NASA Missions and the American Flag (Photos)

Orion

NASA

The American flag decorates part of the Orion spacecraft crew module inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Facility at Kennedy Space Center.

Representing during Work

NASA

On the left shoulder of astronaut Patrick G. Forrester's spacesuit, the United States flag is clear as he works with the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE).

Teamwork

NASA

Apollo 9 astronauts, from left, James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott and Russell L. Schweickart, pose with the American flag in front of the Apollo/Saturn V for the Apollo 8 launch.

Icons

NASA

On a foggy February morning in 2014, a U.S. flag flies outside NASA's 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center.

Next Steps

NASA

The U.S. flag flies behind Apollo 17 Mission Commander Eugene A. Cernan during the mission's second moonwalk on December 12, 1972.

Proud Moments

NASA

On July 16, 1969, the American flag flew in the foreground as the giant Saturn V rocket launched the Apollo 11 mission. The rocket carried astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin into space for the first lunar landing mission.

Unique Perspectives

NASA

In a rare image taken by Buzz Aldrin, the U.S. flag flies as commander Neil Armstrong works at the lunar module Eagle.

Joy Indescribable

NASA

At Mission Control, NASA and Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) officials join flight controllers celebrating the success of the Apollo 11 mission with American flags and cigars.

Steps into Space

NASA

The United States flag plays a prominent role in this image of Expedition 35 Flight Engineer Chirs Cassidy during a spacewalk on May 11, 2013.

History Remembered

NASA

The American flag patch from Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 suit, as seen in April 2006 at the National Air and Space Museum's Garber Facility in Suitland, Md.

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Christine Lunsford
Producer and Contributing Writer

Christine Lunsford joined the Space.com team in 2010 as a freelance producer and later became a contributing writer, covering astrophotography images, astronomy photos and amazing space galleries and more. During her more than 10 years with Space.com, oversaw the site's monthly skywatching updates and produced overnight features and stories on the latest space discoveries. She enjoys learning about subjects of all kinds.