Apr 17, 2008 - Sale 2142

Sale 2142 - Lot 105

Unsold
Estimate: $ 7,000 - $ 9,000
LEAVING THE EARTH FOR THE MOONFLOWN Apollo 11 Flight Plan. A single sheet approximately 8x10 inches, page 3-2a from the flight plan. This page has the critical parameters for the Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) burn that would propel the "Columbia" and "Eagle" toward the Moon. If the burn had failed, the lunar landing would have not occurred. With a Typed Letter Signed by Buzz Aldrin describing the importance and role of the crew members during this critical flight maneuver. NASA/MSC, 1969
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The Aldrin letter reads in part: "Page 3-2a has a grid of terms and values associated with the TLI or TransLunar Injection engine burn that used the S-IVB or third stage of our Saturn V launch vehicle. This S-IVB burn was our only means of escaping the earth's gravity field and head toward the Moon. If this engine failed to ignite or did not work properly, Neil Armstrong and I would not have been able to land and walk on the Moon.
"The parts of the grid include pitch and yaw rates, attitude deviation, engine shutdown time, and residuals. The TLI burn went exactly as planned, and our next task was to release 'Columbia' from the launch vehicle and turn around to dock with Lunar Module 'Eagle' berthed at the top of the S-IVB stage. We then pulled 'Eagle' from the third stage and moved a safe distance away. We were well on our way to the first lunar landing.
"This page has been in my private collection since 1969. I have written on page 3-2a: 'Carried to the Moon on Apollo XI' and signed that page."