Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A. and a full historical research write-up

Thanks to the overwhelming demand for our authentic "Piece of History" display collections, we are excited to introduce one of our very first “Piece of History” NASA patch display collections! This incredible NASA astronaut “Piece of History“ display is professionally encased in a glass display case with plush padding and a tightly sealed display case. This display case is our large size and measures a perfect 8 inches tall x 6 inches wide.

This series is a limited edition, meaning that each “Piece of History” display is unique and may vary slightly from the display shown. These displays stand as a distinctive and invaluable addition to the collection of any NASA, Apollo, or history enthusiast.
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This incredibly rare and very historic piece of NASA space history is an original "STS-72" Space Shuttle Endeavour astronaut mission match that was worn as well as given to astronauts and Mission Control personnel who played a role in the STS-72 mission.

STS-72, the 74th mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program and the 10th flight of Endeavour, launched on January 11, 1996, was a multifaceted mission exemplifying the shuttle's versatility.

The crew of six, including Commander Brian Duffy and Japan's Koichi Wakata, successfully captured and returned Japan's Space Flyer Unit (SFU), deployed and retrieved the OAST-Flyer for various experiments, and conducted two extravehicular activities (EVAs) to test techniques for International Space Station assembly.

These operations advanced satellite retrieval methods, fostered international collaboration, and provided crucial data for EVA procedures and scientific research in materials science, biology, and fluid dynamics, thereby influencing future space missions and contributing to the construction and maintenance of the International Space Station.

STS-72 Mission Facts:

Mission: SFU; OAST-Flyer
Space Shuttle: Endeavour
Launch Pad: 39B
Launched: January 11, 1996, 4:41:00 a.m. EST
Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landing: January 20, 1996, 2:41:41 a.m. EST
Runway: 15
Rollout Distance: 8,770 feet
Rollout Time: 66 seconds
Revolution: 142
Mission Duration: 8 days, 22 hours, 1 minute, 47 seconds
Orbit Altitude: 250 nautical miles
Orbit Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Miles Traveled: 3.7 million

Crew:
Brian Duffy, Commander
Brent W. Jett, Pilot
Leroy Chiao, Mission Specialist
Daniel T. Barry, Mission Specialist
Winston E. Scott, Mission Specialist
Koichi Wakata, Mission Specialist


We authenticate our piece of history at the micro level! During the authentication process sometimes we use high-res microscopes. In the last image of the listing, I included a few high-res images of the “Original NASA "STS-72" Space Shuttle Astronaut Mission Patch” that was done during this authentication process!

*In the last images of this listing, you will see two digitally sourced historical images of this item and its role in history!

This would make an amazing addition to any NASA, Apollo, or space history enthusiast collection.