posted 01-18-2013 12:32 PM               

The two flown hatch stickers match their presentation counterparts with the exception of a swapped line sequence on one and a change to last-line wording on the other. Perhaps these differences reflect errors caught after printing, and are the reason these stickers were available for the presentation piece. Certainly it shows that the hatch labels in the group were not among the 'couple of flown stickers' indicated by Jim Lovell.

Somewhat to my surprise the plaques of the Apollo 11 hatch at the National Air and Space Museum differ altogether, covering cabin pressurization and de-pressurization. The only other "stickered" hatch photo I found was for A17. Wasn't enough resolution to read the details but it was also clearly a different label versus Apollo 11/A13.

The "Decal Kid" moniker of the presentation suggests a notable hand by the commander in spacecraft labeling.

Thanks for any information on whether the CM/LM labeling choices were the prerogative of the crew for each mission or if they simply evolved with the program (or both).

posted 01-19-2013 11:54 AM               

Even if the labels in the A13 hatch image are not those from the flight, your point about removal combined with the like-new condition of the highlighted presentation stickers suggests unflown. Perhaps just a couple of the 'smalls' that look less pristine would be the suspects.