Snap: first space coin

SNAP

The first actual coin in space! Thanks to John Kraus for designing the coin that went on the flight with the Polaris crew into space. "It was such an honor to help design this “Snap” coin that flew alongside four crew coins on the Polaris Dawn mission and an even greater honor to see it fly to space. Thank you to our artist friend Erin Bonilla for beautifully turning this idea into reality. I was so blown away when the crew graciously offered this opportunity - thank you - I can’t wait to put the flown coin on display and will cherish it forever. Some insight on the design: The seven stars represent the seven astronauts I have been lucky to befriend from Inspiration4 to Polaris Dawn: Jared, Sian, Hayley, Chris, Kidd, Sarah, and Anna. My silhouette is seen capturing a Falcon 9 rising in front of sunrise, based off one of my all-time favorite photos, but with the fairing swapped out for a Dragon. Other elements include palm trees and birds representing my appreciation for the local Florida nature around the Cape. In the video you can see the flown coin floating in space. Earlier in the mission it reached new heights in Earth orbit during a crewed mission and then was exposed to the vacuum of space during the mission’s spacewalk. The still image is another unit, not flown, captured a few months ago when I saw the coin in-person for the first time. I have kept it on my person for much of the last few months as a good luck token and reminder of the exciting space program whose stories I am lucky to help share. I had it with me all throughout launch day and on the VAB roof during liftoff, knowing that a copy - and a small part of me - was joining the crew in space. Many were made, and one each for the four crew and myself flew - but each coin has a small magnetic insert that pops out. Hundreds of those smaller inserts flew, and we will be able to pop in those small flown parts into the non-flown coins, such that hundreds of coins will have a part that flew.