Fascinating early concept drawings of the Apollo program’s iconic Command/Service and Lunar Modules by NASA engineer Willard Taub, accomplished in graphite on an off-white 18 x 12 sheet of drafting paper, with the upper legend marked as follows: “By W. Taub, Date: 3-7-63, Concept, Subject: Lunar Logistic System Payload Delivery Scheme ‘Bus’ Utilizing LEM Descent Stage, Sheet No. 5 of 6, Job No. STD-SIB, Ramp > Roll Down.” Taub has sketched a total of eight handsomely detailed illustrations that sequentially show events from lunar insertion to lunar rover rollout. Titles to each: “1. Translunar Insertion Configuration,” “2. CM Docking & Extraction of LLS/LEM,” “3. Apollo > LLS/LEM Mated,” “4. Apollo in Lunar Orbit,” “5. Lunar Descent, LLS/LEM,” “6. LLS/LEM Landed,” “7. Support Structure Deploys to Form Ramp, Operational Sequence,” and “8. LLS Veh[icle].” Most interesting about these drawings is perhaps the LM’s dual role as both a flight-ready capsule and a moon-roving vehicle, with Taub’s last illustration showing the LM’s wheeled upper half rolling down a ramp to the lunar surface. In very good condition, with staining and paper loss, heaviest to the right side.
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