This is a replica of the embroidered mission patch worn by the Apollo 9 crew - James McDivitt, David Scott, and Russell Schweickart - for their pre-flight photos, and on their flight suits after the mission. The crew also carried examples of this particular patch design on the mission as mementos.
Launched on March 3, 1969, Apollo 9 performed a full check-out of the Lunar Module in Earth orbit, and essential step in the race to reach the moon before the end of the decade.
