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  Inexpensive lunar surface flown artifacts

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Author Topic:   Inexpensive lunar surface flown artifacts
prastila
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Posts: 27
From:
Registered: Jul 2019

posted 07-31-2019 04:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for prastila     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To us mortals, am I right to understand that the the cheapest thing that has landed on moon that one can buy is the Artifact Cloud dust netting?

What does one think of these straps? How did they get lunar dust? What is the strap anyway? Grateful for more details.

Robert Pearlman
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Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-31-2019 04:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The photo of Charlie Duke included in Artifact Cloud's listing shows that the segment is part of the netting that was used aboard the lunar module to restrain equipment when not in use. Netting of the same type was returned to Earth as mementos by Apollo 11 and Apollo 13, among other missions.

As for the lunar dust, just about every item returned from the lunar modules has shown evidence of lunar dust stains, if only traces. The dust was brought back inside on the astronauts' spacesuits and tools. It then spread by transfer, especially on the later extended duration missions.

I can think of one other type of lunar surface flown collectible that has been sold for less: cards marked with lead from a mechanical pencil used aboard Apollo 15.

SpaceAholic
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Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-31-2019 04:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceAholic   Click Here to Email SpaceAholic     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There are (unfortunately) some encapsulated/micronized fragments of lunar landed cue cards in circulation.

bklyn55
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Posts: 361
From: Milford, CT
Registered: Dec 2014

posted 07-31-2019 05:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for bklyn55   Click Here to Email bklyn55     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
How about the lunar surface flown film pieces, also sold by Artifact Cloud?

prastila
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Posts: 27
From:
Registered: Jul 2019

posted 08-07-2019 04:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for prastila     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I really would like a bit of that lunar dust netting at Artifact Cloud, but need to raise the money. Has anyone here bought one? Have you seen grains of lunar dust?

randy
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Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-07-2019 08:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for randy   Click Here to Email randy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
...cards marked with lead from a mechanical pencil used aboard Apollo 15.
I have one of these. It is very cool and a valued part of my collection.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-07-2019 09:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by prastila:
Have you seen grains of lunar dust?
I do not believe the dust is visible on individual fragments. The original artifact, the netting, was stained with dust. Whether any given piece is stained and to what degree is minuscule at best.

If you want an artifact that is visibly stained with lunar dust it is going to cost considerably more.

datkatz
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Posts: 176
From: New York, NY
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 08-09-2019 03:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for datkatz   Click Here to Email datkatz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The grains are clearly visible — and in good quantity — under my 20x stereo microscope.

prastila
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Posts: 27
From:
Registered: Jul 2019

posted 08-10-2019 01:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for prastila     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you. I presume that the patch is Beta cloth?

If I can raise enough money for it, I hope to mount it into a wristwatch.

Grateful if you will tell me if it is encapsulated? i.e How is it mounted and what keeps the lunar dust in place? Is there a plastic cover in front?

1202 Alarm
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Posts: 436
From: Switzerland & France
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 08-10-2019 03:39 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 1202 Alarm   Click Here to Email 1202 Alarm     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Again, why don't you ask the seller? Florian Noller, the owner of Artifact Cloud, is a very knowledgeable and friendly person who will answer all your questions, like it was pointed in your others threads about Artifact Cloud items.

prastila
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Posts: 27
From:
Registered: Jul 2019

posted 08-10-2019 04:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for prastila     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
collectSPACE is a huge archival source. I have learnt things from posts that go back even to 2002. When something is put on a forum, it benefits people way beyond just today.

Yes I do communicate with Florian. But I also like to get information from others on this forum, after all it is collective knowledge. And answers to my posts may be of benefit for people in the years to come, just as much as I have benefited from answers in the past.

I am a great believer in sharing knowledge, and the internet is of course the ideal platform to do so. And perhaps, in the future, someone will stumble onto these posts, and get the answer they want instead of having to email Florian with repetitive questions.

Buel
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Posts: 649
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 08-10-2019 04:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Buel   Click Here to Email Buel     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by prastila:
I am a great believer in sharing knowledge, and the internet is of course the ideal platform to do so.
I thought this was a really useful response. I also have been accused of asking too many questions about a certain subject or other on Internet forums but I feel exactly as you have written, only I haven't been able to express it as eloquently as you did.

capoetc
Member

Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 08-10-2019 07:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for capoetc   Click Here to Email capoetc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'd have to think that the least expensive lunar surface flown artifact would be one of Jim Irwin's cards with an "X" written on it using a pencil that was flown to the surface on Apollo 15.

These cards are widely available for under $50.

All times are CT (US)

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