Unusually large and visually striking 13 x 13 swatch of Beta cloth, with a 10” diameter Apollo 11 mission emblem in the center, signed in black felt tip, “Neil Armstrong,” “Buzz Aldrin, Apollo XI—LMP,” “Michael Collins Apollo XI CMP,” and “Charles M. Duke, Jr., Apollo 11 ‘Capcom,’ Apollo 16 Moonwalker.” Across the top of the cloth, Duke has added a lengthy explanation: “This emblem was printed by Dow Corning on ‘Beta’ cloth, a fireproof fabric Dow invented for use on the Apollo spacesuit. Autographed by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, this historic item was produced by Dow to commemorate Beta’s critical role in the spacesuit.” Double suede matted and framed to an overall size of 20.25x 20. Accompanied by photos of Collins, Aldrin, and Duke taken at time of signing. In fine condition, with a bit of scattered light foxing to the cloth.
As mentioned, Beta cloth is a type of fireproof woven fiber cloth used in the manufacturing of the space suit. Designed by Frederick S. Dawn, a scientist who worked with the Dow-Corning Company, the fabric was made to withstand temperatures exceeding 650° C and was used in all NASA space suits following the deadly launchpad fire of Apollo 1. It was during a training exercise that a sudden fire in the capsule caused the astronauts’ nylon suits to melt and fuse together in the intense heat. An outstanding relic from this most historic and avidly collected of Apollo missions, in a size much larger than typically encountered. Pre-certified Scott Cornish and RRAuction COA.
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