Apollo Artifacts

Apollo Lunar Spacesuit Portable Life Support System Beta Cloth Cover

This Beta cloth PLSS cover, complete with hoses and angle connectors, was probably used for training. It was previously part of the collection of the Space Walk Hall of Fame.

It is an incredible item that seems to be complete, with its NASA patch and Water Reservoir Rechage instructional tag. Having seen these things in countless photos and video, it is fun to own one.

The tag reads:
“Water Reservoir Recharge”
1. PLSS Aux H2O – Open
2. Connect WMS to PLSS H2O Drain
3. WMS Valve – Open
4. LM DES H2O – Open
5. Connect LM H2O to PLSS H2O Fill, Verify Condensate Flow thru WMS Sight Glass
6. Fill for 5 Minutes
7. Connect WMS to PLSS Prime Vent for 10 Seconds
8. Connect WMS to PLSS Aux Vent for 10 Seconds
9. WMS Valve – Close, Stow WMS Hose
10. PLSS Aux H2) – Close
11. Disconnect and Stow. LMH2O Hose

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 Command Module Heat Shield Test Block

AVCOAT 5026-39HCG HeatShield test block, measuring approximately 5 5/8" wide, 1 1/2" deep and 2 3/8" tall, manufactured in 1966 as a component of the Command Service Module (CSM) Thermal Protection System. Developed by AVCO Corporation, with integration by NAA (North American Aviation), the block is comprised of an extremely lightweight fiberglass honeycomb which is hand filled by air gun with the ablative resin material.

The ablative system dissipates heat as the material melts and chars during re-entry, mitigating the 20,000 degree heat experienced by the CSM as it transits through the extreme thermo-dynamic phase of the re-entry corridor.

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

Lunar Module cabin edging

A part of the plastic edging made to finish the area where the mid cabin of the Lunar Module joins the forward cabin. This item is still fully packaged in two sealed plastic bags with multiple labels and stickers. The packaging was to ensure data for chain of control for each part and to maintain the clean room environment of the LM assembly facility at Grumman, prime contractor of the LM. This item, with a Grumman part number LDW280P-16249-1 is a new spare part.

Apollo 13 flown couch material Lucite intended for Apollo 13 movie VIPs

The bottom of this fascinating artifact reads: "This is a segment of the actual backing restraint material removed from mission commander James A Lovell's spacecraft couch aboard the Apollo 13 command module 'Odyssey'. This artifact symbolizes one of the greatest human dramas to ever unfold in space during the near catastrophic mission of Apollo 13, April 11-17, 1970. Presented by the Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center as a tribute to your participation in the development of Universal Studio's movie production of 'Apollo 13'."

The Apollo 13 command module is displayed at the Kansas Cosmophere. A small number of these lucite artifacts were sold to the public to raise money and even fewer were given away to the VIPs who worked on the Apollo 13 movie.

Lunar Module nuts and bolts

The precise attention to detail and cleanliness that NASA and Grumman employed to build the Lunar Module can be seen in these packages of nuts and bolts. Each package contains one or two dozen items that are double bagged and tagged with a Bell Aerosystems (Textron) cleanliness control certification. "Opening of this package, except in an environmentally controlled clean room, will void this certification." Manufactured in Q1 1968.

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 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 CM Reaction Control System Helium Check Valve

A Reaction Control System (RCS) Helium Check Valve assembly manufactured by Accessory Products Corporation (APCO) for the Apollo Command Module and Service Module (Service Propulsion System) Reaction Control System (RCS) Propellant Pressurization Section under NASA contract NAS9-150. Produced circa 1964, two check valve assemblies, one for oxidizer and one for fuel, permit helium flow to the tanks and prevent propellant or propellant vapor flow into the pressurization system if seepage or failure occurs in the propellant tank bladders.

When I acquired the artifact, it was still in its packaging. I have removed the item for display.

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

Apollo post mission booklets

The NASA press office prepared post mission booklets for each Apollo mission. They include photos and technical data. These are a great way to get the basics of each mission.