Lot 244
  • 244

[APOLLO 12, 14, 15]. VERY LARGE FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHS OF APOLLO LUNAR SURFACE PANORAMAS

Estimate
1,200 - 1,800 USD
bidding is closed

Description

A set of three very large black and white photographs, each 20 by 24 inches, all having the watermark text of: “This Paper Manufactured by Kodak” on verso. All were printed just after the flight by NASA in conjunction with post mission analysis including reconstruction of exact distances and traverses made by the astronauts while on the Moon

Catalogue Note

1) APOLLO 12 PANORAMIC VIEW PROVIDING A PROSPECTIVE OF SURVEYOR 3'S VIEW OF THE MOON. Captions along the lower border reads in part: "Prepared by Mapping Sciences Laboratory, Science & Applications Directorate, Manned Spacecraft Center, January 1970." Astronauts Conrad and Bean’s major task during the second lunar EVA on November 20, 1969 was to examine, photograph, and return parts from the robotic Surveyor 3 spacecraft that landed some 31 months earlier. They completed a partial Hasselblad pan of the area which has Surveyor 3's TV camera and extendable sample collection arm at the left and center. Small craters are visible at the pan center and to the right with the lunar horizon located along the top. A better understanding of long term exposure of flight equipment on the lunar surface was gained by the return of these parts by Conrad and Bean. 2) ASTRONAUT MITCHELL NEAR THE EDGE OF CONE CRATER AFTER TRAVELING THE GREATEST WALKING DISTANCE FROM A LUNAR MODULE. Captions along the upper and lower border read in part: "APOLLO 14 PANORAMA - Boulder Field High on Flank of Cone Crater at Point of Maximum Distance from Lunar Module, EVA 2." Astronauts Shepard and Mitchell traveled up the extremely rugged and boulder strewn slope of Cone Crater in an attempt to reach the rim. Due to time and oxygen supply limitations, Mission Control advised them begin geologic sampling and panoramic (pan) photography at the area seen in this panoramic photograph. The first series of these Hasselblad images face north to east along the upper part of this large print and the second series of images continuing the view from the south toward the west. Astronaut Mitchell is seen in this pan.

3) EXTENSIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION SHOWING THE WESTERN WALL OF HADLEY RILLE DURING APOLLO 15 EVA 3. A caption along upper top reads: "EVA 3 RILLE MOSAIC." This series of over lapping Hasselblad images obtained using the 500mm telephoto lens. On their final moon surface exploration (EVA 3), Astronauts Scott and Irwin visited the rim of Hadley Rille that was located just due west of their landing site. This series of photographs were made using a 500mm telephoto lens attached to their Hasselblad camera. This panoramic image features 9 overlapping Hasselblad photographs looking at the western wall of Hadley Rille revealing hundreds of large rocks and boulders. Current analysis of lunar rilles is that most were collapsed lava tubes or channels which occurred very early in the Moon's history.