Crew: 
James A. Lovell, Jr
Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr

Dates:
11-15 November 1966

Design:
Jim Lovell
Artwork:
Anthony Tharenos


Gemini 12

The Roman numeral XII is located at the 12 o'clock position as on the face of a clock, with the Gemini spacecraft pointing to it like the hour hand of a clock -- highlighting Gemini 12's position as the last flight of the Gemini program. The crescent on the left represents a solar eclipse that took place during the mission. According to the Gemini 12 Mission Report: "...the crew reported that they had passed through the total eclipse starting at 16:01:44 g.e.t. According to postflight calculations, the spacecraft passed within about three nautical miles of the center of the 15-nautical-mile-radius umbra core." The crew did photograph the eclipse in progress. While a solar filter had been provided for the purpose, a telephoto lens had not been, and so the images show just a tiny crescent -- only enough really, to prove it could be done.

The original schedule had Gemini 12 flying at Halloween, so the color scheme is black and orange in recognition of the season.

The patch was worn on the right shoulder of the pressure suit.

NASA photo Embroidered patch

[ge12-aw1]
NASA photo ID: S66-51710
Taken: 1 Aug 1966

[ge12-em1]
Reproduction embroidered patch.
82mm dia

[ge12-em2]
Allegedly a flown Gemini 12 embroidered patch. Thanks to Donnis Willis for this image.

[ge12-em3]
The 2010 remake by AB Emblem.
77mm dia

[ge12-aw2]
Gemini 12 patch artwork by Anthony Tharenos, signed by the Gemini 12 crew. Thanks to Anthony Tharenos for this image.

[ge12-aw3]
Tharenos was asked to make a rendering for the backup crew as well. Thanks to Anthony Tharenos for this image.

 

NASA Photo ID 66-HC-1855
This NASA photograph shows the complete set of Gemini patches, with the final mission patch being sewn onto one of the crew pressure suits.Things to note: the relative sizes of the patches — e.g. Gemini 5 v. Gemini 8; The Gemini 6A patch is the "Gemini 6" version rather than the GTA-6 version in the official NASA photo of the mission patch; the shape of the Gemini IX patch — nearly flat on the bottom, and high on the sides — not quite matching the artwork.

  
This page copyright © 2000-2018 Eugene Dorr.
All rights reserved.