Original artwork by NASA engineer and flight controller Ed Pavelka, which he designed during the early stages of the Approach and Landing Tests for the burgeoning Space Shuttle program. Accomplished in graphite, ink, and colored felt tip on an off-white 20 x 16 cardstock mount, the drawing depicts a 1-cent stamp with MAD magazine mascot Alfred E. Neuman dressed as Napoleon with adjacent text, “ALT Commemorative FTC,” and the lower portion signed by the artist, “Ed Pavelka, ‘76.” Pavelka is also known as the creator of Captain Refsmmat, a character inspired by a term used by guidance, navigation, and control system flight controllers during the Apollo program, which carried over into the Space Shuttle program. REFSMMAT stands for ‘Reference to Stable Member Matrix.’ In fine condition.
The consignor notes that this artwork derives from the collection of Don Puddy, (1937–2004) a highly regarded NASA engineer and manager who worked at the space agency for over 30 years. He served as a flight director during Apollo 17, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, Skylab, and the first Space Shuttle mission. Puddy, who was the only flight director for the Shuttle Enterprise Approach and Landing Test flights (ALT), received several awards for his service, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.
