NASA has it’s own jeweler?

Over the last three decades, Paul Dimitriu has designed jewelry for astronauts (and their spouses). More than 1,500 of his pieces, often inspired by a mission’s official crew patch, have traveled to space on more than 100 space shuttle flights. In Air & Space Smithsonian magazine, astronaut Rick Hauck profiles NASA’s unofficial jewelery designer. From the article:

In most cases the items have been stashed in the astronaut’s PPK, the Personal Preference Kit that each member of the crew is allowed to carry into orbit. Asked if he has any favorites, Dimitriu is diplomatic: “They are all favorites.” But because of its intricacy, he is particularly fond of a piece designed for Mike Bloomfield, pilot on the STS-97 flight, which in 2000 carried the International Space Station’s first large solar arrays. “Bloomer,” as he is known, credits his wife, Lori, for the design developed with Dimitriu, including the idea of placing a diamond to replace the “97” on the patch.

Link

This was posted on BoingBoing and it made me wonder.  How long has NASA had a jeweler on staff?  Why did they get one?  When did it start and why?

All those questions and more where answered in the actual article.

Tags: Interesting, jewelry, Space, Stories