Echoes-From-Apollo

Apollo 17 Flight Controller John H. Cooper's Used 'Apollo 17 Flight Plan Change A'

This is my 'Apollo 17 Flight Plan Change A' dated November 29, 1972, belonging to Apollo 17 Flight Controller John H. Copper. Cooper used this Flight Plan during the Apollo 17 mission while sitting in the Mission Operations Control Room, Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston Texas. I obtained this item from one of his relatives for quite a hefty price.   

 

 COVER
Cooper's name printed
in the upper right corner.

 

The below 'Letter of Provenance' provides details about
Cooper, the Flight Plan, it's origin, and his untimely demise,
which occurred shortly after the conclusion of the Apollo 17 mission.

 

Although Cooper made some very interesting notations on a number of the pages, there was one page in particular I want to share since it is connected to my Apollo 17 'Lunar Surface Checklist' Page 1-9, that was used by Apollo 17 Astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt  inside Lunar Module Challenger shortly after landing on the moon.

Below is Page 3-124 from the 'Flight Plan' with Cooper's numerous handwritten notations.
One of which is, '100m from Triton (Shadow 100 ft.)'.

 

Similarly, as Cernan and Schmitt were on the surface inside the Lunar Module, one of them made the following handwritten notation on Page 1-9:  'Note LM Shadow Length (-100')'. 

 

 

At Spacefest IV, I showed Cernan a photo of Page 1-9 and asked him about this notation. He wasn't too clear about who wrote, 'Note LM Shadow Length (-100')' or when it was written. Cernan did verify that this page was used by them shortly after landing on the surface and that Schmitt was making notations on it at that time.

As additional supporting documentation, the 'Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription', and the 'Apollo 17 Lunar Module Onboard Voice Transcription', both verify that this notation was made on Page 1-9 shortly after Cernan and Schmitt landed on the moon in LM Falcon!

As can be seen in the below transcript page from the 'Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription', identified as Tape 75A/7, at 04 14 30 14 the CDR-LM (Cernan) tells Schmitt, 'We're about what- about 100 meters from Trident?' The LMP-LM (Schmitt) responds, 'Yes- yes, less than that, I think Trident's right here. Our shadow's about 100 feet, Geno, I think.' CDR-LM (Cernan) then tells Schmitt, 'Yes, we're only about- yes, less than 100 meters then.'

 

 

On this transcript page, Cernan and Schmitt also talk about being '100 meters from Trident' and 'boulder tracks', which Cooper has also notated on Page 3-124.

Cooper refers to 'Trident' as 'Triton'. 

So, think about it.
Just after Cernan and Schmitt landed on the moon, they began looking out  the Lunar Module's windows. And making notations on Page 1-9. One of which describes the shadow length of the Lunar Module.  While back in the Mission Operations Control Room at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Cooper was sitting at his console. Listening intently. And contemporaneously notating the same information on Page 3-124!

Two amazing Apollo 17 artifacts!
Two very expensive and amazing Apollo 17 artifacts! 
Finally together! 

Apollo 15 Sieger/Crew Owned Mail Cover Flown to the Moon's Surface

 

Here is one of my most prized acquisitions, one of the 298 famous, or should I say infamous, Sieger/Apollo 15 crew owned mail covers that were flown to the moon's surface. This one is numbered '240' of '300'. And, no, that's not a typo! There were initially 300, but apparently, for whatever reason, only 298 actually ended up on the moon! Some folks make a big deal about the numbering, but, in my opinion, the numbering means nothing since all 298 covers were part of the same 'bundle' carried by Apollo 15 Astronauts Dave Scott and Jim Irwin to the moon's surface in LM Falcon. Subsequently returned to earth. Where they were then confiscated by the U.S. Government, until eventually being  returned to the crew of Apollo 15.... ELEVEN YEARS LATER! And then, only after Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot Al Worden sued the U.S. Government demanding they be returned to the crew! So, whether you have number 1, or number 298, they were all on the surface of the moon at the same time! The numbering has absolutely no real significance whatsoever. Neither do the differing stamp combinations found on some of these covers. 

 

FRONT

BACK

The number '158', as notated in the upper right corner, is the U.S. Government's seized document inventory identifier. Next to that are the initials 'SNH'. The number and the initials were both added after they were seized from the Apollo 15 crew by the U.S. Government. The following excerpt from 'Space Flown Artifacts: The Flown Apollo 15 Covers', authored by Howard C. Weinberger, provides some great information about the origin of the both the numbers and the initials seen on these covers:

'In the upper right corner of the reverse of the Sieger/Crew Owned [covers]... [are] the small handwritten initials of S. Neil Hosenball (SNH), NASA's General Counsel [at the time], and a serial number, which NASA assigned at the time of their confiscation. The Sieger/Crew Owned covers are numbered 1-298...'   

LOA

 

Below is a picture of Scott saluting the Flag on the surface of the moon. Scott admitted that the bundled covers were initially placed in the pocket of his spacesuit shortly before liftoff! Over the years, he has been somewhat evasive about what he did with them after that! So.... if the covers stayed in that pocket for the duration, then they were actually on the surface of the moon with Scott during his EVA's, as seen in this picture! However, if, as some have speculated,  Scott removed the covers from his spacesuit pocket prior to landing on the moon and simply stored them somewhere inside the LM, then that's where they remained during Scott's EVA'S!

 

LM OR POCKET? 
YOU DECIDE!

According to NASA release 72-189, issued Sept. 15, 1972: 'These 398 [covers] were properly packaged for flight and carried on board Apollo 15 by Scott in a pocket of his space suit'. Scott later reportedly said that he may have removed the bundled covers from his suit leg-pocket and placed them in another storage location aboard LM-10/Falcon once the crew left earth orbit. Scott also allegedly stated  that he seemed to recall the bundled covers not being inside his space suit pocket while he was on the moon. However with Scott, you never know whether you're getting the full story or, whether he's just clouding the issue because of his bitterness over the whole affair. Either way, in one form or another, this cover was 'on' the moon with Scott and his fellow moonwalker, Irwin. 

 

Two card inserts, hand notated '158A' and '158B', both initialed 'SNH' (S. Neil Hosenball), also came with this Sieger/Crew Owned cover. The following excerpt from Weinberger's 'Space Flown Artifacts: The Flown Apollo 15 Covers' provides some great information about these inserts: 

'Some of the Sieger/Crew Owned covers have a small (unflown) card inserted inside the cover, some signed by a crew member...' 

 

 FRONT

 

  

 

BACK

  

 

  Photo showing comparison of notations placed on this Sieger/Crew Owned cover and both inserts after being turned over to the the U.S. Government by the Apollo 15 Astronauts.  

 

 Below is one of the best narratives I have found describing the history surrounding these Sieger/Crew Owned covers.

PAGE 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apollo 17 'Lunar Surface Checklist' Page 1-9 Used On The Moon's Surface

 

Here's Page 1-9 from the Apollo 17 'Lunar Surface Checklist' which was used by Cernan and Schmitt inside LM Challenger as it sat on the moon's surface! Before, and after, their EVA's!  Now it's in my home! Well, my safe deposit box anyway! God bless America! Whenever I look up and see the moon, I'm awestruck knowing that those men took this to the moon's surface in LM Challenger, brought it back to earth, and now, by the grace of God (and quite a few Benjamin Franklin's!!!), I'm it's caretaker. And, as a BIG bonus, it appears to have a light sprinkling of lunar dust! 
   

APOLLO 17
'LUNAR SURFACE CHECKLIST'
PAGE 1-9

  

As can be seen, the notations 'C17037' and 'L24117' were written next to 'Report PRD readings to Hou'. Each astronaut possessed a PRD (Personal Radiation Dosimeter) to monitor the cumulative radiation dose received during the mission. There is also the notation 'Note LM Shadows Length (-100')'. I was able to verify these notations were written on the Page while Cernan and Schmitt were on the moon in LM Challenger by searching through the 'Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription', and the 'Apollo 17 Lunar Module Onboard Voice Transcription', the covers of which are seen below. I think it's interesting that these transcripts document the exact notations made by Schmitt while he and Cernan  were on the moon!

 

Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription

 

 

Apollo 17 Lunar Module Onboard Voice Transcription

 

As can be seen in the below transcript page from the 'Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription', identified as Tape 75A/7, at 04 14 30 14 the CDR-LM (Cernan) tells Schmitt 'We're about what- about 100 meters from Trident?' The LMP-LM (Schmitt) tells Cernan ''Yes- yes, less than that, I think Trident's right here. Our shadow's about 100 feet, Geno, I think.' CDR-LM (Cernan) then tells Schmitt 'Yes, we're only about- yes, less than 100 meters then.'

 

 

As can be seen in the below transcript page from the 'Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription', identified as 'Tape 76A/1',  at 04 15 58 37 the LMP-LM (Schmitt) tells Houston 'Okay, Houston, we're just starting our eat period. Sorry to be a little behind. PRD readings are 17037 and LMP is 24117', which would indicate that Schmitt made the PRD reading notations on this checklist page. Then at 04 16 01 11 CDR-LM (Cernan) tells Houston 'I don't know if it will mean anything to you, but the shadow of the LM, the rendezvous radar antenna is pointing about one-third of the way down from the peak of Family. And that, I know, is pretty gross. And, Gordo, I - I must be right here abeam of Trident 1. The only reason I hesitate is that I'm so close - but it's probably, well I guess it's close to 100 meters - 80 meters anyway to where the - where the rim of Trident 1 falls off.' 

 

 

As can be seen in the below transcript page from the 'Apollo 17 Lunar Module Onboard Voice Transcription', identified as '2-18 Day 5', at 04 14 30 14 the CDR (Cernan)  says 'We're about what-about 100 meters from Trident?' The LMP (Schmitt) then tells CDR (Cernan) 'Yes-Yes, about that.'. CDR (Cernan) then says 'I think Trident's right here.'. To which the LMP (Schmitt) tells the CDR (Cernan) 'Our shadows about 100 feet, Geno, I think.'. CDR (Cernan) then says 'Yes, we're only about-yes, less than 100 meters then. *** look that long, but it's supposed to be.'. 

 

 

At Spacefest IV, I showed the below photo of Page 1-9 (not the actual Page!) to Cernan, and asked him about the handwritten notations. He verified that notations 'C17037' and 'L24117' were written on the Page by Schmitt while on the moon inside LM Challenger. Which he notated on the photo as  'Written on the Moon by Jack Schmitt'. Cernan said that the other notation, 'BU EV GLOVES (ISA) BEHIND ENG COVER SPARE LCGS (LHMS) TO ISA BIG PKT', was probably written on the Page by Schmitt on the way to the moon. He wasn't too clear about who wrote 'Note LM Shadow Length (-100')' or when it was written. However, based upon the transcripts, it is clear that this had to have been written by one of them while inside LM Challenger, shortly after landing on the surface.

 

Here's a picture of Cernan at Spacefest IV
at the time he signed/notated the above picture. Which can be
seen laying on the table in front of him. Along with
two copies of his book, which he signed/notated for my 
wife's grandkids.

 

 

 

Below is a picture of my 'Apollo 17 Flight Plan Change A' dated November 29, 1972, belonging to Apollo 17 Flight Controller John H. Cooper, which complement's Page 1-9. Cooper actually used this 'Flight Plan' during the Apollo 17 mission while sitting in the Mission Operations Control Room, Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston Texas, in support of his responsibilities as an Apollo 17 Flight Controller. I was able to obtain it from one of his relatives. At a hefty price! 

 

Although Cooper made some very interesting notations on a number of the pages, there was one page in particular I want to share here.  Below is a picture of Page 3-124. Which has many of Cooper's  handwritten notations.

 

 

One of which is: '100m from Triton (Shadow 100 ft.)'. Which is almost identical to the following notation made on Page 1-9: 'Note LM Shadow Length (-100')'.

In addition, it can be seen in the above transcript page from the 'Apollo 17 Technical Air-To-Ground Voice Transcription', identified as Tape 75A/7, at 04 14 30 14 that the CDR-LM (Cernan) tells Schmitt 'We're about what- about 100 meters from Trident?' The LMP-LM (Schmitt) tells Cernan ''Yes- yes, less than that, I think Trident's right here. Our shadow's about 100 feet, Geno, I think.' 

On this same transcript page, Cernan and Schmitt also talk about being '100 meters from Trident' and 'boulder tracks' which Cooper has also notated on Page 3-124 as '100m from Triton (Shadow 100 ft.)' and, 'can see boulder tracks'!

Note that Cooper refers to 'Trident' as 'Triton'. 

So, think about it.
Just after Cernan and Schmitt landed on the moon, they began looking out  the Lunar Module's windows. And making notations on Page 1-9. One of which describes the shadow length of the Lunar Module.  While back in the Mission Operations Control Room at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Cooper was sitting at his console. Listening intently. And contemporaneously notating the same information on Page 3-124!

Two amazing Apollo 17 artifacts!
Two very expensive and amazing Apollo 17 artifacts! 
Finally together! 

In the below picture, Cernan is holding the complete 'Lunar Surface Checklist', from which  Page 1-9 originated. You can see black markings across the top of the Checklist's pages.  Which I have circled, with an arrow pointing to the black markings.

 

   

In the below picture, Cernan, Evans, and Schmitt are preparing for the Apollo 17 mission.  It appears that the 'Lunar Surface Checklist' is open on the table in front of them. Which I have circled, with arrows pointing to the black markings!

 

It doesn't get any better than this!