Mar 31, 2007 - Sale 2109

Sale 2109 - Lot 155

Price Realized: $ 19,200
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 18,000 - $ 22,000
FLOWN Apollo 16 Lunar Orbit Chart carried to the lunar surface. Consisting of two plates, number 1 and number 24, of the Lunar Orbit Monitor Chart which are connected together as they were on the flight. Chart 1 plots Lunar Module "Orion's" ground track and has a time marker of "26+00" which indicates the position at 26 minutes before the Power Descent Initiation (PDI) burn that would lower the LM to the surface. An ID label reads in part: "Apollo 16, April 16, 1972, SKB 32100122-384, S/N 1002." Chart 24 has the "Western Limits" of the lunar ground track and plots the position of the LM Ascent Stage at and beyond 3 minutes after lunar lift-off. On the reverse side, the tape that holds these two charts together contains a significant amount of lunar dust that is easily visible. NASA/MSC, 4 Feb 1972
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Additional Details

these charts were a navigational aid which assisted some of the first humans in landing on another celestial body. a rare artifact of cartography and human exploration.
These are part of a series of 24 charts to plot the lunar ground track for both descent and ascent from the lunar surface. They are the first and last of the series which were all taped together to make a continuous loop. On Chart 1, LM Pilot Duke has inscribed and signed: "This Lunar Navigational Chart accompanied John Young and myself to the lunar surface onboard 'Orion' - April 20 - 23, 1972, Charles M. Duke, Jr."
On Chart 24 Duke has written "Orbital Flight Path" and drawn an arrow to indicate the direction of flight. On the reverse side of the charts, an "Apollo 16 Lunar Surface Artifact" decal has been signed by Duke and lists extensive flight information. When the crew returned to the LM interior after three lunar surface exploration periods, a large amount of lunar dust was brought with them from equipment or directly from their space suits. The exposed adhesive from the tape easily collected this lunar dust during crew movement inside the LM. With a Typed Letter Signed by Charles M. Duke certifying that these charts were carried to the lunar surface and that the tape on these charts contains lunar dust.