Rare 14K gold men's wedding band flown to the moon on Apollo 16, approximately size 9, featuring a black-and-gold 'nugget' design on the top that evokes the craters on the lunar surface. Stamped "14K" inside the band. Includes a letter on NASA letterhead addressed to Lewis A. Hartzell, chef to the astronauts, signed in ink by the full crew—John Young, Ken Mattingly, and Charlie Duke—in full: "The accompanying set of wedding bands was carried aboard Apollo 16 during the second extended scientific exploration of the moon. Descartes Region, April 16-April 27, 1972." While this letter does not specify whether the ring flew into lunar orbit on the CSM 'Casper' or to the moon's surface on the LM 'Orion,' it does make reference to the lunar surface landing site in the Descartes Highlands. In fine condition. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Hartzell's son, who received the rings for his wedding, which notes that his wife lost her flown wedding band. Also includes a packet of photocopied supplemental material, including newspaper clippings about Chef Hartzell's work, copies of inscribed astronaut photos demonstrating his inner-circle access, and a brief newspaper column about the Hartzell wedding, which mentions the unique wedding bands that "went to the moon and back with the astronauts on the last moon shot."
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