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Apollo 13 Flown Pliers Presented to Joe Kerwin

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
Apollo 13 Flown Pliers Presented to Joe Kerwin

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Auction Date:2019 Oct 17 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Flown pair of needle-nose pliers, 5 x 2, carried into lunar orbit aboard the Lunar Module Aquarius during the Apollo 13 mission. The pliers are wire-mounted to a wooden 12 x 8 plaque with affixed embroidered Apollo 13 patch and presentation plate, which reads: “This lunar medical tool was flown on Apollo 13, and is presented to Joe Kerwin, in appreciation of his outstanding contribution to the flight.” In fine condition.

Accompanied by a signed letter of provenance from Kerwin, which reads, in full: “This curved needle-nose pair of pliers was stowed in the Apollo 13 Lunar Module (LM). It was to be used to open or close a circuit breaker whose end had been broken off accidentally. How could that happen? Before a spacewalk the LM Cabin was filled with two astronauts wearing bulky space suits and heavy life-support backpacks, moving around to position themselves for egress. After re-entering the LM from the surface of the Moon the same situation existed; stuff could get hit and break. This tool allowed the crew to position the circuit breakers for lunar liftoff even with broken ends.

There were no spacewalks from this Lunar Module, and the tool was not used. It was bagged and returned to earth by the crew. I was one of the three Capsule Communicators for the flight, along with Vance Brand and Joe Engle. We were the voices of Mission Control to the crew during this harrowing mission, and created a bond which exists to this day. After the flight, the crew was kind enough to re-name the pliers a ‘Lunar Medical Tool,’ have it mounted, and given to me as a memento of the flight we’ll never forget.” These lunar-orbit flown pliers are all the more significant in that they exist as a unique token of appreciation from the legendary crew of the Apollo 13 spacecraft, whose stories could be later told thanks to the efforts of Kerwin and the other invaluable members of NASA mission control.