2-835-297 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

African-American astronaut Charles Frank Bolden Jr. (born 1946) flew on four Space Shuttle missions. He was also a NASA administrator and a United States Marine Corps Major General. Blue full body flight suit worn by Bolden with zippers in the front and has several pockets and patches on it. The front of the suit has three patches on the chest. On the PR breast is the mission patch for STS 61C and features a circular design with an image of the space shuttle and a band displaying the names of the mission's astronauts. On the PR breast is a circular NASA logo patch, above which is a leather nametag reading [CHARLES BOLDEN / MAJOR USMC]. The nametag is a dark leather with golden text and pilot's insignia. On the PR shoulder is a circular patch for the 1980 NASA Astronaut Groups 9, which features the year and a space shuttle launching with nineteen white stars. The PL shoulder has an American flag patch. There are Velcro straps at the waist and zippered sections on the arms and legs for adjustments. The legs have a number of zippered pockets. A manufacturer's tag with handwritten details is sewn to the inside of the suit.