Mission Patch STS-53, 1992

The Maj. Blanton Patch Collection contains over 280 patches. These patches are of the modern marrowed-edge construction. The greater portion of the collection relates to space shuttle missions. The breadth of the mission patches runs from the beginning of the space shuttle program with Space Transport System Mission 1, STS-1, in April, 1981 and ending with STS-63 in February of 1995. As well, there is the mission patch for STS-110 of April, 2002. The remaining series in the collection contain other space related patches, military patches, and a number of novelty patches, many pertaining to aircraft and Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Series I contains 103 space shuttle mission and mission related patches. The patches span shuttle missions 1 in 1981 through 63 in 1995. Along with copies of the official mission patches, there are patches that relate to the specific experiments conducted on the given mission. The patches are organized chronologically in order of mission launch date.

Series II contains 100 patches that pertain to space technologies other than the shuttle. The series is arranged alphabetically by topic. Some of the topics included are the European Space Agency, other NASA related projects, and patches of the Soviet Union space program.

Series III contains patches issued by the branches of the United States armed forces. There are 26 patches in this series. The majority of these patches were issued by the Air Force or the Navy. There is one Army issued patch in the series.

Series IV is the last series of the collection. It contains 56 novelty patches. Many of them are aircraft related. Two of the patches are comedic commentary on the Navy's Tailhook scandal. As well, there are a number of patches that relate to America's foreign engagements of the latter part of the 20th century.