Patch, Mission, Soyuz TM-31 and TM-32

This mission patch is from Dennis Tito's Sokol ("Falcon") space suit. The California businessman became the first tourist in space on April 28, 2001. After months of training and preparations in Moscow and at the Cosmonaut Flight Training Center in Star City, Russia, Tito was launched on board the Soyuz TM-32 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan and spent six days on board the International Space Station (ISS). He paid the Russians a reported $20 million for this adventure.

The space suit manufacturer sewed this patch on the Sokol KV-2 (Falcon) pressure suit for Tito's mission. When he returned to Earth after his mission, all patches were removed from his space suit and he received them as souvenirs. Mr. Tito obtained the space suit under a separate transaction. The patch depicts the mission logo for the Soyuz TM-31 and TM-32 missions. Mr. Tito went into orbit on board the Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft and returned to Earth on Soyuz TM-31, thus participating in the swap out of spacecraft that stays docked to the space station. Mission patches typically decorate the spacesuits of all cosmonauts and astronauts. This one is circular and is in three colors-black, white and blue. The outer ring of the circle is black with a blue ring inside it. The circle is divided into four quadrants that have alternating black and white background. The cosmonauts who participated in the April 2001 launch are named on the patch as well as the spacecraft names, along with illustrations of the craft and a blue and white diamond logo. Mr. Tito donated the patches along with his spacesuit and gloves to the Museum.

This mission patch is from Dennis Tito's Sokol ("Falcon") space suit. The California businessman became the first tourist in space on April 28, 2001. After months of training and preparations in Moscow and at the Cosmonaut Flight Training Center in Star City, Russia, Tito was launched on board the Soyuz TM-32 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan and spent six days on board the International Space Station (ISS). He paid the Russians a reported $20 million for this adventure.

The space suit manufacturer sewed this patch on the Sokol KV-2 (Falcon) pressure suit for Tito's mission. When he returned to Earth after his mission, all patches were removed from his space suit and he received them as souvenirs. Mr. Tito obtained the space suit under a separate transaction. The patch depicts the mission logo for the Soyuz TM-31 and TM-32 missions. Mr. Tito went into orbit on board the Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft and returned to Earth on Soyuz TM-31, thus participating in the swap out of spacecraft that stays docked to the space station. Mission patches typically decorate the spacesuits of all cosmonauts and astronauts. This one is circular and is in three colors-black, white and blue. The outer ring of the circle is black with a blue ring inside it. The circle is divided into four quadrants that have alternating black and white background. The cosmonauts who participated in the April 2001 launch are named on the patch as well as the spacecraft names, along with illustrations of the craft and a blue and white diamond logo. Mr. Tito donated the patches along with his spacesuit and gloves to the Museum.