Patch, United States Flag, Space Shuttle, STS-69 (Gernhardt)

Flags have been worn on spacesuits since 1965 when James A. McDivitt and Edward H. White II flew on the Gemini IV mission. Without a distinctive mission patch, those astronauts decided to wear an American flag on their suits.That became a custom still followed, with the flag worn on the left shoulder of flight suits and spacesuits. Astronauts from other countries also wear their national flag on their suits to acknowledge their country and patriotism.This flag may have flown on spacewalking astronaut Michael L. Gernhardt’s suit or life support backpack on one of his four Space Shuttle missions. NASA transferred it to the Museum with a variety of other crew items in 2012.