Apollo Artifacts

CSM Shut off valve

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:21:36 +0000

CSM Shutoff Valve

This valve, manufactured by Vacco Valves of El Monte, CA on July 7, 1967 was intended for use with the Apollo CSM. Details: Valve, Angle, Shut-Off. ME284-0181-0007. Stock # 5527. NAS9-150. NAA/S&ID Inspe.S/N. MA-6P-405-2G. S/N 11396-54 (R-1)

Apollo Command Module SIM Bay camera second-generation film

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:14:44 +0000

Apollo Command Module SIM Bay camera second-generation film

The Apollo Command Modules for Apollo 15, Apollo 16, and Apollo 17 were equipped with the Apollo Scientific Instrument Module (SIM) Bay Cameras, including the 24-inch-focal-length optical bar panoramic camera produced by the Itek Optical Systems Division of Lexington, Massachusetts.

The cameras took photos of lunar landscape as the CSM circled the moon. The film was exposed in lunar orbit, and retrieved by the space-walking command module pilot during the coast back to Earth. The space walk of Apollo 15 CM pilot Al Worden to retrieve film was conducted more than 200,000 miles away from the earth, a world record. The first generation film canisters were returned to Earth and copies made. The original first generation flown canisters are now at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston in cold storage.

These films are marked 2nd generation (which is the master used by NASA to create prints and other negatives/positives). The labels state that they are “Master Direct Negative” and/or “Master Direct POS”. Each frame measures approximately four feet long and 9 inches wide and each canister contains 30+ frames.

Apollo CSM Cryogenic ground umbilical coupler

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:59:48 +0000

Apollo CSM Cryogenic ground umbilical coupler

This coupler was used for supplying liquid Oxygen to the Apollo Fuel Cell storage tanks. Subcontracted by North American Aviation (builder of the CSM) to Fairchild Hiller Corporation under NASA Contract NAS9-150 (CSM).

Cryogenic Hydrogen and Oxygen comprised the constituent reactants used by the onboard Fuel cells to provide power, drinking water and heating. The Oxygen tanks also supplied metabolic breathing oxygen to the crew.

Edgar Mitchell’s Apollo 14 flown heel restraints

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:31:34 +0000

Edgar Mitchell’s Apollo 14 flown heel restraints

This pair of heel restraints was used in the Apollo 14 command module during liftoff.

They were used to secure the astronaut’s feet in place during the violent early stages of the Saturn V launch to prevent injury.

The restraints are made of a very lightweight metal and heavy duty stirrup straps with Velcro closures.

The items were manufactured by B. Welson Co.

I was able to acquire these heel restraints directly from Apollo 14 Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell.

Apollo Command Module Instrument Panel 16

David Meerman Scott — Sun, 03 May 2015 08:58:28 +0000

Apollo Command Module Instrument Panel 16

This instrument panel controlled The Crewman Optical Alignment Sight (COAS) power and docking light controls for use in the critical maneuver of docking the Apollo Command Module with the Lunar Module.

It is located just below the docking window on the right side of the main instrument panel.

The COAS provided the Commander with gross range cues and closing rate cues during the docking maneuver through projecting a collimated image of an internal reticle on a nearly transparent ‘combiner’ angled at 45 degrees so that the image could be seen by the user.

This particular panel had been installed in the simulator and was used for training astronauts during simulated docking procedures.

Apollo Command Module Main Control Panel 2F

David Meerman Scott — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 10:27:27 +0000

Apollo Command Module Main Control Panel 2F

This CM Panel 2F controls the Cryogenics and Environmental System controls and is positioned in front of the CM pilot and LM pilot.

The panel contains cryogenic tank indicators, cabin fan switches, H2 and O2 heaters, O2 pressure, H2 and O2 fans, cabin temperature, and much more.

This panel is block I, but shares many similarities with the Block II version.

I particularly like this because this panel is known to many people due to Apollo 13. The “stir the tank” switch and “are we dead yet due to CO2” readout are on this panel. Even people who are not space collectors get excited about this because it is familiar from the Apollo 13 movie, so it is be fun to show to people and point out the bits from the film. This is, of course, not the actual panel that flew on Apollo 13 but rather an earlier model of that panel.

This panel is in great condition. It is clearly flight quality as all the switches and displays are definitely the real thing.

The size is approximately 18″ x 16″ x 20 pounds. The item is encased in oak with a handle and acrylic backing so it will stand up for display and I can carry it.

Apollo 12 Flown Command Module Rotational Controller Handle

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 04:20:24 +0000

Apollo 12 Flown Command Module Rotational Controller Handle

My favorite artifact in my collection is this fantastic Command Module Rotational Controller Handle used on Apollo 12, which I acquired from the personal collection of Apollo 12 Lunar Module Pilot Alan Bean.

It is a milled aluminum handle, approximately 4.5″ tall with a black “trigger” and indented finger grips.

This “joystick” was used in the Apollo 12 Command Module Yankee Clipper for manual control of the spacecraft across any of the three axes- pitch, roll, and yaw.

It was removed after the successful mission and presented to Lunar Module Pilot Alan Bean custom mounted to a walnut base with an engraved plate.

The wonderful NASA image of Apollo 12 Command Module Pilot Dick Gordon in the CM while he is in training for Apollo 12 clearly shows the handle over his left shoulder.

Flown Apollo 17 T&D cue card

David Meerman Scott — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 04:53:40 +0000

This Apollo 17 T&D cue card was an important tool during the outbound journey from the earth to the moon.

It was used to ensure the correct sequence of maneuvers to execute the transposition and docking of the Command /Service Module (CSM) with the Lunar Module (LM) which for liftoff had been located in the Apollo Saturn V third stage (S-IVB).

The steps included separating the CSM from the S-IVB, pitching the CSM 180° and proceeding to dock with the LM by inserting a probe at the top the CSM into a drogue at the top of the LM.

Unlike many cue cards which were carried in the case of contingencies and never used, this cue card detailed a critical part of the mission.

Flown Apollo 17 T&D; cue card

David Meerman Scott — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 04:53:40 +0000

Flown Apollo 17 T&D; cue card

This Apollo 17 T&D; cue card was an important tool during the outbound journey from the earth to the moon.

The steps included separating the CSM from the S-IVB, pitching the CSM 180° and proceeding to dock with the LM by inserting a probe at the top the CSM into a drogue at the top of the LM.

Unlike many cue cards which were carried in the case of contingencies and never used, this cue card detailed a critical part of the mission.

Marquardt R-4D Apollo spacecraft attitude control engine

David Meerman Scott — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 13:57:21 +0000

Marquardt R-4D Apollo spacecraft attitude control engine

The Marquardt R-4D was developed as an attitude control thruster for the Apollo Service Module and Lunar Module.

Sixteen engines similar to this one were mounted on the exterior of each lunar module in four quadruple clusters and sixteen on each service module. Because both the lunar module and service module were jettisoned during the Apollo missions, no flown examples exist.

The Marquardt Corporation was awarded the contract to build the reaction-control rocket engines for the Apollo spacecraft in 1963. They were first flown in the unmanned Apollo-Saturn 201 test flight launched in February 1966. Designed for maneuvering in space, this was a bipropellant engine using hypergolic nitrogen tetroxide and hydrazine as propellants, generating 100+ pounds of thrust.

The Marquardt R-4D was used in other applications including the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) which was cancelled. My engine was likely for that program.

The combustion chamber and nozzle are radiation cooled disilicide coated molybdenum to an expansion ration of 6.8 at which point a light-weight, thin-walled L-605 super alloy (Columbium alloy formally known as Nobium) expansion bell is attached which expands to a 40:1 area ratio.

Apollo use Characteristics:
Engine: 3.63 kg (8.00 lb). Chamber Pressure: 6.93 bar. Area Ratio: 164. Thrust to Weight Ratio: 13.7366869592086. Oxidizer to Fuel Ratio: 1.65. Coefficient of Thrust vacuum: 1.88806724749259.
Unfuelled mass: 3.63 kg (8.00 lb).
Height: 0.55 m (1.82 ft).
Diameter: 0.28 m (0.92 ft).
Thrust: 490 N (110 lbf).
Specific impulse: 312 s.