Mars Exploration Rover Marvin the Martian Patch

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Mars Exploration Rover Marvin the Martian Patch

Associated name Mars

Associated name NASA

Associated name Boeing

Associated name Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Associated name Looney Tunes

Associated name Cornell University

Date2003

Mediumcloth; thread

DimensionsOverall (Diameter): 4 in. (10.16 cm)

Credit LineMoPOP permanent collection

Object number2004.27.1

Text Entries

Portal Description

Mission patch for NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover (MER)-A mission. MER-A and MER-B launched two rovers—Spirit and Opportunity—in 2003. Both rovers landed on Mars in January 2004 to begin what would become an astonishing run of scientific investigation. The rovers exceeded their expected lifetimes of 90 Martian days by many years.

This patch was worn by members of “Team Delta,” comprising members from NASA, the United States Air Force, and Boeing who were responsible for the launch. The missions were launched on Boeing Delta rockets. The patch features the Warner Bros. cartoon character Marvin the Martian. The MER-B patch featured his nemesis, Duck Dodgers, as played by Daffy Duck. The inscription 1SLS refers to a launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex in Florida.

Physical Description

A round, embroidered patch about four inches in diameter. In the center is the Marvin the Martian cartoon character, saluting. He (it?) is against a field that is blue on top and has vertical red and white stripes at the bottom. The outer part of the patch has a white inscription against a black background that reads “MARS EXPLORATION ROVER – A” / “NASA JPL BOEING CORNELL”. Three smaller inscriptions around Marvin read “1SLS”, “Red Planet Gladiators”, and “LOONEY TUNES TM & © Warner Bros.”

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