Description:

Apollo 11 Vintage Xerox Copy of Projected "Sequence of Significant Events" - Remarkably Accurate!

Two items relating to the Apollo 11 space mission, including a contemporaneous xeroxed copy of a mission timetable, showing times of notable mission events projected down to the second; and a vintage official NASA press photo depicting the "Apollo 11 Translunar / Transearth Trajectory Chart" displayed at the Kennedy Space Center. N.d. but probably ca. July 1969.

The lot includes:

1. A 4pp xeroxed printed copy of the Apollo 11 mission timetable, entitled "Sequence of Significant Events / Time After Lift-Off" and "Sequence of Significant Events / Lunar Orbit and Lunar Landing Operations," being projections of when major mission events would occur, on what day, hour, minute, and even second. Stapled and creased at upper left. Expected wear including light toning and isolated edge darkening. A small stain and chip are located at the bottom of the first page. Else near fine. 8.5" x 11."

It only becomes obvious that this timetable was a projection--and not a recording of actual events--by the presence of a clerical note found on the last page, which reads: "All information in this table is for a July 16, 1969 launch on a 72° azimuth and first opportunity TLI. A change in any of these constraints will result in a change in some of the event times." An azimuth is a horizontal angle from a cardinal direction (usually the north) which indicates a location in a spherical coordinate system; on July 16, 1969, the launch vehicle attained an azimuth of 72.058°. "TLI" is an abbreviation for "Trans lunar Injection," or, the propulsive maneuver used to set a spacecraft on a moon-bound trajectory.

NASA mission estimates and calculations were so accurate that many of the times listed on this "Sequence of Significant Events" were within minutes of the actual mission timeline.

Comparing the predicted times with the actual times, some examples of this precision include:

a. "Sequence of Significant Events" (p. 1) projected that "Lift-off" would occur on July 16, 1969 at 9:32 AM EDT. The Saturn AS-506 rocket launched Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969 at 9:32 AM EDT.

b. "Sequence of Significant Events" (p. 1) projected that "Insertion into Earth parking orbit" would take place 11 minutes and 24 seconds after lift-off, or at 9:43:24 AM EDT. In reality, Apollo 11 entered near-circular earth orbit at twelves minutes after lift-off, or at 9:44 AM EDT.

c. "Sequence of Significant Events" (p. 2) projected that "LM [Lunar Module] crew transfer to LM" would take place on July 20, 1969 at 9:32 AM EDT. Armstrong and Aldrin boarded the Lunar Module "Eagle" 40 minutes earlier than predicted, at 8:52 AM EDT.

d. "Sequence of Significant Events" (p. 2) projected that "LM touchdown on lunar surface" would take place on July 20, 1969 at 4:19 PM EDT. "Eagle" landed on the moon's surface on July 20, 1969 at 4:17:40 PM EDT.

e. "Sequence of Significant Events" (p. 3) projected that "Egress of LM crew to lunar surface" would take place on July 21, 1969 at 2:10 AM EDT. In actual events, Armstrong's boot hit the moon's surface about three hours earlier than projected, on July 20, 1969 at approximately 10:56:15 PM EDT.

2. An official NASA photograph showing the "Apollo 11 Translunar/Transearth Trajectory Chart" exhibited on the wall of the Kennedy Space Center, ca. July 11, 1969. The glossy color photograph was printed on Kodak paper and includes a printed press-ready caption, attribution, and copyright information verso. The serial numbers and official caption of the photo is: "108-KSC-69C-5451 Uncl. 7-11-69 / NASA-Apollo W-O F503-831 / Apollo 11 Launch Orbital Mission / Chart. / (421)(MS)." Hand-stamped "Print produced from / Unacceptable Negative / Technicolor" near the center bottom. Expected wear including a paper clip impression and several wrinkles found along the top margin, else near fine. 8" x 10."

The Apollo 11 space mission (July 16-July 24, 1969) was crewed by Commander Neil Armstrong (1930-2012); Command Module Pilot Michael Collins (1930-2021); and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr. (born 1930). While on the moon, Armstrong and Aldrin took photographs, placed a TV camera, collected geological samples, set up seismic and laser experiments, and even received a celebratory phone call from President Nixon.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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June 28, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
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