Apollo Artifacts

Saturn V Instrument Unit directional CCS PCM antenna

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:31:26 +0000

Saturn V Instrument Unit directional CCS PCM antenna

This funky looking item is a Saturn V Instrument Unit directional CCS/PCM Antenna array. The basic structure was fabricated by Metal Research and Mr. Chris Argus of Calumet Fiberglass under subcontract to IBM (NASA Contract NAS 8-1400) and measures approximately 8 X 5 X 23 inches. The antenna cover is made of RF transparent epoxy impregnated fiberglass. The antenna and cover was recovered by a NASA engineer from a Marshall Space Flight Center dumpster after disposal. Because it is likely a test article, it lacks the final white titanium dioxide paint coating which would have been applied after installation on the launch vehicle.

This antenna was a transmit only high gain directional antenna fixed on the IU with the radiation pattern was directed toward the earth by controlling the attitude of the spacecraft. The antenna contained 5 helical elements, 4 in quadrapole arrangement for high gain UHF S-BAND (2282.5 MHZ @ 20 watts) and 1 monopole element. It assumed responsibility for the Omnidirectional antenna pair once the launch vehicle exited their range (approximately 6700 nm above the earth’s surface) and provided the Command and Communications System (CCS) downlink and Pulse Code Modulation
(PCM)/Frequency Modulated (FM) telemetry signals to ground stations while also acting as a backup tracking transponder. Two antennas were installed for redundancy onboard the Saturn V Instrument Unit in the +Z / Position “I” quadrant.

Thanks to Scott Schneeweis for the technical description of this artifact.

Apollo 13 Post-Mission Crew Press Conference transcript

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:28:13 +0000

Apollo 13 Post-Mission Crew Press Conference transcript

Apollo 13 was the US space program’s “finest hour” as what was on the surface a failure was actually a stunning success. Given little chance of coming home alive, thousands of people came together to develop untested solutions in order to bring the crew back safely.

This transcript of the post-mission crew press conference is signed by Apollo 13 commander James Lovell.

Gene Kranz’ Apollo 11 patch

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:21:19 +0000

Gene Kranz’ Apollo 11 patch

This AB Emblems Apollo 11 patch came from the personal collection of former NASA Flight Director Eugene F. Kranz (“White Flight”).

Gene Kranz Mission Control Console Sign

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:19:35 +0000

Gene Kranz Mission Control Console Sign

This is the actual MOD (Mission Operations Director) sign that sat atop the Mission Control Console of Eugene F. Kranz “White Flight”. It has been signed by Gene.

Apollo Lunar Module Back Pressure Regulator

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:04:05 +0000

Apollo Lunar Module Back Pressure Regulator

This Apollo Lunar Module Back Pressure Regulator was used in conjunction with propellant system.

Contract: NAS 9-1100, Manufacturer: VACCO Inc., NASA Part ID Number: LSC 430-7706-3 (Designates as Grumman LM affiliated component), Date of Production: First Quarter 1967, Rated Pressure: 500 PSIG

Apollo 17 flown LM Data Card Book

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:29:47 +0000

Apollo 17 flown LM Data Card Book

This 3-hole punched Apollo 17 LM Data Card Book acquired from the Gene Cernan collection was carried to the lunar surface and used aboard the Apollo 17 lunar module Challenger in the Taurus-Littrow valley of the moon during the last Apollo lunar landing mission in December 1972.

The LM Data Card Book contains templates for recording Pre-Advisory Data (PAD), which was used throughout the flight of the Lunar Module and the stay on the surface. Each card was used as a concise document for making notations on LM operations including LM activation, aborts, rendezvous and docking.

When large lists of PAD numbers were read from Mission Control to Jack Schmitt and Gene Cernan while in the LM, they used this book to record the data necessary to carry out a particular maneuver. To simplify the voice transmission of these large lists of numbers and reduce the likelihood of errors, each type of PAD was precisely formatted and aligned for use in Mission Control and this book.

The writing in these pages was all written while on the surface of the moon. The data contained in the data cards can be tracked in the official mission transcripts of the 75-hour stay upon the lunar surface.

The photo of a similar data card book on the LM control panel is from Apollo 11 photo AS11-36-5389H.

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.

Apollo 13 Lunar Module Malfunction Procedures checklist used in training

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:53:26 +0000

An original 8½”x 11″ Apollo 13 Lunar Module Malfunction Procedures checklist dated April 1, 1970 (10 days before the launch of Apollo 13).

The checklist contains 14 sections with about 40 total page sides of LM malfunction procedures from the AOH. Sections include G&C; Displays, AGS, RCS, Comm, Heaters, Camera, and more.

This particular copy was kept in the crew quarters at Kennedy Space Center for Apollo 13 Commander James Lovell and LM pilot Fred Haise reference during the critical final days leading up to launch on April 11, 1970.

An identical copy flew to the moon on Apollo 13 and would have travelled to the lunar surface had the mission not encountered its famous problems.