Flown aluminum plate, 1.25 x .75, marked with the registration number "LRV 001", with "MOON" as the home state, the year 1971, and the NASA and Boeing logos. Boeing was the prime contractor for the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) and they manufactured a small number of these mini plates for the first Lunar Rover. Astronaut Dave Scott carried them in his space suit knee pocket on all three lunar EVAs. Plate is affixed to a small black sheet which in turn is affixed to a 17 x 13.5 mount, with a caption reading, “This license plate was carried aboard the first manned lunar rover vehicle during the entire exploration of the Hadley Apennine July 30–August 2, 1971,” as well as an Apollo 15 mission patch and an original color 9.5 x 8 photo of the lunar rover in action on the lunar surface during the mission. Mount is signed and inscribed under the photo, “To [name has been blacked out] with best personal regards from crew of Apollo 15 and our thanks for your contribution to the success of our mission, Jim Irwin,” “Dave Scott,” and “Al Worden.” In fine condition, with some scattered light toning and soiling to mount, and silvering to photo.
This plate, one of only an estimated 15 total, were prepackaged in a pack smaller than a pack of gum, which was stowed in the left knee pocket of Scott's space suit before the launch and remained there until after his return to Earth. They were in space for 12 days, 7 hours from launch to splashdown. More importantly, they spent nearly 67 hours on the moon, including 18h 30m of EVAs, and were carried on LRV itself for around 17 miles across the lunar surface. Pre-certified Steve Zarelli and RR Auction COA.
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