Space Exploration

[Apollo 12]

LUNAR SURFACE FLOWN Apollo 12 Space Food Packet — Signed and Inscribed by Lunar Module Pilot Alan Bean

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July 18, 02:44 PM GMT

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10,000 - 15,000 USD

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Lot Details

Description

[Apollo 12]

SIGNED & INSCRIBED DIRECTLY ON THE PACKET BY LUNAR MODULE PILOT ALAN BEAN: “Flew to the surface of the Moon in Intrepid, Nov 1969 / Alan Bean / Apollo 12 LMP.”

The accompanying signed statement, dated August 26, 2000, reads: “The accompanying Apollo 12 Lunar Surface Food Packet, bearing a label reading CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP, Serial Number 9028, and a flight-certification in my hand reading: 'FLOWN TO THE SURFACE OF THE MOON IN INTREPID, NOV 1969 / ALAN BEAN APOLLO 12 LMP'

accompanied Pete Conrad and me to the lunar surface aboard our Apollo 12 Lunar Module Intrepid in November, 1969.

The vast majority of food carried by the Moonwalkers to the lunar surface was either consumed, or left behind on the Moon due to its disposable nature prior to liftoff.

This food packet became a treasured part of my personal space collection upon its return from the Moon in November, 1969."

Included in the letter is an image of Alan Bean holding the present lot.

FLOWN TO THE LUNAR SURFACE ON APOLLO 12

Apollo 12 was the second mission to land humans on the Moon. The mission objectives included deploying the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) which remained on the lunar surface to gather scientific and engineering data; surveying and sampling future landing areas; and evaluating human capability for prolonged time on the Moon. Apollo 12 was referred to as "the Pinpoint Mission" because it also developed techniques for precision-landing capabilities. Conrad and Bean demonstrated that a precision landing was possible with the Apollo space systems. They also collected rock samples and components from the nearby U.S. Surveyor 3 spacecraft, which had landed on the lunar surface approximately two and a half years prior.

The typical crew menu on the Apollo 12 Mission featured more than 70 items of freeze-dried rehydratable, wet-pack, and spoon-bowl foods to keep the crew sustained over the 10 day journey. There was also a snack pantry in the spacecraft's Pantry Stowage section. A Press Kit released for Apollo 12 determines Cream of Chicken Soup, the present lot, to be designated "Meal C," eaten at dinner on day 1 and 5 of the mission.

REFERENCES:

NASA. Apollo 12 Stowage List. Mission AS 507 CM 108/LM-6. Houston, Texas: Manned Spacecraft Center, November 18, 1969. page 69

NASA. Apollo 12 Press Kit. Release No: 69-148. Dated October 29, 1969.