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Dave Scott's Apollo 15 Lunar Surface-Worn OPS Internal Structural Plate

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:30,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
Dave Scott's Apollo 15 Lunar Surface-Worn OPS Internal Structural Plate

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Auction Date:2017 Apr 20 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, 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
Lunar surface–used internal support bracket for the Oxygen Purge System worn by one of the Apollo 15 astronauts, 7.5 x 4, featuring a secret beta cloth pouch glued inside which was used to carry souvenir flags during his three lunar EVAs. In the event of PLSS (Personal Life Support System) failure, the Oxygen Purge System served as a backup air supply that could provide 30 minutes of breathing oxygen to the crewman. It was mounted on top of the PLSS backpack directly behind the astronaut’s head. In fine condition.

Accompanied by a detailed signed letter of provenance from Dave Scott, in part: “I hereby certify that the OPS Internal Support Bracket…with the attached beta-cloth Flag Package included with this letter was mounted inside an Oxygen Purge System (OPS) for three days of EVA excursions during Apollo 15, the first extended scientific exploration of the Moon, July 26–August 7, 1971. During the Apollo era, it was not unusual for engineers or technicians to secretly hide souvenir items in some part of the spacecraft or flight equipment before launch to be recovered after the mission…Several weeks after Apollo 15, this OPS bracket and Flag Package were shown to me by NASA senior management. Some of the small US flags…that had been extracted from the Package were also available. According to management, a member of the JSC Crew Systems Division (CSD) had prepared the flags and secretly stowed them in the beta cloth package…This was apparently unknown to anybody else until the OPS was disassembled after the mission…I was given the OPS Bracket and Package and a small number of flags…I presented some of the flags I was given to people who had made significant contributions to Apollo…This OPS Internal Bracket and mounted Flag Package have been in my personal collection since presented to me by senior management.”

During their three Apollo 15 EVAs, Dave Scott and Jim Irwin logged over 18 hours on the lunar surface, traveling 17.3 miles in the Lunar Roving Vehicle. This bracket was an integral component of the OPS, which was worn any time the astronaut was outside of the Lunar Module and served as a critical piece of safety equipment for survival on the lunar surface. The story behind its unexpected use as a carrier for souvenir flags adds to this item’s significance. A simply spectacular piece of surface-used hardware.