The Merchandise GuideFan Publications
Compiled by Martin Willey
The Merchandise GuideThis article first appeared in the 1979 convention booklet. Influenced by the Starlog Technical Notebook, Mare Fitzgerald created plausible explanations for the insignia worn on the Alphan uniforms. Her art is well done, although lacking video or extensive photo reference there are minor inaccuracies. Fan artist Keith Young expanded on the text in his blueprints, which were further developed by Robert Ruiz and Roberto Baldassari for Robert's Cybrary website, and later in Roberto's website, using Roberto's art. For reference on where the patches were seen, see the Catacombs continuity guide.
Written & Illustrated by
MARE GANEA FITZGERALD
The following is a review of some of the more common patches seen in SPACE:1999. Patches were used more frequently in the second season, though several were seen in the first year as well. The explanations given are of their general use, and exceptions will be noticed throughout the series.
The wearing of patches was encouraged by Commander Koenig at the suggestion of Dr. Russell, to promote higher morale and a greater sense of belonging and achievement. After Breakaway, few new emblems were dispatched, and this made them all the more valued by the Alphan community.
Patches were made of several materials, most commonly a synthetic fabric blend of acrylic and the newly developed santel. Occasionally pure silk was used. The finer details were hand-sewn with threads similar to our embroidery floss, and some special patches are known to have had precious metals incorporated into the thread. A few patches, including the Eagle identity patch for space suits, have a plasticized coating for durability.
An appealing simplicity is apparent in the patch designs. Prominent artists of the early 1990s such as Toshan Micci of Japan, Mbot Swamen of Kenya and Fritz Eduard of the United States, were commissioned by the various departments and committees to make the patches not only functional but pleasing to the eye.
The official Moonbase symbol. Used to identify all Alpha craft; also seen on clothing such as jackets, space suits and recreational playsuits. This patch may be used by all Al pha personnel and is kept with great pride by those who have finished their tours of duty on the Moonbase.
DISPATCHED BY: Main Mission Command
REPRESENTATIONS: The trapezoid shape is a key Alpha symbol. (Note that storage boxes on Eagles are fashioned from this shape to identify their origin.)
COLORS: White background with navy letters. The center has a dark blue background, black and white Moon and Earth, and orange and yellow orbit patterns.
DIMENSIONS: Horizontal 2" at narrowest, 3" at widest, vertical 2".
Worn on Earth as well as Alpha. Presented to graduates in basic space flight training and often worn throughout space career as a kind of 'good luck charm'.
DISPATCHED BY: Various space training centers on Earth
REPRESENTATIONS: The round shape represents the universe; the small circle is Earth. The triangle depicts the outward direction leading into space and is also suggestive of the shape of early jets.
COLORS: White background ringed with red. Black Earth, red triangle.
DIMENSIONS: 2 ½" diameter.
Identifying patch for property of the IRC. Seen on space suits and moonbuggies. DISPATCHED BY: No personal distribution.
REPRESENTATIONS: Upper left block represents galaxies known and unknown. Rainbow of colors signifies the Commission's wide spectrum of interests and research.
COLORS: White stars on black background. Multi-color stripes. Entire patch rimed with white band.
DIMENSIONS: 3x5 ½"
(Note: Lee Russell wore this patch on his flight suit.)
A symbol of the Interspace Research Commission. Several different versions of this patch were issued with different words, but this is the most popular among the Alphans. A more or less decorative patch, though sometimes worn by technical personnel for regulation.
DISPATCHED BY: Interspace Research Commission
REPRESENTATIONS: The Latin words mean "Forever on the Threshold". Because of the vastness of space, learning from it has no limit, virtually no end, and so we are forever at the beginning of new knowledge. The graphics illustrate our sun (solar system) and our reaching out to other suns.
COLORS: Dark blue letters on a white background. Dark blue background, yellow sun and stars, white corona and spokes.
DIMENSIONS: 2 ½" diameter.
The actual wording is "Planispharium Caleste" (a misspelling of the Latin Planisphaerium Caelestem- starry vault). Lacking access to reference materials, Fitzgerald suggests a plausible alternative.
Worn by those with intermediate space first aid training. While all Alpha personnel receive basic first aid training, the intermediates are comparable to the 1970's paramedics and are qualified to begin medical procedures until a doctor can be reached. Worn on regulation uniforms, this patch symbolizes a nurse or a Medical Center technician. When worn sideways on jackets, etc. the patch refers to those with the training but not primarily involved with medicine.
DISPATCHED BY: Alpha Medical Center
REPRESENTATIONS: Severely stylized representation of the human face.
COLORS: Dark blue background ringed with pale blue. Red "face" with yellow detail.
DIMENSIONS: 2 ½" diameter.
The letters stand for Verbinski-Jacobsen Celestia. Dr. Joseph Verbinski and Dr. Blair Jacobsen were among the earliest planners of the Moonbase and her programs of operation. They had worked as a team for many years on Earth studying the relationship between space travel and changes in human behavior, especially sleep patterns. Their ultimate goal was to see man go into deep space, hence Celestia. The patch is worn by those who had volunteered to help in various aspects of the studies, and is also seen on Medical Center regulation clothing as a tribute to the two doctors.
DISPATCHED BY: Interspace Research Commission
COLORS: White letters on a red background
DIMENSIONS: 3/4" x 2"
The letters stand for Alpha Moonbase Courier. Worn by many of Alpha's best pilots; occasion ally worn by other key personnel trained for deep space missions which would have originated on the moon. Sometimes worn on regulation uniforms by those primarily involved with deep space missions.
DISPATCHED BY: Alpha Exploration Section
REPRESENTATIONS: Largest circle is the Moon. Continuing circles symbolize distant planets, the ultimate destination of Alpha's "couriers".
COLORS: Left background is dark blue; right background is medium blue. Largest circle is yellow, followed by one orange and one red circle. Black letters.
DIMENSIONS: 1 ½ x3"
Worn by technical personnel in research sciences such as mineralogy, geology, archaeology (Yes Alpha actually had several people covering the possibility of past life on the moon. These people were eventually to have been sent to distant planets to survey new finds.), engineering, etc.
DISPATCHED BY: Alpha Technical Section (Exploration)
REPRESENTATIONS: The numbers vary depending on the person's field of specialty. The "1" represents technical rank; "12" is the section number; "3" is the specific Alpha department. AM is Alpha Moonbase.
COLORS: Red background, black letters/numbers, white detail.
DIMENSIONS: 2 ½" diameter.
The numbers don't vary in the show- they are all identical.
Presented to astronauts who flew supplies during the earliest years of Alpha, after the Eagle transporter replaced the Falcon shuttle.
DISPATCHED BY: International Lunar Finance Commission
REPRESENTATIONS: Moon rising behind Earth
COLORS: Light blue outer circle, medium blue background. Circle in foreground is black, followed by red/orange and yellow circles.
DIMENSIONS: 2 ½" diameter.
Lunar Space Research Organization, the technical branch of Alpha. Patch is worn by those directly involved with laboratory research, communications and experimentation in the space sciences. Generally worn just below the identification tag on standard uniforms, occasionally on jackets, etc. by those not primarily involved with research.
DISPATCHED BY: Alpha Technical Section (Laboratory)
REPRESENTATIONS: The initials of one of Alpha's largest sections. The circle shape is the most frequently used shape for patches, representing "wholeness" and the spirit of working together.
COLORS: White background ringed with red. Solid red upper hemisphere, red-rimmed lower hemisphere. Black letters.
DIMENSIONS: 2 1½" diameter.
Medical officers who were involved with the Andromeda Research Project wear this patch. The Andromeda team did extensive studies of the physical, psychological and social effects of prolonged space travel. Helena Russell worked as a director of the team just prior to coming to Alpha and continued some of the work at the Moonbase.
DISPATCHED BY: Interspace Research Commission
REPRESENTATIONS: The triangle represents the three basic areas of study and is incorporated into the 'A' symbol.
COLORS: Blue background ringed with red. Gold letters. White 'A".
Identifies specific protection clothing which is safe in all known biological atmospheres.
DISPATCHED BY: No personal distribution.
COLORS: Black letters on white. Solid black center.
DIMENSIONS: 2 ½" diameter.
Worn on space suit shoulder. Identifies the suit as standard equipment from a specific craft.
DISPATCHED BY: No personal distribution.
COLORS: Black letters on white. Center is black with white number.
DIMENSIONS: 2 ½" diameter.
Security personnel with clearance to carry the Model 2 stun gun (equipped with stun/kill setting) with in Alpha wear this patch.
DISPATCHED BY: Chief of Security (Weapons Section)
COLORS: Purple letters on white background. Center is purple with white "S".
DIMENSIONS: 2 ½" diameter.
Since the Superswifts were only on the drawing board when the moon blasted out of orbit, these patches were never actually issued. They were a part of the illusion brought on by the creatures, drawn from the imaginations of the Alphan community.
COLORS: (left) Orange background, blue diagonal stripe, black letters on white background. (right) Red circle with black "S", white background and stripe, blue semi circle, multi-color bar.
Space 1999 Copyright ITV Studios Global Entertainment