NASA US ASTRONAUTS PILOT US AIR FORCE PILOTS WINGS BADGE FOR SPACE MISSION

Original * NASA QUALIFIED US AIR FORCE ASTRONAUT WINGS * 

To earn the Astronaut badge, the military officer must complete all required training and participate in a space flight more than fifty (50 mi.) miles above the Earth. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale defines space flight as more than one hundred (100 km) kilometres (62 mi.) from Earth, a definition abided by every country, except the U.S., who argue that the outer space boundary is at the fifty (50 mi.) mile (80 km) mark.

Eight USAF and NASA pilots have qualified for the Astronaut badge by flying the sub-orbital X-15 rocket spaceplane. Two pilots entered space in the sub-orbital Scaled CompositesSpaceShipOne rocket spaceplane. All other men and women awarded the Astronaut badge earned it travelling to outer space in non-winged rockets or the orbital Space Shuttle.

These US AIR FORCE NASA WINGS are 100% original, hallmarked on reverse I-21 measuring 79.mm or just over 3 ".

The Astronaut Badge is a badge of the United States, awarded to military and civilian pilots who have completed training and performed a successful spaceflight. A variation of the astronaut badge is also issued to civilians who are employed with the National Areonautics and Space Administration as specialists on spaceflight missions.

Each of the military services issues its own version of the Astronaut Badge, which consists of a standard Aviation Badge with an Astronaut Device (shooting star through a halo) centered on the badge's shield, or escutcheon. The United States Army and Air Force Astronaut Badges are issued in three degrees: Basic, Senior, and Master/Command. The Senior Astronaut Badge is denoted by a star centered above the decoration, while the Master/Command level is indicated by a star and wreath.

Very Rare Badge