Dinner Plate produced for Discovery Space Shuttle Expedition

Plate, replica dinner plate in the style of the original British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-1904 crockery produced by Royal Doulton in a special issue for Discovery Space Shuttle Expedition 1984. Image on the front shows the mission insignia: the space shuttle launching away from earth, the red, white and blue path signify its maiden voyage, with the SY Discovery in the background. The 12 stars in the background indicate the flights original numerical designation as expedition was known as STS-12. Around the design are the astronauts names: Hartsfield (Henry W. Hartsfield- Commander), Coats (Michael L Coats- Pilot), Walker (Charles D Walker- payload specialist), Resnik (Judith A Resnik- Mission Specialist 3), Hawley (Steven A Hawley- Mission Specialist 2) and Mullane (Richard M Mullane). On the rim of the plate is the original SY Discovery 1901 motif bearing a penguin inside a lifebelt. On the reverse side the plate bears the Doulton and Royal Doulton stamps and is inscribed This piece is one of the three carried on the flight of the Orbiter Discovery 1984, to celebrate the association with the first Antarctic expedition of Captain Scott, this plate is a replica of the service used on RRS Discovery 1901. This actual plate did not travel to the space but was made as an emergency batch and saved by the donor who worked for Royal Doulton in Stoke- on Trent.