Rare autograph manuscript by Buzz Aldrin detailing the historic Apollo 11 mission, handwritten in blue ink on three 8.25 x 11.75 notebook sheets, no date, signed at the conclusion by the second man on the moon. The manuscript reads, in part: “The purpose of the Apollo XI mission was to land men on the lunar surface and to return them safely. The crew was Neil A. Armstrong, Commander; myself, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., Lunar Module Pilot; and Michael Collins, Command Module Pilot. The space vehicle was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 10:32:00 am. Est., July 16, 1969…
The spacecraft was inserted into lunar orbit at about 76 hours, and the circularization maneuver was performed two revolutions later. Initial checkout of lunar module systems was satisfactory, and after a planned rest period, the Commander and I entered the Lunar Module to prepare for descent…Descent orbit insertion was performed at approximately 101-½ hours and powered descent to the lunar surface began about 1 hour later…
The lunar module was maneuvered manually approximately 1000 feet downrange during the final 2 and ½ minutes of descent. The spacecraft landed in the Sea of Tranquility at 102:45:43…Following transfer of the crew, the ascent stage was jettisoned, and the command and service modules were prepared for transearth injections.
The return flight started with a 150-second firing of the service propulsion engine during the 31st lunar revolution at 135-½ hours…The entry phase was normal, and the command module landed in the Pacific Ocean at 195 hours…After landing, the crew donned biological isolation garments. They were then retrieved by helicopter and taken to the primary recovery ship, USS Hornet. The crew and lunar soil samples were then placed in the Mobile Quarantine Facility for transport to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory in Houston. The command module was taken aboard the Hornet about 3 hours after landing.” In fine condition. A rare and lengthy handwritten account from the Apollo 11 LMP.
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