a12_v_bw_o_n (NAR publicity photo, DBA 110369, verso stamped A279, 69-HC-1138 eq, 69-H-1746 eq, poss S69-58005 eq, 108-KSC-69PC-606 eq)
“LONE SPACE COWBOY
LONE ASTRONAUT -- Dick Gordon, Apollo 12 spacecraft command module pilot, maneuvers craft into position for rendezvous and docking with lunar module returning from moon in this drawing by North American Rockwell’s Space Division. Gordon orbits moon alone Tuesday through Thursday in command module while Astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean explore lunar surface. Apollo spacecraft command and service modules for the Apollo 12 mission were produced for NASA by North American Rockwell’s Space Division.”
The caption per the NASA issuance of the photo:
“In this artist concept, Apollo 12 astronaut Richard F. Gordon maneuvers the command module into position for rendezvous and docking with the lunar module returning from the Moon's surface. Astronauts Charles Conrad, Jr., and Alan L. Bean will transfer from the lunar module into the command module for the return trip to Earth, Apollo 12 will be the Nation's second manned lunar landing mission.”
I've always found this image odd, no matter where I've seen it, in that it's always been identified as being Richard Gordon. I understand mission attribution in artist's concepts, and Neil Armstrong for obvious reasons...but specifically, of an individual Astronaut, rarely, especially in the course of performing a nominal, routine, expected, previously conducted task, like maneuvering the CSM. I like it, but I don’t get it...there had to be some other angle to it. I really don't think it was originally intended to be him...that's the face of a generic 1969 ‘action figure’ Astronaut. ;-)
a12_v_bw_o_n (NAR publicity photo, DBA 110369, verso stamped A279, 69-HC-1138 eq, 69-H-1746 eq, poss S69-58005 eq, 108-KSC-69PC-606 eq)
“LONE SPACE COWBOY
LONE ASTRONAUT -- Dick Gordon, Apollo 12 spacecraft command module pilot, maneuvers craft into position for rendezvous and docking with lunar module returning from moon in this drawing by North American Rockwell’s Space Division. Gordon orbits moon alone Tuesday through Thursday in command module while Astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean explore lunar surface. Apollo spacecraft command and service modules for the Apollo 12 mission were produced for NASA by North American Rockwell’s Space Division.”
The caption per the NASA issuance of the photo:
“In this artist concept, Apollo 12 astronaut Richard F. Gordon maneuvers the command module into position for rendezvous and docking with the lunar module returning from the Moon's surface. Astronauts Charles Conrad, Jr., and Alan L. Bean will transfer from the lunar module into the command module for the return trip to Earth, Apollo 12 will be the Nation's second manned lunar landing mission.”
I've always found this image odd, no matter where I've seen it, in that it's always been identified as being Richard Gordon. I understand mission attribution in artist's concepts, and Neil Armstrong for obvious reasons...but specifically, of an individual Astronaut, rarely, especially in the course of performing a nominal, routine, expected, previously conducted task, like maneuvering the CSM. I like it, but I don’t get it...there had to be some other angle to it. I really don't think it was originally intended to be him...that's the face of a generic 1969 ‘action figure’ Astronaut. ;-)