Section of an Apollo-era LM guillotine base, 9 x 1, with an affixed caption reading “Guillotine Base used for the separation of the ‘Lunar Landing’ during the ascent and decent stages.” With the LM preparing to leave the lunar surface and rendezvous with the command module, several of these guillotines would fire simultaneously, severing the physical and electrical connections between the the Ascent and Descent Stage, with the Descent Stage acting as a launch pad and remaining on the lunar surface. RRAuction COA.