[Apollo 12]

Ex. Charles "Chuck" E. McKim, Operational Team Leader on the recovery and deactivation/decontamination team from North American Aviation (later North American Rockwell) for all Apollo missions.

FLOWN TO THE MOON AND EXPOSED TO THE VACUUM OF SPACE ON APOLLO 12

Crewed by Mission Commander Charles Conrad Jr., Lunar Module Pilot Alan Bean, and Command Module Pilot Richard F. Gordon Jr., the Apollo 12 spacecraft was launched atop the Saturn V rocket on November 14, 1969. It was made up of three parts: the Command Module “Yankee Clipper,” and the Service Module (both manufactured by North American Aviation, later North American Rockwell); and the Lunar Module “Intrepid” (manufactured by Grumman Aircraft Company). The Lunar Module itself was a two stage spacecraft, with a descent stage, used to land on the lunar surface, and an ascent stage, used to re-ascend from the lunar surface and dock with the Command/Service Module.

The "Yankee Clipper” was the only part of the Apollo 12 spacecraft to return to Earth intact; the Service Module was jettisoned just prior to re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, while the descent stage of the Lunar Module was left behind on the lunar surface, and the ascent stage of the Lunar Module was jettisoned in lunar orbit, left to crash back onto the lunar surface.

As the second crewed lunar landing, the Apollo 12 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 "BOOST COVER RELEASE" decal was used to indicate to the NASA ground crew where to insert their tools to release the boost cover on the primary access hatch in the event of an emergency on the pad. This system would allow the crew to escape the vehicle as soon as possible, a safety precaution designed and built into all command modules after the tragic deaths of the Apollo 1 crew.

Included in the lot is an official crew emblem from Apollo 12. The crew chose the clipper ship to demonstrate their status as all US Navy personnel. It also references the age of maritime exploration to the space age. The portion of the lunar surface depicted on the patch relates to the Ocean of Storms area in which Apollo 12 completed their precision landing.