Apollo 15 Flown printed fabric Bolivian flag Signed Dave Scott

Flown printed fabric Bolivian flag, 6 x 4, flown to lunar orbit aboard Apollo 15, signed in blue ink on the yellow panel, “Flown around the Moon for 6 days (74 orbits), Apollo 15, July 26–Aug 7, ’71, Dave Scott, Apollo 15 CDR.” Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Scott which reads, in part: “I hereby certify that the national flag of Bolivia included with this letter was flown around the moon for 6 days (74 orbits) during Apollo 15…July 26-August 7, 1971…and was carried in my Personal Preference Kit (PPK) aboard the Command and Service Module, Endeavor…This national flag of Bolivia has been in my personal collection since returning to Earth.” In fine condition. Pre-certified Steve Zarelli and RR Auction COA.

http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=485

Jim Irwin Communication Carrier Electronic Module Apollo 15

Jim Irwin’s Communication Carrier Electronic Module (CCEM), part no. 16495G-02, serial number 257, manufactured by the David Clark Company, and worn by Jim Irwin during the Apollo 15 mission, including on the lunar surface. This module is the hardware component of the Communications Carrier Assembly, more commonly known as the ‘Snoopy Cap.’ It consists of earphones and microphones for both the right side and the left side. The two sides are joined with a 10.5? wiring harness. In addition the right side has a wiring harness with a connector at the end for connecting to the spacecraft umbilical cable. The electronics for the earphones and microphones are contained within blue molded rubber enclosures, with molded recesses for the earphones. These rubber enclosures would be held in place over the astronaut's ears while wearing the ‘Snoopy Cap’. The wire harnesses are covered with Teflon fabric, which is the same fabric used for the ‘Snoopy Cap.’ In fine condition, with the right earphone having been cut for a repair and then resealed. The module comes with its plastic storage bag, with a JSC Projects Parts tag stapled to the outside, dated March 6, 1996. Four other labels are affixed to the bag including a NASA Cleaned For Service tag dated March 9, 1995 (to prepare the module for long-term storage), and a Boeing FEPC Form 1106.

This particular lunar-worn item has taken a unique and interesting path from the lunar surface until now. First worn by Irwin during the Apollo 15 mission, including on the lunar surface during his three moonwalks. Shortly after his return to earth, his entire Communications Carrier Assembly (CCA) was inventoried and placed into NASA bonded storage. After receiving an internal request, NASA reissued this CCA in support of the Skylab to be used during astronaut training. At this point, an Apollo Spacecraft Hardware Utilization Request (ASHUR), dated August 12, 1971, was issued authorizing transfer and downgrading the unit from a Class I flight article to Class II. The form shows Irwin's headset overall part and serial number, “16536G-04 S/N 257”; while each individual part carried its own serial number as well. The document states, “These units are to be assigned as flight crew training units as required for remaining Apollo missions and Skylab missions…Upon completion of crew system training requirements, these communication carriers will be returned to MSC bonded storage for disposition as artifacts.” A number of years later, NASA decided the assembly was no longer needed and released it to GSA auctions for disposal as an artifact. Accompanying the module are copies of the ASHUR tag (the original being housed in the National Archives), as well as a copy of the 2010 receipt for the lot sold by GSA. Arguably one of the most important pieces of equipment necessary for space travel and EVAs, this particular piece is believed to be the first such complete module to become available for sale, and is sure to be a centerpiece of any space collection. RR Auction COA.

 http://www.rrauction.com/preview_itemdetail.cfm?IN=636

RR Auctions Flown Apollo 15 Postal Cover Carried to the Lunar Surface

Uncommon Apollo 15 postal cover, 6.5 x 3.75, #108 of 300, carried to the lunar surface aboard the Falcon, signed in the lower left corner by crew members Dave Scott, Al Worden, and Jim Irwin. In fine condition. This particular cover comes from astronaut Jim Irwin’s personal collection. Accompanied by a one-page typed notarized certification, signed “Alfred M. Worden,” “David R. Scott,” and “James B. Irwin.” The provenance reads in part: “Postal covers were carried aboard the Apollo 15 Mission, which postal covers were stamped and postmarked at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on the date of the launch, July 26, 1971, and carried aboard the Apollo 15 Spacecraft during the entire term of the Mission, to include landing on the moon and were returned to the Earth at the termination of the Mission on August 7, 1971…The postal covers were in the possession of one or more of the undersigned until 1972, at which time they were deposited with the United States Government…The undersigned have this date inspected Postal Cover No. 176, bearing NASA Serial No. 223, and aver, affirm and certify that said Postal Cover is a cover which was carried aboard the United States Lunar Mission—Apollo 15.” Also accompanied by a 2013 certificate of authenticity from Irwin’s son, James B. Irwin II. In fine condition.

As was common practice on Apollo missions, postal covers and medallions were carried aboard the spacecraft as mementoes. Because of the increased mass of equipment to be carried by the Apollo 15 lunar module (including the Lunar Rover), the number of medallions was halved and 400 postal covers were carried instead. The covers were provided by a German stamp dealer, for which he would retain 100 (not to be sold on the open market) and 300 would be divided among the crew (a fee was also offered, but eventually declined). Several months after the mission, the German stamp dealer advertised his 100 covers for sale. When the situation came to NASA's attention, NASA impounded all of the crew’s covers, which were then deposited in the National Archives. In February 1983, the crew brought legal action against NASA for return of the covers.  A settlement was reached quickly and on July 19, 1983, NASA returned the covers to the crew in a private meeting at the National Archives.

During the settlement, the crew signed a notarized letter of provenance for each cover. The legal document is, of course, specific in its detail, noting that the postal covers “were carried aboard the Apollo 15 Mission…and carried aboard the Apollo 15 Spacecraft during the entire term of the Mission to include…the moon, and were returned to the Earth at the termination of the Mission on August 7, 1971.” 

The trail of the offered cover is a piece of space collectible legend, with the provenance that tells the story in great detail! Pre-certified Steve Zarelli and RR Auction COA.

http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=479

RR Auction Apollo 15 Signed Launch Day ‘Bishop’ Commemorative Cover

Launch day ‘Bishop’ commemorative cover with a cachet honoring Apollo 15, postmarked July 26, 1971, at the Kennedy Space Center, signed in black felt tip by Dave Scott, Al Worden, and Jim Irwin. In fine condition. Pre-certified Steve Zarelli and RR Auction COA.

http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=583

RRAuctions Apollo 15 Flown Sterling Silver Snoopy Pin

Flown sterling ‘Silver Snoopy’ pin, ‘Type IV’ carried on board Apollo 15, and carried in the pocket of Dave Scott’s space suit during all three EVAs during the mission. Pin measures approximately .5″ tall, and is marked on the reverse with a lowercase “r,” stamped “Sterling,” and also stamped “United Features Syndicate,” underneath the pin. Pin also retains its clutch back. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Dave Scott stating, in part, “I hereby certify that the Silver Snoopy pin included with this letter is from my personal collection was carried in the pocket of my A7L-B spacesuit during Apollo 15…This Snoopy Pin was carried during each of our three EVAs at Hadley Apennine site, including the highest point reached on Hadley Delta Mountain. The location of the pocket in which the flag was carried can be seen in the photo above.” A small printed photo of Scott on the lunar surface is at the top of the letter identifying the pocket. RRAuction COA.

http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=516

RR Auctions Apollo 15 Flown Umbilical Cable

Flown umbilical cable, S/N B009827, with connectors, carried on board Apollo 15 which connected the command module and lunar module, coiled and mounted to a 16 x 10 wooden plaque, with a small presentation plaque which reads, “This umbilical served as the electrical connection between Falcon (the LM) and Endeavour (the CM) during the flight of Apollo 15. July 26-Aug. 2, Apollo Year 3 / Presented by the crew of Apollo 15 to Deke Slayton.” In fine condition. A critical flown item which provided necessary power to ‘Falcon’ until it undocked and proceeded to the Hadley Rille in Apennine Mountain region of the Moon. Provenance: Aurora Galleries, 2003; Deke Slayton Family Collection. RRAuction COA.

http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=517

RR Autograph Auctions Apollo 15 Flown Lunar Module Stowage Bag

Large Apollo 15 lunar module stowage bag, used for the temporary storage of lunar samples and soiled with lunar dust from the Hadley-rille region of the moon. Beta cloth bag measures approximately 29 x 18.5. Bag has a two-zipper large storage compartment which is soiled inside with lunar dust. Smaller compartments on the outside are labeled “PGA Drink Bags,” “Temp Stow Bag,” and “Utility Light.” Each zippered compartment is covered with a Velcro flap. Bag also has four brown adjustable brown straps with a clip at each end. Bag also has two solid metal clips. There are two tags attached to one of the loops. The first is a yellow parts removal tag from the Space Division, North American Rockwell Corporation, filled in by an employee identifying the model number V36-3, Stowage Bag (LM) and dated October 13, 1971, and a smaller handwritten label which reads, “Lunar Module Storage Bag Apollo 15, P.N. NPL; White, large, dirty. Transfer.”

Accompanied by a January 22, 1996 letter from a staff agent of the Mascoutah Aerospace Museum, which reads, in part: “I am transferring to you, the large flown Apollo 15 Lunar Module stowage bag. This Lunar Module bag was part of a larger collection of flown Apollo artifacts, acquired by the Mascoutah Aerospace Museum. This flown Apollo 15 beta material bag can be identified in the following ways:

On the back panel is a faint Smithsonian ‘NASM’ ink inventory stamp…It is also marked with a large yellow parts removal tag…It is identified with the ‘Removal Number #769,’…this is then followed by Several Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum inventory stamps, inspection numbers and finally dated “10/13/71”…The Apollo 15 crew used this large bag to return ‘excessive’ quantities of lunar samples. This bag was originally to be left on the lunar surface with the whole host of other items marked for disposal. This bag was then stored in the Lunar Module, transferred to the Command Module and then returned back to earth with those ‘excessive’ amounts of lunar samples.”

This large, LM temporary stowage bag represents a rare opportunity to own a complete and important lunar surface artifact. Flown items from any moon mission are highly desirable, but lunar surface items of this size and quality that have been soiled from exposure to lunar dust even more so. Owning any stand-alone moon rock or fragment is illegal, making this bag and its trace amounts of lunar soiling from the Hadley-rille region as close to owning a moon rock as possible. RRAuction COA.  

http://rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=449