Gene Cernan’s ring-bound flown complete LM Abort & Rescue Rendezvous manual carried aboard lunar module Snoopy during the Apollo 10 mission, 8.5 x 10.5, 16 pages, signed and flight certified on the front cover in black felt tip, “Flown on Apollo X, Eugene Cernan,” and in blue ink, “Tom Stafford, Apollo X Cdr.” Additionally, twelve pages of the manual, Part No. SKB32100079–391, S/N 1001, have been signed in black ink and felt tip by Stafford and Cernan, with Stafford adding “Apollo X, Cdr.” to each signature, and Cernan adding “Apollo X LMP”; Cernan also adds brief page-specific notes to the majority of signed pages. The manual itself contains charts and mission timelines for various potential LM abort scenarios during powered descent initiation, with each section individually tabbed as follows: “Abort at PDI,” “Zero Phasing,” “Partial Phasing,” “Zero Insertion,” and “Partial Insertion.” In fine condition, with some expected wear from use. Accompanied by a signed 2005 letter of certification from Cernan, in part: “This Lunar Module Abort & Rescue Rendezvous checklist is one of the lunar module (LM) checklists we carried to the Moon on Apollo 10…[It] has remained a treasured part of my personal space collection for more than thirty-five years, ever since NASA presented it back to me in 1969, shortly after my return to Earth.” Also accompanied by two photos of Cernan, one showing him signing the certificate, and the other holding this very manual.
This completely intact Apollo 10 LM Abort & Rescue Rendezvous manual contains critical information in the case of an emergency during the lunar module’s descent from orbit to the surface of the moon. Manual highlights include a chart that shows orbital maneuver phases the LM would use to achieve rendezvous with the CSM, as well as a timeline that advises which times and software programs the guidance computer would initiate to complete docking in event of a real abort scenario. Long considered the ‘dress rehearsal’ for the first moon landing, the F mission of Apollo 10 successfully tested all of the components and procedures and flew to within 9.6 miles of the lunar surface, the point where the powered descent to the lunar surface would ultimately begin. Augmented by its multitude of signatures, this full, flown checklist proved an essential recourse tool for the astronauts of Apollo 10 in the case of an emergency 239,000 miles from home. Pre-certified Zarelli Space Authentication.
This item is Pre-Certified by STEVE ZARELLI
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