|
Author
|
Topic: Apollo flight plan, other memorabilia value
|
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-17-2018 09:45 AM
  
My family has some Apollo memorabilia from a family member that used to work at NASA. Can anyone tell me what this stuff would be worth? There is a final flight plan for Apollo 13. A mission statement for Apollo 14. A badge that says "principal investigator for Apollo 13". A press pass for Apollo 17. There are a bunch of photographs too, with write ups about what they were about from NASA. A photograph from Apollo 11. Blueprints of the lunar lander with Grumman logo on it. Blueprints of camera equipment from Apollo 14. How would I find out if any of this stuff is worth anything? Does anyone know the right company or person to contact to check it out? The condition might also be a little marginal for some of it. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
|
posted 10-17-2018 11:01 AM
I'll take a stab.Assuming good condition on the Apollo 13 flight plan, value might be $300+. For your photos, prices can be all over the place depending on whether NASA official numbered prints and the specific image and again condition. $5-$hundreds. Lunar Lander blueprints sound interesting and camera-related blueprints might have crossover appeal to space fans that also enjoy photography. Like with photos, value seems to span a wide range depending on content/condition ($10s to $100s, even $1K+). The other items you mention might be worth something in the $10-$100 range. Images of everything would be needed to give a solid opinion and you could probably find better estimates from several folks on these forums. Auction houses that specialize in space memorabilia such as RR, Heritage, Lunar Legacies, and Goldberg might also be able to give you estimates from pictures. |
Guswastheman
Member Posts: 85
From: Gresham, OR
Registered: Apr 2011
|
posted 10-17-2018 01:07 PM
Could you send photos or scans of Grumman Lunar Landing blueprints? lunarrendezvous@yahoo.com |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
|
posted 10-17-2018 04:00 PM
What part of the country do you live in? Makes it easier if you can see someone who is knowledgeable in person. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
|
posted 10-17-2018 06:28 PM
If your Apollo 13 flight plan is a final flight plan, I would value at $700-$1,000. |
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-17-2018 06:50 PM
Thanks for the feedback. I am in the midwest. I was able to contact one of those auction houses and send pictures.  
|
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-17-2018 09:20 PM
 
|
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-17-2018 09:22 PM
 
|
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-17-2018 09:22 PM
 
|
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-17-2018 09:23 PM
 
|
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-18-2018 09:33 AM
Here are the pictures of what I have. Does anyone think I have anything good here besides the Apollo 13 flight plan? |
One Big Monkey
Member Posts: 169
From: West Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Jul 2012
|
posted 10-18-2018 12:00 PM
I'd say that ALSEP one would be very desirable. There is a scanned copy online but the real thing is obviously better! |
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-18-2018 12:55 PM
How do you think I could find out what that thing in the jar is? |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
|
posted 10-18-2018 04:52 PM
Is the collection of items all from the same B.J. Rusky listed on the two badges?If so, the hardware-in-a-jar may be related to the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP). Rusky was a manager at Bendix Aerospace and Bendix was NASA's contractor for the ALSEP. To further the thesis, I note the "87600-03" number printed on the wheel is referenced several times in this document related to ALSEP/NASA/Bendix activity: ADP /Timer. Thermal Battery Assembly
Bulova P/N 87600-03: Bendix PIN 2348418-
203; (various serial numbers) |
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-18-2018 05:55 PM
Yes. And Thanks! That is awesome information.How did you find that information about Rusky? Do you know any more about him? |
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-18-2018 10:04 PM
'm trying to figure out what this is. It was in a box with a bunch of other Apollo collectibles. 
|
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
|
posted 10-18-2018 10:33 PM
My pleasure. I love a good mystery.Afraid I don't know any more of Mr. Rusky. Just used some awareness of NASA/Contractor hardware history and your pictures to do some Googling. Pretty sure this is a close ID for your jarred part. Looks like it could be a timer mechanism to me and it would be quite a coincidence to have all the facts/numbers line up so neatly otherwise. As to the other pictures posted, no idea really. Certainly doesn't look as refined as the other hardware component. Maybe a prototype solution to some technical challenge of ASLEP in which Mr. Rusky had a hand? More mystery! |
One Big Monkey
Member Posts: 169
From: West Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Jul 2012
|
posted 10-19-2018 03:18 AM
quote:
Originally posted by David Carey:
To further the thesis, I note the "87600-03" number printed on the wheel is referenced several times in this document related to ALSEP/NASA/Bendix activity.
The thermal battery also gets several mentions in the ALSEP manual and it seems to be related to the seismic charges. One mention also gives a similar time to that shown on the device.I have a copy of a Bendix Technical Journal (Vol 4, No , Summer/Autumn 1971) that is entirely devoted to the ALSEP and Mr. Rusky is listed as a Technical Consultant for that issue, with the title of "Issue Coordinator, Aerospace Systems Division." That kind of ties in with his "Press" badge shown above. Thermal batteries are again listed several times in connection with seismic experiments, but unfortunately there are no clear photographs of any of the components. |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
|
posted 10-19-2018 07:36 AM
I'll make a guess regarding the part with the rock attached. I think it could be part of an experimental scale. I note that it has a mercury switch (the small glass cylinder) which would close when level. (This would only work with gravity, so it was made for use on earth or the moon.) You could (maybe?) put a lunar rock on one side, balance it with force on the other side until the mercury switch closed. Lots of speculation, and hard to be sure when so much is missing. |
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-19-2018 06:03 PM
That's cool. Do you think the timer mechanism or thing with the rock could be valuable at all? What are the odds it was used or went to the moon? Would it need to be valuable? Either way it's pretty cool and I appreciate your guys helping me figure it out. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
|
posted 10-19-2018 11:20 PM
I won't speculate on value other than to say I'd value the timer higher than the gravitational level scale/switch. Agree with John's (Space1's) premise and been so long I didn't even recognize the mercury ampule.Timer is (to me) more "official NASA hardware" and you now have a somewhat-documented story of how it was likely used in Apollo. Also concur with OneBig's finding of the timer's use in charge detonation - how cool is that!?! See page 11-9 and 11-10 of your Apollo 17 ALSEP document. I don't know that any of the flown ALSEP hardware would have been returned to earth. ALSEP was an experimental package to be deployed, activated, and, mostly, left running on the moon's surface. |
cubz811
Member Posts: 13
From:
Registered: Oct 2018
|
posted 10-20-2018 09:41 AM
Oh yeah. I do remember reading that they left the ASLEP stuff up there. I found that page you were talking about. That's a really cool diagram. |
advertisement