Sometimes history has a way of coming full circle. This Friday, Nov. 13, spaceflight and superstition will share the spotlight once again as SpaceX targets the 15th test flight of its Starship rocket.
The planned launch offers a timely opportunity to revisit one of the more unusual stories in NASA history: The Black Cat Patch, which was created by the astronauts originally assigned to Space Shuttle mission STS-13, later redesignated STS- 41C.
The story begins in 1983, when NASA announced the crew for what was originally designated Space Transportation System 13 (STS-13). The five astronauts selected for the mission were Cmdr. Robert “Crip” Crippen, pilot Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, and mission specialists Terry “TJ” Hart, James “Ox” Van Hoften and George “Pinky” Nelson.
The mission was later redesignated STS-41C as NASA adopted a new shuttle numbering system for the program.
The change in numbering had several practical reasons, including NASA’s plans for a higher launch tempo and operations from more than one launch site. But superstition also became part of the story. NASA Administrator James Beggs reportedly disliked the prospect of another mission numbered 13, following the infamous Apollo 13 mission.