Original plate (no. 5) from the Lunar Navigational Map flown and used aboard the Apollo 16 mission, 10.5 x 7.5, signed in blue felt tip, “This chart was one of the navigational aids used by John Young and me to help us navigate to the lunar surface. This chart then remained on the moon within ‘Orion,’ during our three day lunar stay! Charles M. Duke, Jr., Apollo 16 Moonwalker.” This particular plate, which journeyed to the Descartes Highlands of the lunar surface with Duke and John Young, is marked with longitude and latitude indications and illustrates approximately 5,500 square miles of the lunar surface; two vertical white lines represent Orion’s projected flight trajectory, with Duke labelling one line “Flight Trajectory.” Reverse of map bears Duke’s signed flight certification affixed to the reverse attesting to the fact this page was on the moon for 71 hours. The accompanying sleeve also bears two more certification labels, one signed in full by Duke, the other bearing his initials. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Duke and dated March 27, 2002, reading, in part: “Our Lunar Orbit Monitor Chart…was used aboard our Lunar Module ‘Orion’…. After landing, this map then spent 72 hours within the ‘Orion,’ and was directly exposed to the lunar-surface environment each time we depressurized the cabin, and opened our hatch. During the Apollo program, NASA’s policy allowed astronauts to keep both personal effects, and disposable equipment from their flights as personal mementos…I thus chose to include this map within my personal space collection, where it has remained since being returned to me by NASA in April, 1972.” Also accompanied by a second certificate of authenticity signed by Duke, as well as a photo of Duke holding the plate after signing. In very fine condition. Duke himself perhaps best sums up the importance and rarity of this item: “This map remains endures both as a precious memento of mankind’s first historic lunar landings, and a fully-documented lunar artifact returned to Earth from the surface of the Moon!” Pre-certified Scott Cornish and RRAuction COA.
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