Image: ISS Yearlong mission patch

Description: Patch for yearlong mission. American Scott Kelly and Russian Mikhail Kornienko are slated to stay a year on the International Space Station. This will be the longest anyone has stayed on the ISS, the longest an American has been in space and the first time someone has been in space this long since 1990s. This mission will last during Expedition 43, 44, 45 and 46. This patch represents the historic one-year expedition to the International Space Station, spanning Increments 43 through 46. The ISS, an orbiting laboratory above the Earth, provides a unique environment in which to study the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body. This one-year mission will pave the way for future pursuits in space exploration of humankind on longer journeys to farther destinations. The large number 1 on the patch is emblazoned with U.S. and Russian Flags depicting the duration of the flight and the countries of its crew members. The last names of the one-year crew, ISS Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Mikhail Kornienko, appear under the space station symbol above 13 stars, which represent the astronauts and cosmonauts who will be onboard and working together in harmony during this year-long mission. Earth and the sun are depicted with two orbital planes, symbolizing the ISS orbiting Earth while the Earth is orbiting the sun during the year-long mission.
Title: ISS Yearlong mission patch
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/14714155749/in/set-72157632181227638 http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-081114a-yearlong-space-station-patch.html
Author: NASA
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No