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Lot #6524
Dave Scott's Apollo 15 Lunar Surface-Flown Combined LRV 'Photo' and 'Contour' Maps

Incredible pairing of lunar dust-covered 'photo' and 'contour' maps "carried aboard Lunar Roving Vehicle #1 on the surface of the Moon for three days"

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Estimate: $40000+
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Description

Incredible pairing of lunar dust-covered 'photo' and 'contour' maps "carried aboard Lunar Roving Vehicle #1 on the surface of the Moon for three days"

Dave Scott's incredible lunar flown Hadley Rille EVA II photo and contour maps carried aboard the Lunar Roving Vehicle 1 for three days of lunar surface exploration during the Apollo 15 mission. Both maps measure 8 x 10.5 and consist of the same 1:25,000 scale section of the Hadley Apennine region and the second planned traverse route of the LRV. Mission Commander Scott has signed and flight-certified the front and back to both maps in blue and black felt tip, "This map was used aboard Lunar Rover #1 during Apollo 15, July 26-Aug 7, 1971, Dave Scott, Apollo 15 CDR," and has circled and marked the location of the "Spur" crater on both maps. Also included is the original same-size adhesive sheet used to affix the maps back-to-back, which is also signed and flight-certified in blue felt tip, "This adhesive sheet was used to bind together the LRV Photo Map for EVA-II and the LRV Contour Map for EVA-II, during Apollo 15, July 26-Aug 7, 1971, Dave Scott, Apollo 15 CDR." Both maps include crater names and planned exploration stations for the EVA-II. Contour lines on both maps depict the relative height above the base altitude of the moon, with white lines on photo map showing major elevations, and black lines on contour map showing detailed elevations; circular notes at each station define the bearing and distance from the station back to the lunar module. The photo map also bears black ink notations by an unknown hand, which identifies various craters and craterlets such as: Domingo, Lightning, Blinky, Fifty One, Window, Tecumseh, Exuperay, and High. These maps were temporarily removed from a book of 'LM Lunar Surface Maps' and mounted to a rover post with a large clip for three days of surface excursions. Both maps, as well as the adhesive sheet, contain races of lunar dust and were exposed to the temperature extremes, radiation, and solar wind on the surface of the moon. In overall fine condition, with expected wear from use.

Accompanied by a signed letter of authenticity from Scott, in part: “I hereby certify that the combined Apollo 15 Lunar Rover 'Photo Map' and Contour Map,' both 'HADLEY RILLE, EVA-II,' with the internal binding 'Adhesive Sheet' included with this letter were carried aboard Lunar Roving Vehicle #1 on the surface of the Moon for three days during Apollo 15, the first extended scientific exploration of the Moon, July 26-August 7, 1971…As the mission commander of Apollo 15, I was in charge of the handling, use and dissemination of the Flight Data File, as such, these two LRV Maps (Photo and Contour) as well as the binding Adhesive Sheet have been in my personal collection since NASA presented it to me upon our return to Earth." Two of the most significant lunar exploration results in the entire Apollo lunar program were discovered during the second EVA of Apollo 15. CDR Scott and LMP Jim Irwin recovered huge amounts of soil samples at Station 6 (Apennine Front) and Station 7 (Spur Crater), the latter being the site of two utterly unique lunar finds: the ‘Genesis Rock,’ a large sample composed primarily of anorthite and formed in the early stages of the solar system, at least four billion years ago; and the 'green rock,' which, almost 40 years later, was discovered to contain water molecules, findings that pointed to the existence of water deep beneath the moon's surface. Truly, an unprecedented assemblage of navigation maps related to the historic second EVA of Apollo 15, the first mission to use the lunar rover. From the personal collection of Dave Scott.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Space Auction
  • Dates: #526 - Ended April 19, 2018





This item is Pre-Certified by STEVE ZARELLI
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