Apr 12, 2003 - Sale 1967

Sale 1967 - Lot 226

Unsold
Estimate: $ 70,000 - $ 90,000
ONE OF THE FEW OPERATIONAL TOOLS EVER RETURNED FROM THE LUNAR SURFACE FLOWN Apollo XVII Retractable EVA Tether. Often referred to as the "yo-yo", approximately 2x1x1 inch metal cube with a brown snap loop attachment for connecting to the EVA space suit. The cube houses a retractable line that is connected to a spring clip. The cube is engraved with part number "SEB33100291-305, S/N 1015" and the clip is stamped with part number "SEB33100292-302, S/N 1015". Np: 1972
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Additional Details



The tether was connected to Cernan's space suit during all three EVA's and spent over 22 hours on the lunar surface. The Apollo space suit was extremely stiff and did not readily bend when pressurized. The tether was used as a quick attachment for equipment and allowed for easy retrieval of dropped tools. Just a pull on the string and the item at the other end would spring back within reach.
Cernan used this clamp during the lunar rover fender repair operations. The fiberglass fender was accidentally broken off and lunar dust sprayed the vehicle during the first EVA. Early on the second EVA, Cernan and Schmitt took unneeded traverse charts and taped them into a makeshift fender. This clamp helped hold the charts in place until they were firmly secured with larger clamps from inside the LM. The white stitching on the strap has turned gray due to embedded lunar dust during this and other operations as well as the pull sting itself.
With Typed Letter Signed by Cernan describing the "YO-YO" and a photograph of Cernan on the Moon with this tether clearly visible on his space suit.