I. DESCRIPTION: A gold colored stylized shooting star with three contrails enfiling an elyse saltirewise. The device is placed on the appropriate existing aviation badges.

II. SYMBOLISM: The badge design is the same as that for Army Aviation (aviator, flight surgeon, crewmember, etc.) with the shooting star and elliptical orbit superimposed over the shield. The shooting star passing through the elliptical orbit implies space and the astronaut’s theatre of operations.

III. AWARD ELIGIBILITY: The appropriate Astronaut Badge may be awarded to any individual who has been awarded any one of the Army Aviation Badges as specified in AR 600-8-22, and who completes a minimum of one operational mission in space (50 miles above earth). Astronauts, who have not been awarded an aviation badge previously, will be awarded the crewmember badge.

IV. DATE APPROVED: The Army Astronaut Device was approved on 17 May 1983.

V. SUBDUED BADGES: Subdued badges are authorized in metal and cloth. The metal badge is black with brown device. The cloth badge is of olive green base cloth with design elements embroidered in black. The astronaut device is brown.

VI. MINIATURE BADGES: Dress miniature badges are authorized for each of the astronaut badges.