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Lot #72
Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 Flown LM Lunar Surface Checklist Page

"Used by Neil and me just after Eagle's landing on Apollo XI"—a significant LM Lunar Surface Checklist from Aldrin's collection, also signed by Collins

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Estimate: $35000+
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Description

"Used by Neil and me just after Eagle's landing on Apollo XI"—a significant LM Lunar Surface Checklist from Aldrin's collection, also signed by Collins

Important flown double-sided page from the Apollo 11 LM Lunar Surface Checklist carried to the moon on the Lunar Module 'Eagle,' 5.5 x 8, signed and flight-certified on both sides in blue ballpoint, "Used by Neil and me just after Eagle's landing on Apollo XI, Buzz Aldrin" and "Flown to the Lunar Surface on Apollo XI, Buzz Aldrin." Also signed once in the upper right corner by in blue felt tip by the Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot, "Michael Collins." The page details some steps taken about an hour after landing, including preparations for an emergency liftoff to include star sightings (ensuring proper navigational alignment) and configuring circuit breakers to test the rendezvous radar. In very fine condition.

Accompanied by a detailed letter of provenance signed by Buzz Aldrin, offering incredible detail about Neil Armstrong’s precise efforts to make a safe landing on the moon, then their steps to prepare for an emergency liftoff. In part: "Accompanying this letter is a sheet numbered SUR-9 and SUR-10 from the Apollo 11 LM Lunar Surface Checklist, Part No. SKB32100074-363, S/N 1001. The checklist was taken to the Moon on the flight of Apollo 11 during July 16 to 24, 1969. Then the entire checklist, including this sheet, was carried to the surface of the Moon in Lunar Module Eagle during the first lunar landing on July 20, 1969. This sheet has the important steps Neil Armstrong and I performed in Eagle just about an hour after the first manned lunar landing.

Neil made a beautiful landing. The Lunar Module was automatically targeting us into a large boulder-filled crater. He expertly maneuvered Eagle away from that crater and landed with less than 30 seconds of descent fuel remaining. After landing we started a series of procedures listed in the initial pages of the Lunar Surface Checklist. The pages before SUR-9 had Neil and I preparing for a possible emergency lift-off some 2 hours after landing. That included a series of star sightings to align the navigational equipment to our exact position we now called 'Tranquillity Base.'

Side SUR-9 has the continuation of steps Neil and I worked through to put Eagle in a secure posture less than 45 minutes prior to the possible emergency lift-off. We were monitoring lunar gravity measurements and making additional star sightings in insure the proper alignment of the nav equipment.

Side SUR-10 has additional star sighting steps as well as configuring circuit breakers to test our rendezvous radar (RNDZ RDR). This was very important in case we had to leave the Moon within the next 35 minutes to perform a successful rendezvous with Mike Collins in Columbia. The last step on this side was for Neil and I to don our space suit helmets and gloves. Of course that emergency lift-off did not occur and just a few hours later Neil Armstrong and I became the first humans to walk on another celestial body, the Moon."

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Science and Technology
  • Dates: #650 - Ended December 15, 2022





This item is Pre-Certified by STEVE ZARELLI
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