This is a cloth replica of the Apollo 16 mission patch. Apollo 16 was launched by a Saturn V rocket on April 16, 1972, and returned after a little over eleven days. It was the ninth human spaceflight and the fifth lunar landing in the Apollo program. John Young and Charles Duke spent three days exploring the Moon, while Ken Mattingly remained in orbit above.
The symbolism of the patch shows an American bald eagle on top of a striped shield superimposed on the lunar surface. The golden chevron crossing it indicates flight. Sixteen stars decorate the border.
This replica was made by an unknown manufacturer for commercial sale. Mance Clayton donated the patch to the National Collection in 1982.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.