John F. Kennedy Space Center
N.A.S.A.
The official Apollo 11 Insignia
This postcard is unused.
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The Apollo 11 mission emblem was designed by Astronaut Michael Collins, who wanted a symbol for "peaceful lunar landing by the United States". At Lovell's suggestion, he chose the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, as the symbol. Tom Wilson, a simulator instructor, suggested an olive branch in its beak to represent their peaceful mission. Collins added a lunar background with the Earth in the distance.
Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins decided not to put their names on the patch, so it would "be representative of everyone who had worked toward a lunar landing".
