NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 pays homage to Apollo 13 on mission patch

NASA is set to launch its first mission numbered '13' since the infamous Apollo 13 incident, which faced critical challenges on its way to the Moon 56 years ago. The Crew-13 team, comprising NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency's Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, is scheduled to depart for the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in mid-September. This mission will see them join the Expedition 75 and 76 crews, with a return to Earth planned around five months later. In a nod to the historical significance of the number, NASA has embraced the mission's numerology, transcending fears associated with triskaidekaphobia. The Crew-13 mission patch pays tribute to the design used by the Apollo 13 astronauts - Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert - who faced their own trials in April 1970. The official description highlights how the patch looks forward to the future of space exploration while honoring the legacy of those who paved the way. At the heart of the Crew-13 patch is a striking golden dragon, symbolizing both the SpaceX capsule's name and the golden horses from the Apollo 13 insignia. The design cleverly incorporates a dragon's tail that wraps around Earth, echoing the blue contrail that connected Earth to the horses in the Apollo 13 artwork. This connection serves as a metaphorical bridge linking Earth, the International Space Station, the Moon, and Mars, according to NASA's description. Additionally, the patch features Roman numerals for 'XIII' and omits crew names, mirroring elements from the original Apollo 13 design. Golden stars represent the Crew-13 families, while the overall capsule shape signifies the collaborative spirit essential for achieving shared goals in space exploration.