STS-33 Pin

Pin is approximately 2.25 inches in diameter. There is some soiling on the front and back. This design is largely the same as that of the crew patch for STS-33, designed by the five crewmembers. It features a stylized falcon soaring into space to represent America's commitment to manned space flight. The crewmembers feel the falcon symbolizes courage, intelligence, tenacity, and love of flight. The orbit around Earth represents the falcon's lofty domain; the bird, with its keen vision and natural curiosity, is depicted looking forward beyond that domain to challenge the edge of the universe. The bold red feathers of the wings drawn from the American flag overlaying the random field of stars illustrate the determination to expand the boundaries of knowledge by American presence in space. The single gold star on a field of blue honors the memory of the late Rear Admiral S. David Griggs, originally assigned to this crew. STS-33 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission, during which Space Shuttle Discovery deployed a payload for the United States Department of Defense (DoD). It was the 32nd shuttle mission overall, the ninth flight of Discovery, the fifth shuttle mission in support of the DoD and the last Shuttle launch of the 1980s. Due to the nature of the mission, specific details remain classified. The mission was officially designated STS-33R as the original STS-33 designator belonged to the ill-fated Challenger STS-51-L, the 25th Space Shuttle mission. Frederick Drew Gregory (born January 7, 1941) is a former United States Air Force pilot, military engineer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut as well as former NASA Deputy Administrator. He was a veteran of three Shuttle missions he has logged about 456 hours in space. He served as pilot on STS-51B (April 29 to May 6, 1985), and was the spacecraft commander on STS-33 (November 22-27, 1989), and STS-44 (November 24 to December 1, 1991). John Elmer Blaha (born August 26, 1942, in San Antonio, Texas) is a retired United States Air Force colonel and a former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of five space missions aboard the Space Shuttle and Mir. He served as pilot on STS-33 and STS-29, was spacecraft Commander on STS-58 and STS-43, served on Mir 22 as Board Engineer 2, and was a Mission Specialist on STS-79 and STS-81. Manley Lanier "Sonny" Carter Jr., M.D. (August 15, 1947 - April 5, 1991), (Capt, USN), was an American chemist, physician, professional soccer player, naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and NASA astronaut who flew on STS-33. Franklin Story Musgrave (born August 19, 1935) is an American physician and a retired NASA astronaut. In 1996 he became only the second astronaut to fly on six spaceflights, and he is the most formally educated astronaut with seven academic degrees. Musgrave is the only astronaut to fly aboard all five Space Shuttles. Musgrave served as a CAPCOM for the second and third Skylab missions, STS-31, STS-35, STS-36, STS-38 and STS-41. He was a Mission Specialist on STS-6 (1983), STS-51-F/Spacelab-2 (1985), STS-33 (1989), STS-44 (1991), and STS-80 (1996); and the Payload Commander on STS-61 (1993). Kathryn Ryan Cordell Thornton (born August 17, 1952) is an American scientist and a former NASA astronaut with over 975 hours in space, including 21 hours of extravehicular activity. She was the associate dean for graduate programs at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science, and a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. Thornton was inducted in the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2010. Thornton flew on STS-33 in 1989, STS-49 in 1992, STS-61 in 1993, and STS-73 in 1995. Stanley David Griggs (September 7, 1939 - June 17, 1989) was a United States Navy officer and a NASA astronaut. He is credited with conducting the first unscheduled extravehicular activity of the space program during Space Shuttle mission STS-51-D. Griggs was killed when the vintage World War II-era training aircraft he was piloting - a North American A.…