Now At: $300 (1 bid)
Next Bid: $330
The 30 Minute Rule begins April 17 at 7:00 PM EDT. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By April 17 at 6:00 PM EDT To Participate After 6:00 PM EDT
Uncommon Apollo Command Module In-Flight Coverall Garment (ICG) jacket built for astronaut Vance Brand, with tag sewn inside the collar reading: "Coverall Jacket, P/N: BW-1060-002, Size: M.R. S/N: 1164, Subject: Brand, Contract No. NAS-98309, Date of Mfg.: 3-13-70, Mfg. By: Welson Co." The jacket features a snap-down placket, pouch pockets on the sleeves, and a faded American flag Beta patch on the left shoulder.
The In-Flight Coverall Garment was developed by NASA to offer far more flexibility than the bulky spacesuit, so astronauts changed into these after launch to be more comfortable during their long flight. This ICG jacket, manufactured prior to Brand's role as Apollo 15 backup CMP or his Apollo–Soyuz Test Project flight, was likely used as a training or test article. Brand served as backup CMP for the Apollo 15 flight in July 1971, before flying as the Command Module Pilot on Apollo-Soyuz in July 1975. In very good to fine condition, with moderate scattered staining.
Accompanied by a copy of a letter of provenance explaining the origin of the trousers, in part: "In 1969 my grandfather, Richard Welch Jr., who was a retired U.S. Marine, was in civil service working at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He worked in the logistics division overseeing shipping, receiving, and on-site delivery operations for the government…My grandfather brought home these boots, the jacket and pants. When asked how he got all that stuff my grandfather replied, 'There was a big bin of items that were slated to be destroyed and his manager told him, along with a few other workers that they were welcome to take home a few souvenirs.'" Welch went on to oversee the refurbishment of the presidential aircraft fleet performed by E-systems, worked on the development of Blackhawk helicopters in Alabama, and served as program manager for the Eastern Space and Missile Center.
