Here's Why The US Flag Sometimes Appears Backwards
Jul 03, 2018
By Hillary Brady
Jul 03, 2018
By Hillary Brady
If you’re an observant visitor, you might have noticed that the American flag on the side of the Space Shuttle Discovery on display at our Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center appears to be backwards.
No, it’s not a very large (literally and figuratively) NASA snafu. The “backwards” flag is actually part of the US Flag Code, which applies to spacecraft, aircraft, and even service members’ uniform insignia.
According to United States Army regulations, “The full-color US flag cloth replica is worn so that the star field faces forward, or to the flag’s own right.” The flag must always be positioned to look like it is flying forward, so it’s really all about perspective.
If you have the flag positioned on your left shoulder (as you can see on the Apollo astronaut’s spacesuits), then the flag appears as it would flying in the breeze on a flag pole—with the star field facing forward as the wearer moves forward. On other military uniforms, you’ll see what’s called the “reverse side flag” on the right sleeve.
Gen. Charles C. Campbell (left), commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, presents Maj. Gen. John A. Yingling with a U.S. flag. On the sleeve of Gen. Campbell's uniform you can see the reverse side flag.
This photo of the Space Shuttle Discovery and Enterprise shows the US Flag Code in action: On the side of Discovery, the flag appears as it would on a flagpole. On the side of Enterprise, you see the flag in reverse.
Space Shuttles Enterprise, left, and Discovery meet nose-to-nose at the beginning of a welcome ceremony at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Thursday, April 19, 2012, in Chantilly, Va. Discovery replaced Enterprise inside the Center's James S. McDonnell Space Hangar after the ceremony, where it will remain on permanent display. Enterprise is slated to go on display at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City.
So, the next time you stop for a Space Shuttle selfie, take a second to explore both sides of Discovery to see how the flag positions change (and show off your flag code trivia!)
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We rely on the generous support of donors, sponsors, members, and other benefactors to share the history and impact of aviation and spaceflight, educate the public, and inspire future generations. With your help, we can continue to preserve and safeguard the world’s most comprehensive collection of artifacts representing the great achievements of flight and space exploration.