— A small, space-constrained payload is about to give a new definition of what a “premium” fashion brand means.Among the science experiments launched on SpaceX’s 23rd Commercial Resupply Service (CRS-23) mission to the International Space Station (ISS) are a small selection of labels adorned with the NASA logo.After being exposed to the vacuum of space for at least six months, the tags will return to Earth, where they will be sewn onto T-shirts and other clothing.”The best part? You can have one (or more)!” Online space memorabilia reseller Space Collective promotes on its website.These tags, along with a handful of NASA and international flags, make up the fourth payload launched to the space station by The Space Collective as part of a partnership with space and technology company Aegis Aerospace that operates the MISSE (Materials International Space Station Experiment) platform.
“Our MISSE platform is a commercial external facility aboard the International Space Station and is dedicated to making it as easy as possible for our customers to demonstrate new technologies,” said Ian Karcher, project engineer for the MISSE-15 payload, in a pre-launch briefing.”The outer space environment where MISSE is installed includes extreme levels of solar and charged particle radiation, atomic oxygen, a hard vacuum, and extreme temperatures.” Space Collective’s labels and flags fly along with the extensive material surveys that will be installed on the MISSE platform, including a survey of the Moon Tests to simulate concrete; an experiment to determine the best material for wearable radiation protection for future NASA lunar astronauts; and a trial of an epoxy-impregnated composite material that could help engineers design leak-proof, self-healing spacesuits.The MISSE-15 payload – including The Space Collective’s tags and flags – is mounted on a SpaceX CRS-23 cargo Dragon spacecraft.Scheduled to launch at 3:14 a.m. ET (0714 GMT) on Sunday (August 29), Dragon will leave Earth on a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and Dock to the space station after a day’s rendezvous. The station’s Expedition 65 crew will then unwrap the MISSE-15 payload along with Dragon’s other cargo and transfer it to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) airlock inside the Kibo module , so that it can be positioned outside the space station using the Canadaarm2 robotic arm of the space station.”This NASA tag was launched by SpaceX CRS-23 to the International Space Station, where it remained in orbit for a total of [X] months, [X] days, [X] hours. During the entire mission , this tag has been on [X] ] million miles and will orbit Earth [X] thousand times before returning to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon CRS-[XX] on [date],” the tag reads, which once returned to Earth will is added to clothing with the spaceflight label. A limited edition of 50 Space Collective spaceflight label clothing displays the NASA insignia—the blue, red, and white logo, affectionately known as the “meatball”—or The space agency’s recently resurrected logo — the “worm” — is red or black.All three label designs measure 3.15 x 2.6 inches (8 x 6.5 cm) and are available in a variety of colors for men’s or women’s t-shirts or unisex hoodies.These labels can also be worn separately from any garment and are limited to 50 pieces each.The labels cost $125 each, with an additional charge for clothing.MISSE-15 also has a limited number of NASA, U.S. and International flags, 4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm) each, priced at $300 each.Every item flown as part of The Space Collective’s payload will be accompanied by flight documentation and a Certificate of Authenticity.The company also plans to update customers on mission milestones through social media and its website.The Space Collective’s previous payloads included flags, embroidered patches and custom name tags in a style similar to what astronauts wear on their flight suits.The memento was flown in accordance with NASA’s policy on commercial activities on the International Space Station, established in 2019 and updated earlier this year.This article has been updated to reflect the new launch date on Sunday, August 29, after a one-day delay due to weather.
Post time: May-16-2022
