. 190580232651 Sep 29, 2011 sold at $13.29
[5] Gemini Program multi-colored border [GTPUNK3] patch sales:
eBay item no. 160554411332 Mar 10, 2011 sold at $89
eBay item no. 170691931362 Sep 11, 2011 sold at $151.50
eBay item no. 270838190424 Oct 28, 2011 sold at $52.99
eBay item no. 200689232478 Dec 20, 2011 sold at $51
eBay item no. 251190371021 Dec 2, 2012 sold at $50.27 [with MERUNK1]
eBay item no. 151010830545 Mar 18, 2013 sold at $113.61
eBay item no. 151028083744 May 14, 2013 sold at $46.67 ($140 for Mercury/Gemini/Apollo set)
eBay item no. 151052541341 Jun 2, 2013 sold at $32.79 ($98.37 for Mercury/Gemini/Apollo set)
eBay item no. 111148910144 Aug 28, 2013 sold at $24.05 ($48.10 for Gemini & Apollo together)
eBay item no. 370896145396 Sep 18, 2013 sold at $22.50 (with other patches)
eBay item no. 370896141010 Sep 18, 2013 sold at $70 (with other valuable patches)
eBay item no. 231056099733 Sep 23, 2013 sold at $50.00
eBay item no. 131005056617 Oct 2, 2013 sold at $49.49
eBay item no. 131020898398 Oct 22, 2013 sold at $19.95
eBay item no. 251387231371 Nov 25, 2013 sold at $46.09 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 251491882215 Apr 1, 2014 sold at $48.95
eBay item no. 251538274752 Jun 10, 2014 sold at $47.50
eBay item no. 371095584745 Jul 10, 2014 sold at $30.59
eBay item no. 251748515145 Dec 15, 2014 sold at $47.50
eBay item no. 231620468918 Jul 19, 2015 sold at $22
eBay item no. 221847108192 Aug 17, 2015 sold at $91.10 (with 2 other project patches)
eBay item no. 263250229879 Oct 11, 2017 sold at $34.95
eBay item no. 263250229879 Nov 5, 2017 sold at $34.95
eBay item no. 253973491871 Nov 15, 2018 sold at $24.95 [Buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 163907317199 Oct 20, 2019 sold at $31.10
eBay item no. 335853415646 Mar 16, 2025 sold at $100
[6] Apollo Program [ASPUNK2] patch sales:
eBay item no. 260910144459 Dec 5, 2011 sold at $30 [Buy-it-now with Apollo 11 green moon patch]
eBay item no. 290658567655 Jan 22, 2012 sold at $361.66 [with other rare patches, including Apollo 8 crew souvenir patch]
eBay item no. 250949247583 Jan 24, 2012 sold at $18.95 [Buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 330679878969 Feb 5, 2012 sold at $4.95
eBay item no. 260950371681 Feb 13, 2012 sold at $30.16 [with Apollo 11 green moon patch]
eBay item no. 260950381062 Feb 13, 2012 sold at $30.16 [two examples]
eBay item no. 360443557436 Mar 25, 2012 sold at $19.99 [Previously sewn]
[7] Apollo Program multi-colored border [ASPUNK1] patch sales:
eBay item no. 170694079893 Sep 11, 2011 sold at $162.50
eBay item no. 270838191386 Oct 28, 2011 sold at $61
eBay item no. 190615800684 Dec 22, 2011 sold at $74.74
eBay item no. 290813389788 Nov 20, 2012 sold at $40 [in large lot of ephemera]
eBay item no. 160988845806 Mar 17, 2013 sold at $113.61
eBay item no. 151028083744 May 14, 2013 sold at $46.67 ($140 for Mercury/Gemini/Apollo set)
eBay item no. 151052541341 Jun 2, 2013 sold at $32.79 ($98.37 for Mercury/Gemini/Apollo set)
eBay item no. 140988544532 Jun 3, 2013 sold at $41.57
eBay item no. 111148910144 Aug 28, 2013 sold at $24.05 ($48.10 for Gemini & Apollo together)
eBay item no. 370896141010 Sep 18, 2013 sold at $70 (with other valuable patches)
eBay item no. 231056093240 Sep 23, 2013 sold at $45.00
eBay item no. 281358507540 Jun 17, 2014 sold at $25.02
eBay item no. 251685551337 Oct 27, 2014 sold at $1.79
eBay item no. 221847108192 Aug 17, 2015 sold at $91.10 (with 2 other project patches)
eBay item no. 381601236170 May 14, 2016 sold at $35.97
eBay item no. 253194908173 Nov 5, 2017 sold at $32.95
eBay item no. 263777193608 Jun 25, 2018 sold at $32.95
eBay item no. 153686358497 Oct 20, 2019 sold at $26.69
eBay item no. 184443202331 Sep 11, 2020 sold at $30.00
[8] Apollo Project 'moonscape' 4 inch patch sales:
eBay item no. 130431215885 Sep 20, 2010 sold at $222.45
eBay item no. 271277276915 Sep 15, 2013 sold at $75 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 311286383558 Feb 15, 2015 sold at $78
eBay item no. 263250523390 Oct 13, 2017 sold at $46.64
eBay item no. 254554421877 Mar 31, 2020 sold at $135
[9] Skylab Program [SLPUNK1] (likely Hallmark Emblems) patch sales:
eBay item no. 360415923425 Dec 11, 2011 sold at $19
eBay item no. 270882466867 Jan 2, 2012 sold in large lot of patches
eBay item no. 130624871638 Jan 8, 2012 sold at $18.39
eBay item no. 180853981363 Apr 2, 2012 sold at $13
eBay item no. 400542866744 Jun 24, 2014 sold at $29.95
eBay item no. 151814456715 Sep 19, 2015 sold at $16.71
[10] Skylab Program [SLPUNK2] patch sales:
eBay item no. 200603907232 May 8, 2011 sold at $34.78
Lunar Legacies Space Auction Lot 399 May 21, 2011 sold at $57.50
eBay item no. 330658892752 Dec 21, 2011 sold at $9.99
eBay item no. 170782474813 Feb 19, 2012 sold at $30
eBay item no. 230726761584 Feb 21, 2012 sold at $20.54 [Buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 230726761584 Mar 20, 2012 sold at $20.54 [Buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 140725606725 Mar 25, 2012 sold at $31
eBay item no. 140742274787 Apr 29, 2012 sold at $26
eBay item no. 130725161265 Jul 15, 2012 sold at $18.51
eBay item no. 150870145752 Aug 8, 2012 sold at $6.76
eBay item no. 140851523016 Sep 23, 2012 sold at $11.50
eBay item no. 140857526062 Oct 3, 2012 sold at $21
eBay item no. 140861990491 Oct 11, 2012 sold at $31
eBay item no. 140866675800 Oct 19, 2012 sold at $33.99
eBay item no. 140872063121 Oct 28, 2012 sold at $19.99
eBay item no. 140871587869 Oct 28, 2012 sold at $32
eBay item no. 130813088712 Dec 9, 2012 sold at $11.51
eBay item no. 190846075334 Jun 1, 2013 sold at $26
eBay item no. 370916620920 Oct 13, 2013 sold at $9.99
eBay item no. 390683208426 Oct 21, 2013 sold at $14.99 [Buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 390842171741 May 17, 2014 sold at $22.50
eBay item no. 390845935377 May 28, 2014 sold at $12.27
eBay item no. 390855523504 Jun 5, 2014 sold at $6.24
eBay item no. 371076942065 Jun 8, 2014 sold at $10.50
eBay item no. 390861625027 Jun 15, 2014 sold at $12.50
[11] Skylab Program [SLPUNK3] patch sales:
eBay item no. 180789404644 Jan 7, 2012 sold at $55.55
[12] Skylab Program [SLPUNK4] patch sales:
eBay item no. 180789341085 Jan 7, 2012 sold at $61.75
eBay item no. 251972770241 May 30, 2015 sold at $57.59
[13] Mission Control patch sales:
eBay item no. 320826929796 Jan 17, 2012 sold at $202.50 [Unpaid win - Resold at $345]
eBay item no. 320826935975 Jan 17, 2012 sold at $92.01 [with other patches]
eBay item no. 320827166505 Jan 17, 2012 sold at $202.50 [with other patches]
eBay item no. 320842456189 Feb 11, 2012 sold at $345
eBay item no. 190731191812 Sep 28, 2012 sold at $270.55 [with other patches]
Heritage Space Auction lot no. 40494 Apr 18, 2013 sold at $507.88
[14] Skylab Program Lion Brothers variant patch sales:
eBay item no. 360626276870 Apr 3, 2013 sold at $7.99 (13 examples sold with buy-it-now)
-
Lunar Legacies auction lot no. 464 sold Mar 11, 2017 at $71.40 [from Bobko]
Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 329 Jul 15, 2017 sold at $83.30 [from Bobko]
American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame auction lot 268 Apr 10, 2021 sold at $270 [from Bobko]
[15] NASA Apollo P.I. TEAM patch sales:
eBay item no. 260953458226 Feb 10, 2012 sold at $5.50
eBay item no. 260966036323 Mar 1, 2012 sold at $32.76
eBay item no. 260974963095 Mar 14, 2012 sold at $24.50
eBay item no. 260981387319 Mar 21, 2012 sold at $12.50
eBay item no. 251185792380 Dec 1, 2012 sold at $18.45
eBay item no. 251193342297 Dec 16, 2012 sold at $17.50
eBay item no. 316554929101 Apr 2, 2025 sold at $179.50
[16] Apollo ARIA patch sales:
Aurora auction lot no. 277 Oct 22, 2006 sold at $150 (inc fees) [later grey & blue examples]
eBay item no. unknown Aug 7, 2007 sold at $? [later grey version]
eBay item no. 390652138785 Sep 6, 2013 sold at $23.82 [later grey version]
eBay item no. 390652135710 Sep 6, 2013 sold at $32 [later blue version]
eBay item no. 142142662580 Oct 15, 2016 sold at $41.04 [later grey patch in batch lot]
eBay item no. 222321494432 Nov 27, 2016 sold at $44.99 [later blue & grey patches in batch lot]
eBay item no. 222321499197 Nov 27, 2016 sold at $25.49 [later blue & grey patches in batch lot]
eBay item no. 142212482682 Dec 19, 2016 sold at $63.40 [later blue & grey patches in batch lot]
eBay item no. 263262250973 Oct 13, 2017 sold at $59.95 [later grey patch]
eBay item no. 263262255822 Oct 14, 2017 sold at $59.95 [later blue patch - 2 sold at this price]
eBay item no. 253924722996 Oct 18, 2018 sold at $140 [original grey patch & late version]