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Author
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Topic: [Nate Sanders] Apollo 15 controller (April 2013)
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natedsanders
Member Posts: 38
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Nov 2011
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posted 03-29-2013 02:57 PM
   
Up for auction is the most unique Apollo 15 item we've yet seen — the actual hand grip of the controller used by Al Worden, with a signed COA from Worden.The hand grip was used at various points in the mission and helped to adjust the attitude of the spacecraft during flight at many incredible tense, critical moments in the journey. As Al Worden puts it in the signed COA included with this hand hand grip, which is mounted on wood: ...this control stick cover, NASA serial number MSC 991-0001.12, was the hand controller I used during the flight of Apollo 15. The function of the hand controller was to adjust the attitude of the spacecraft during flight. For instance it was critical to the maneuver designed to withdraw the Lunar Module from the S-IVB stage of the launch vehicle once leaving earth orbit. This maneuver involved 180 degree rotation of the Command and Service Module to align with the Lunar Module in storage. It was also essential for the alignment of the spacecraft in the proper direction for any thrusting maneuver. This controller was essential to the success of Apollo 15 and has been in my possession since the flight. We hope you'll check out this incredible piece of space history, commemorating one of the most important of NASA's Apollo missions. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-29-2013 08:17 PM
See a rotation control grip, still waiting to see the rotation hand controller the grip is a part of.. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-01-2013 02:09 PM
Whether control grip or hand controller, there were only 9 of these that went to the moon, making them rarer than... moonwalkers!(...so still pretty sweet stuff.) |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 04-01-2013 03:02 PM
Eighteen of the CSM RHC joysticks went to the Moon. There were two units in each CSM for the CDR and CMP. Great pieces. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-01-2013 03:21 PM
Thank you for the clarification, Larry. (My reference of "only 9" was speaking to the number of CMP handles flown). |
Jurvetson
Member Posts: 93
From: Los Altos an SF, CA, United States
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 04-02-2013 07:34 PM
As the bidding crosses $60K, I just got the markings on the bottom of this grip (which are different from the hand-written one on the wooden base and the item listing):S/N 17 10022865-101 94580 The flown Apollo 14 grip has a similar part number: 10022865-101 S/N 7 |
spkjb
Member Posts: 144
From: Merritt Island, Florida USA
Registered: May 2011
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posted 04-03-2013 05:57 PM
$60K probably did it. (?) Winning bid shows $72K which would be the 60K with 20% BP. |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 04-03-2013 07:05 PM
To clarify Steve Jurvetson's post, the "flown Apollo 14 grip" he mentions is not the actual flown grip, but a spare unflown grip that NASA had placed on the flown Apollo 14 Rotation Control in my collection. The flown grip would have been given to Ed Mitchell.------------------
John Fongheiser
Historic Space Systems |
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