Apollo Artifacts

Lunar Module Computer Table Used in the LM Mission Simulator

David Meerman Scott — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 14:12:22 +0000

This Apollo Navigational Computer Information Table was originally installed in the Apollo Lunar Module Mission Simulator located at Johnson Space Center in Houston. At the close of the Apollo program, the desk was purchased by a JSC engineer.

The table was attached below panel 6 of the LMP’s control panels and can be folded away when not in use. The table serves as an all-purpose desk as well as a useful reference source with data for star list, selector logic, input and output. It’s made of aluminum and measures 14 inches by 6 inches.

A desk just like this one is prominent in an Apollo 11 photo montage of Buzz Aldrin inside the LM Eagle on the surface of the moon. The LM Computer table is on the right.

My selfie with Neil Armstrong

David Meerman Scott — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:56:50 +0000

My selfie with Neil Armstrong

At the Apollo 13 40th anniversary celebration at The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, I had an opportunity to meet and share a few words with “first man” Neil Armstrong.

I wanted to memorialize my meeting with a photo, but there was nobody near us to snap it. So like a teenager, I shot a “selfie”.

As his expression indicates, Neil thought the selfie approach was sort of funny. Despite being out of focus and not particularly flattering, I treasure this image.

It’s always an honor to meet veterans of the Apollo lunar program.

Peter Max Apollo 11 Moon Footprint art print

David Meerman Scott — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 11:49:22 +0000

Peter Max Apollo 11 Moon Footprint art print

This rare limited-edition Peter Max poster measuring 19″ x 12″ was issued on the 30th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

It’s signed by both Peter Max and Buzz Aldrin. The image takes the iconic boot photo from Apollo 11 and showcases Peter Max’s colorful cosmic 60’s style.

Hornet Plus Three: The Story of the Apollo 11 Recovery

David Meerman Scott — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:19:32 +0000

Since today is the 40th anniversary of the splashdown and recovery of Apollo 11 in the Pacific Ocean, I am thrilled to have a guest post by Bob Fish, author of the book Hornet Plus Three: The Story of the Apollo 11 Recovery. I enjoyed this book very much.

Bob is a Trustee and the Apollo curator for the USS Hornet Museum, which is located in Alameda, CA. The Hornet recovered both 11 and Apollo 12 in 1969. The USS Hornet Museum includes a number of very unique artifacts – Apollo 14 Mobile Quarantine Facility, flown Apollo command module (Block-1 unmanned), Biological Isolation Garment, SH3D Seaking helicopter.

The public is generally aware of President Richard Nixon’s activities during the Apollo 11 recovery process only during the widely-televised “welcome home” ceremony for the three astronauts. The reality is different…

Here’s Bob’s account of what happened:

On July 23, the President and his party (which included Secretary of State William Rogers, National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger, Apollo 8 astronaut Colonel Frank Borman, White House Chief of Staff Bob Haldeman, White House Press Secretary Ron Ziegler, and two others) flew from Honolulu to Johnston Island aboard Air Force One. There, the entourage transferred to two HMX-1 squadron helicopters and were ferried a couple hundred miles south to the USS Arlington, a Navy major communications relay ship. The presidential helicopters landed on the ship’s antenna deck at 5:30pm (ship time) and shortly thereafter, President Nixon spoke to an assemblage of crewmen. He later toured the ship, chatted with many sailors, and had a light dinner before turning in for the night. Photo: President Nixon’s arrival onboard the USS Arlington as he walks with CO Captain Hugh Murphree.

The group arose early the next morning and flew over to the USS Hornet by HMX-1 helicopter, arriving less than an hour before Columbia splashed down. He watched the recovery operation from the ship’s island (superstructure) before descending into hangar bay 2 for the welcome home remarks. Just minutes after that televised ceremony, watched by 500 million people, President Nixon and his group departed the ship and flew back to Johnston Island. They boarded Air Force One and began the next leg of their worldwide tour. All in all, Nixon had been in the recovery area for about 18 hours with just the three most historically-eventful ones on the USS Hornet.

President Nixon was in very high spirits the entire time. During his stay on the Arlington, he spent the night in the Commanding Officer’s stateroom. After the group had left the morning of the splashdown, Captain Hugh Murphree walked into his cabin and found a handwritten note from the president, scrawled across the “plan of the day”.

On the Hornet, the President was clapping people on the back, swapping jokes with the sailors, etc. It was not just about “politics” though he was keenly aware this amazing technological and scientific achievement placed the US in a position over the Soviets for world leadership. As a former naval officer, he really enjoyed being on Navy ships again. And, he was in the middle of the Pacific, away from most of the press, all the protestors, the spin-doctors of DC etc.

Thanks Bob for sharing the story and images on such an important anniversary.

Contractor press kits relating to the Apollo 11 mission

David Meerman Scott — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:06:39 +0000

I’ve worked in marketing and PR my entire career and am fascinated by the press kits put out by NASA and by the contractors. I was fortunate to have acquired a set of complete press kits used by a journalist while covering the Apollo 11 mission. Included are press kits from IBM (Computer systems), North American Rockwell (Command Module), Grumman (Lunar Module), TRW (Engines), and several other kits not pictured here.

Apollo 11 Parkway Viewing Site Vehicle Permit

David Meerman Scott — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:07:44 +0000

Were you there? Alas, I was not.

10:56:20 PM EDT 7/20/69 CBS News book

David Meerman Scott — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 14:28:51 +0000

This awkwardly titled book is a limited edition that was produced by CBS News for distribution to VIPs, advertisers, and affiliate executives. It provides an excellent overview of the historic conquest of the moon as reported to the American people by CBS News over the CBS Television Network. The images are all television screens and the text is all on-air dialog from Walter Cronkite, Roger Mudd, Mike Wallace, Dan Rather, special correspondent Wally Schirra and many others.

Inside the book is the business card of Frank Stanton, President of CBS and a personal note “This limited edition is the record of how CBS News met the most demanding challenge yet put to electronic journalism. We publish it with pride—in the accomplishment of Apollo 11 that we share with all Americans and the pride of achievement that we at CBS count among the great chapters in our history.”

Of a Fire on the Moon

David Meerman Scott — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 14:22:00 +0000

Of a Fire on the Moon is a fascinating synthesis of science and literature about the flight of Apollo 11 written from the unique vantage point of one of America’s premier literary journalists. This is a signed first edition, Little Brown, 1970. Mailer hung around Houston and the Cape for months to do his original reporting. Some may feel the book lacks depth or is overly cynical. But I really like Mailer’s wit, penetrating insight and philosophical scope.

Apollo 11 Mylar Command Module Thermal Coating in Lucite

David Meerman Scott — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:12:42 +0000

I had always wanted an interesting flown item from Apollo 11, the first lunar landing mission. This one inch square of Mylar encased in Lucite, would have been created by NASA as mementos for VIPs and people who worked on the mission.

Apollo 11 beta cloth patch Owens Corning commemorative lucite

David Meerman Scott — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 11:09:47 +0000

A section of beta cloth with an Apollo 11 mission emblem encased in lucite. It reads: “Man’s greatest adventure. July 20, 1969 First men set foot on the moon. Fire-safe Fiberglass Beta yarns, originated and developed by Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, were used in the space suits worn by the Apollo astronauts. This Apollo mission emblem is also printed on Beta fabric.”