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Lot 1514
STS-68, 1994, FLOWN "Suit Tech No. 3 Patches". Lot of five different pieces, all telling the story of this "number". The Nomex coveralls were worn by the consignor during TCDT and launch. Each close-out crew member had a numbers attached to his arms, leg and back via velcro patches, so that the cameras in the white room and service structure could keep track of those in the area. The consignor was the NASA suit technician who strapped in the flight deck crewman with the assistance of the (ASP) astronaut support pilot #2.
After the crewmen for STS-68 were strapped in, and the hatch closed, the close out crew leader (#1) noticed that the "No.3" was missing from the back of the consignors Nomex coveralls. A search was started both inside and outside the orbiter for the patch. The major concern regarding the No. 3 patch was that it might have caught in the hatch seal and that would delay the launch. The patch was not found but, fortunately, the flight was cancelled for other reasons. The No. 3 was eventually found on the flight deck, but the crew could not see it because they were strapped in. Following this experience, the numbers were sewn onto the coveralls.
What the consignor didn't know at the time, was that the crew asked the tech's working with him for a couple of No. 3 patches, which they took with them on their flight into space shortly thereafter. When the flight returned, the crew gave the consignor a few pictures taken in orbit of the crew members with the No.3s.
Included in this lot is the Nomex flight suit with No. 3s sewn (over the original velcro patches) on both arms, the left thigh and on the back. The suit, which saw use on flights after STS-68, has a Crew and Thermal Systems Division / NAS/JSC Engineering patch, an STS-87 patch, a rare Astronaut Closeout Crew patch and a US flag patch on the chest and arms as well as a Al Rochford / Retired NASA nametag on the chest and a large NASA patch on the back.
ALSO included is a 2) a letter, hand-signed by the crew, stating that the "suit tech No. 3 was flown for Al Rochford, 3) the two infamous No. 3s flown in space - one with a note from Stu Smith saying "Al - I finally found the second #3. This was also in space", 4) a matted and framed color photo (16x13") of the whole "Close Out" Crew) wearing their (No. 1-7) Nomex suits proudly, and 5) a NASA 8x10" color photo show crew member Stu Smith, Mission Specialist holding the No. 3 in space. He has inscribed the photo: "To Al - Wish you were here! Many thanks for helping this rookie get to space" signed "Stu". There are also five other NASA photos showing the No. 3 in space.
A fascinating glimpse of the behind-the-scenes, both serious and humorous.
Estimated Value $750 - 1,000.
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| Realized $1,298 |
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