As shown in this announcement in the October 1965 issue of Boys’ Life magazine, the Electronics Merit Badge (along with Space Exploration) is sixty years old. Metallurgy was also new that year, but was renamed Metals Engineering in 1972 and then discontinued in 1995.

Radio Merit Badge (originally named Wireless) was one of the original merit badges.  It continues (we happen to be a counselor for that merit badge), but Electronics covers some distinct material.  The design of the badge (a PNP transistor) remains the same today.

For an interesting story about the Space Exploration Merit Badge, read this account of an Ohio scout who earned it,