Alan Bean’s flown food packet of cream of chicken soup that was carried to the lunar surface aboard the Lunar Module Intrepid during the historic Apollo 12 moon landing mission. The packet, 3.5˝ x 14.75˝, is signed and flight-certified in black felt tip, "Flown to the surface of the Moon in Intrepid, Nov. 1969, Alan Bean, Apollo 12 LMP." The plastic packet is missing its identification label at the bottom, but identified in the letter of provenance as serial no. 9028. In fine condition, with a bit of irregular adhesion to the ink in Bean's handwriting.
Accompanied by a letter of provenance signed by Bean, in part: "The accompanying Apollo 12 Lunar Surface Food Packet, bearing a label reading 'Cream of Chicken Soup, Serial Number 9028,' and a flight-certification in my hand…accompanied Pete Conrad and me to the lunar surface aboard our Apollo 12 Lunar Module Intrepid in November, 1969. The vast majority of food carried by the Moonwalkers to the lunar surface was either consumed, or left behind on the Moon due to its disposable nature prior to liftoff. This food packet became a treasured part of my personal space collection upon its return from the Moon in November, 1969." Also includes a candid photograph of Alan Bean holding the packet.
The meals on Apollo 12 were comprised of more than 70 items, ranging from rehydratable freeze-dried items, wet-pack and spoon-bowl foods, and meals ready to eat. The food for the Apollo missions was prepared and packaged by the Whirlpool Corporation in conjunction with the U.S. Army Laboratory in Natick, Massachusetts. A wet-pack example like this cream of chicken soup required the astronauts to inject water into the food bag using a water gun. The package would then be cut open with scissors and consumed.
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