RAF Space Command Badge

 Following on from the announcement by the Prime Minister to increase funding for Defence part of which will go to an RAF Space Command I thought what would their badge be like?

Patch of the UK Space Operations Centre OGLv3.0

Unlike what happened in the United States this Space Command will not be a separate service branch of the Armed Forces but will be an organisation within the Royal Air Force. Which is sensible giving that the RAF already operates a Space Operations Centre as part of 11 Group. However it is modest and defence analysts have said in some articles that it need expanding, and turning it into it's own 'Command' is probably a good way to go about it. Secondly by keeping it as part of the RAF it avoids some the PR disaster the US Space Force got with the comparisons to Star Trek and Starship Troopers SciFi series. 

At present the UK Space operations Centre already has a patch that appears to be worn on uniforms. I actually like it however while it is an acceptable uniform patch I think its to much in the American Air Force style. I think the RAF Space Command would have something more heraldic and less like a logo, an emblem that could be placed on a ceremonial standard.

So here is my proposal. First off is the name. I have specifically used the title "Satellite and Space Command" specifically as people are familiar with the widespread use of satellites to show this is not a type of SciFi space marines. 

The badge follow the standard pattern of RAF heraldry with the emblem being within a blue edged circle and wings surmounted by the crown, with the motto on a scroll below.

The emblem itself is symbolic of digital and satellite communications. It is set upon a black field rather than the more usual white field to be more distinctive and is something I thought could be unique to the Satellite & Space Command and any squadrons or groups that are subordinate to it. The emblem itself features two crossed lightning bolts with a beacon superimposed upon them. Emerging from the flames of the beacon is an armillary sphere .

beacons historically were used for signalling and combined with the lightning bolts is a symbol of electronic and digital communication. Armillary spheres were historically used by astrologers and schoolers to model objects in the sky in relation to the Earth or latterly the Sun. Hence when all these elements combine I think they are a good way of using timeless objects to symbolise the modern concept of manmade satellites. 

The motto is the same as that of the RAF which I think is an appropriate motto for the Space Command as it is generally translated to "Through adversity to the Stars". 

Tim Peake (Astronaut)

Tim Peake official NASA portrait 

Its been a while since I have did a heraldry related post, and inspired by the launch of the ESA's Major Timothy Peak along with NASA astronaut Colonel Timothy Kopra and Roscomos cosmonaut Colonel Yuri Malenchenko, I thought I would design a coat of arms for Tim Peake the UK's first official astronaut (other Britons have went into space but were either privately funded or NASA personnel with dual US citizenship).
the blason of my idea for Tim Peakes arms is:
Arms:Sable,a bend cotised sinister alternative bleu celeste,azure, in the dexter chief an estoile argent.  
 Crest: On a terrestrial globe a lion salient or, winged  charged with the roman numeral of one. Supporting in the dexter forepaw an escutcheon: Azure, the Crosses Saltire of St Andrew and St Patrick, quarterly per saltire, counterchanged Argent and Gules, the latter fimbriated of the second, surmounted by the Cross of St George of the third, fimbriated as the saltire.
Motto: Inspiration & Discovery 

The symbolism of the arms black and a white star is obvious. The blue bends reflect the flag of the Army Air Corps, which is the corps Tim Peate has served in most recently as an attack helicopter pilot and test pilot.  The single star represents human space flight, the reason their is a single star reflects that Tim Peake has only flown one mission (the current one), I thought it would be a nice touch that more stars would be granted for more flights. The reason I used an estoile rather than a mullet is because an estoile is believed to originate the symbolism of the stars in the cosmos, where as a mullet is thought to originally symbolise spurs (although that's debated). 
The crest symbolises his achievement of being the first official British astronaut. The lion (often seen as the national animal of the United Kingdom) marked with a "1" and supporting a Union badge standing on a globe symbolising British symbols orbiting the planet. The wings on the lion hint to it flying in orbit and also reflect Tim's background in aviation. 
The motto reflect the mission of a British astronaut to advance science, space flight and exploration but also to inspire the people of the country and the planet. 
I thought a good heraldic badge would be an estoile charged with a Union badge defaced with the roman numeral "1" again symbolising the achievement of the first (official) British astronaut. This could be used in a standard:

I'm sure everyone would wish all the crew good luck on their mission. This is also probably the last post of the year and I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Mars Colony

I was reading an article about a program aimed at establishing a human colony on Mars by 2023. In fact they have even begun the process of recruiting potential colonists, (or one-way astronauts as they call them)! The project known as Mars One does seem to be well planned out:

 I admit I enjoy a little bit of science fiction from time to time, and would love to travel to Mars, but I am not too sure about living there permanently! You would need to either be very brave or crazy or both. But perhaps my contribution to Earth's first space colony can be a flag one.

My first design features a red flag (as Mars is the Red Planet this seemed appropriate). Towards the  hoist is a pair of hands which symbolise humanity. The hands are open, and holding the astrological symbol for mars (which is coincidentally the male symbol, which I think represents the shield and spear of the Roman God which the planet gets its name from). Inside this is the Astrological symbol for Earth the home planet of the colonists.

I did the detail in white so it stands out better on the red background. I also thought it might need a little more colour so I added some blue and green stripes (inspired from my Earth Flag design). Also symbolising the home planet.

Or alternatively the stripes can be horizontally:

Let me know what you think of these designs. If you are brave (or mad) enough to sign up as a one-way astronaut or are just curious their website is here.

Moon Flag

Some time ago I did a post about a flag for the Earth, this also included a 'Moon flag' Well it was suggested to include the moon symbol so I have had some spare time and here it is with the astrological symbol of the moon.

 and with the last 'Earth flag' in the canton

 or alternatively covering the hoist of the flag.

Earth Flag

There have been a few designs for an "Earth Flag" none of them with any official status in any country. The UN flag is often though of as a good flag to use, in fact it was even suggested that it should be used instead of the USA flag when NASA first went to the moon. However it is still the flag of an international organisation and not the planet. many other designs feature globes and pictures of the Earth, which I think looks awful and would be inappropriate to put maps on flags. so here are my designs for an "Earth Flag."

My first design was based on the UN Flag with the wreath for peace, but the stars represent the continents and the male and female symbols represent humanity.

I personally was unsatisfied with this flag, so I looked for something to replace the gender symbols so researching I found every planet in our Solar System has an astrological symbol. The Earth's is a circle with a cross in it. These symbols have been used for thousands of years by many cultures and the individual conponants symbiosis different things in different cultures. Modern day its said to symbolise the globe (circle) and the four points of the compass (cross). So I incorporated this into my design.

I also thought this looked too much like an international organisation flag particularly the UN. So I based another design on the land/sea ratio of the planet. This is simply a blue flag with a green field on the fly and the Earth Symbol.

The reason there is more blue than green is because there is more water than land. I was also unsatisfied with this a put the green end at the hoist and the symbol so that it includes both green and blue.

As the moon is supposedly claimed by man I also designed a moon flag. This is a black flag with a white disk over a blue disc symbolising the moon of Earth. In the canton there is an Earth Symbol symbolising its sovereignty to the Earth.