posted 11-20-2022 11:15 AM               

Space Cover 677: Apollo Lunar Module in Space

Apollo 5 launched on January 22, 1968 from KSC carrying the unmanned Apollo Lunar Module-1 for the first LM flight in space. Apollo 5 launched from LC-37B and used the Saturn 1B rocket that would have been used for Apollo 1.

Various tests were carried out successfully, thus paving the way for Lunar Modules to be flown manned on Apollo 9 and Apollo 10, proving their reliability for manned landings on the moon.

The Apollo 5 launch cover above bears an Official NASA/KSC rubber stamp cachet (one of 8,300 for Apollo 5) and was nicely signed by the Apollo 5 Flight Director Eugene Kranz, who also stated in an accompanying notation to me: "...Few people recognize the significance of this first LM mission."

After the successful manned flights of Apollo 7 and 8, the next flight, Apollo 9, in earth orbit, accomplished the first manned flight of a LM. With Jim McDivitt and Rusty Schweickart aboard, LM-3 ("Spider") separated from the CSM, then carried out various tests, including rendezvous with the CSM while reaching a distance of 100 miles from the safety of the CSM.

This Apollo 9 launch cover, autographed by the crew of McDivitt, Schweickart and Scott, also bears a NASA/KSC official rubber stamp cachet (one of 15,870 for Apollo 9).

This second Apollo 9 cover, also autographed by the Apollo 9 crew, bears a handsome crew patch/mission emblem printed cachet.

posted 11-26-2022 04:18 PM               

Below are a few more Apollo 5/9 covers, however, I have always been very weak with signed Apollo 5 launch and mission covers, but not with Apollos 4 and 6, though. It would be good to see some other signed Apollo 5/LM-1 covers if possible and my apologies for duplicating any covers of those already shared. The signed Kranz Apollo 5 cover as flight director is a better vintage-type signature from the later Apollo program era that you don't see too often these days.

One of the crew emblem-type cachet covers had been signed by the Apollo 9 crew while in crew quarters before their launch at Kennedy. Another Apollo 9 launch day cover (Orbit Covers), at bottom row contains the signatures of James Harrington III, Chief Test Supervisor for Apollo 9, H. K. Widick, LM-3 Test Conductor, and C. A. Chauvin, the CSM Test Conductor. As a high schooler, I had a visit with Harrington during the early 70's and made contact with Widick and Chauvin. Those were memorable and wonderful years when Apollo was it it's peak, for sure.