‘Not that into peace doves’: The Apollo-Soyuz patch NASA rejected

On July 15, 1975, a historic moment unfolded as three NASA astronauts and two Russian cosmonauts embarked on a groundbreaking journey into space. This mission marked the first collaboration between the United States and the Soviet Union with the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). Both crews were set to wear a specially designed patch created by renowned space artist Paul Calle, symbolizing their unity. However, the design that ultimately adorned their uniforms was not their preferred choice. Calle's original concept, which prominently featured peace doves, was dismissed. Deke Slayton, the mission's docking module pilot, expressed his disappointment in a letter, stating, "Our first choice for a patch...has been disapproved. It seems the powers that be are not that into peace doves and olive branches at the moment." This rejection was particularly striking, considering that Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev later referred to the ASTP flight as a significant representation of improving Soviet-US relations based on peaceful coexistence. U.S. President Gerald Ford also endorsed ongoing cooperation in space as a pathway to peace. Paul Calle was no stranger to capturing pivotal moments in space history. As an early participant in NASA's art program, he had previously sketched the Apollo 11 crew during their pre-launch preparations for the moon landing. His work included designing the famous postage stamp that celebrated this monumental achievement in 1969. Calle's relationship with the ASTP crew deepened as he accompanied them to the Soviet Union, where he documented their training in Star City, near Moscow. Despite the patch controversy, the mission itself stood as a testament to the potential for collaboration in space exploration, transcending geopolitical tensions.