Space Exploration

[NASA, Apollo Program]

Sterling Silver Bowl presented to Dr. George Mueller on his Retirement from NASA. With Marshall Space Flight Center Model dated December 8, 1969.

Cryptocurrency Accepted

Auction Closed

July 15, 04:56 PM GMT

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

A sterling silver bowl, 12.5 inches in diameter and 7 inches tall, presented to Dr. George Mueller to celebrate his retirement from NASA. Inscription on one side reads: “PRESENTED TO / GEORGE E. MUELLER/ ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR MANNED SPACE FLIGHT / 1963-1969 / BY HIS FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES IN THE SPACE PROGRAM OF THE UNITED STATES / JANUARY 20, 1970." On the opposite side, the Apollo 11 lunar plaque is replicated in an engraving. The inscription features the two images of Earth’s sides, with the text: “HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH / FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON / JULY 1969, AD./ WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND.” The signatures of NEIL ARMSTRONG; MICHAEL COLLINS; EDWIN E. ALDRIN, JR; and President RICHARD NIXON are etched into the silver. Maker’s mark of Manchester Silver Co. on the underside of base with engraved text: “Sterling/ 804/ Reproduction of/ Paul Revere Bowl/ by Manchester.” Manchester Silver Co. operated out of Providence, Rhode Island from 1914-1985.

WITH: Metal Marshall Flight Center Model of a Saturn V launching, affixed to metal base. Model measures 4.75 inches tall on base with a 3.25 x 3.25 footprint. The inscription on the base reads: “PRESENTED TO DR. GEORGE E. MUELLER / MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER / DECEMBER 8, 1969.”

Originally from the personal collection of Dr. George E. Mueller (1918-2015).

A STERLING SILVER BOWL PRESENTED TO DR. GEORGE MUELLER ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM NASA

Hailed as “The Man who put Men on the Moon” and the “Father of the Manned Spacecraft Program,” Dr. George Mueller played a pivotal role at NASA from 1963-1969. He was originally sworn in as Deputy Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight on September 1, 1963, but his title quickly changed to Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight after an internal reorganization and he remained in that role until he left NASA in December 1969. Mueller led the Office of Manned Spaceflight at NASA Headquarters, what is now the Human Operations and Exploration Mission Directorate. In this role, he shaped all operations leading to the fulfillment of President Kennedy’s ambitious goal of a lunar landing by the end of the decade. Renowned pioneer of spaceflight Dr. Werner Von Braun commented, “Without George Mueller, we would not have landed on the moon as soon as we did.” Mueller set and managed the schedule for the entire program and ensured that the costs of landing men on the Moon, when accounting for inflation, were exactly the same as projected at the outset of the program six years before.

The smaller rocket model encapsulates one of his key contributions to the Apollo Program and later missions. One of the innovations Mueller brought to the program to keep the United States from falling behind the Soviet Union in the Space Race was the switch to “All-Up” testing. A concept from Mueller’s previous work with the Air Force ballistic missile program, “All-Up” testing allowed for simultaneous flight testing of rocket stages. This differed from NASA’s prior approach, in which they tested each stage separately.

Mueller shepherded the agency through the completion of the Apollo program as well as the early development of Skylab and space shuttle projects.