18/03/2022

Badges and other materials from NASA space missions including the Endeavour STS-89 flight in 1996 were conserved at Artlab recently.

Conservator working on badges Laura Daenke, Paper Conservator, Artlab Australia, cleaning the badges from the collections of the History Trust of South Australia.

Badges and various items mounted on boards, were donated to the History Trust of South Australia by a person involved with the Australian International Space School program. They feature materials sent into space during several missions - Endeavour STS-89 in 1996 (Andy Thomas’ mission), Columbia STS-87, 1997 and Columbia STS-5, 1982.

Dr Andy Thomas AO is an Australian and American aerospace engineer and a former NASA astronaut. Born in Adelaide, Andy studied mechanical engineering at the University of Adelaide and after completing his PhD, travelled in search of adventure and landed in the United States. He established a research career and became a US citizen in 1986.

NASA selected Andy to join the elite astronaut corps in March 1992 at the age of 40. He flew four missions over twelve years including the Endeavour STS-89 flight in 1996.

The boards, from the collections of the History Trust of South Australia, are of high significance to South Australia due to their connection to Dr Andy Thomas AO.