View allAll Photos Tagged lunarlanding
Space and space missions fascinate me. I went to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. A lot is currently under reconstruction, less than half is on display. I was fascinated by the Apollo mission. The museum has the Apollo 11 Command Module that returned from the first manned lunar landing mission in July 1969, here taken with a fisheye lens. Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins were launched from Cape Kennedy atop a Saturn V rocket.
I processed a balanced and a paintery HDR photo from a RAW exposure, blended them selectively, and carefully adjusted the curves and color balance. I welcome and appreciate constructive comments.
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-- ƒ/4.0, 12 mm, 0.3 sec, ISO 800, Sony A7 II, Rokinon 12mm F2.8, HDR, 1 RAW exposure, _DSC7259_hdr1bal1pai5d.jpg
-- CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, © 2025 Peter Thoeny, Quality HDR Photography
Our spontaneous activity on our trip to Canberra this year was to go to the Enlighten festival. There was a mix of architectural projections on the buildings, roving performers, bands and food.
On the side of Questacon there was an amazing lunar landing, space theme.
Taken from Coral Towers Observatory using a Skynyx 2-2 high speed camera and 15-cm Astrophysics Apochromatic Refractor at F/16 on a software bisque PME mount.
Our spontaneous activity on our trip to Canberra this year was to go to the Enlighten festival. There was a mix of architectural projections of the buildings, roving performers, bands and food.
On the side of Questacon there was an amazing lunar landing, space theme.
On this day in 1969, the Apollo 11 Eagle, along with NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin went to the moon, forever changing human history.
We're proud of the role NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center played and we sincerely thank everyone who made it happen, as well as everyone around the world who watched and supported this giant leap for mankind.
Von Braun's team may have actually built the Saturn rockets, but credit also belongs to those who worked behind-the-scenes in management, accounting, purchasing, security, human resources, emergency services, medical, public affairs, legal and more.
Learn more about Marshall's role by visiting the NASA Marshall History Office.
_____________________________________________
These official NASA photographs are being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photographs. The photographs may not be used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by NASA. All Images used must be credited. For information on usage rights, click here.
Our spontaneous activity on our trip to Canberra this year was to go to the Enlighten festival. There was a mix of architectural projections of the buildings, roving performers, bands and food.
On the side of Questacon there was an amazing lunar landing, space theme.
Taken from Coral Towers Observatory using a Skynyx 2-2 high speed camera and 15-cm Astrophysics Apochromatic Refractor at F/16 on a software bisque PME mount.
NOTE
The Apollo 11 landing site is marked.
Moon over Joshua Tree. A composite image, with one shot exposured for the moon and second shot with exposure set for the sky. Happy Slider Sunday and Happy 2016!
The moon had a yellow/orange tint to it, due to the humid air and smoke from the western forest fires. I adjusted the white balance to remove some of the tint.
The Tycho crater is very prominent in the south, and Mare Tranqillitatis (Sea of Tranquillity) is just to the right of center. The southern edge of that is the site of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
Shot with a 1.4x teleconverter, then cropped the photo.
After 109 hours, 39 minutes in the lunar module, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin enjoy a double cafe mocha.
A collage of NASA archive photos and an abandoned cafe on old Route 66 near Kingman Arizona.
Created for the NASA REMIX Challenge #22 - New Years Bang!
Apollo 11 was launched by a Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 16,1969 and was the fifth crewed mission of NASA's Apollo program. The Apollo Lunar Module Eagle landed on the edge of the Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969 marking the first humans to land on the Moon.
50 years later, we celebrate the bravery of this and previous Apollo crews along with the groundbreaking engineering that made this possible! Pioneers, space cowboys, heroes...
Technical Information (or Nerdy Stuff):
Camera - Nikon D7200 (handheld)
Lens – Nikkor 18-300mm Zoom
ISO – 100
Aperture – f/10
Exposure – 1/250 second
Focal Length – 300mm
The original RAW file was processed with Adobe Camera Raw and final adjustments were made with Photoshop CS6.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11
During the first man lunar landing in July 1969, a cluster of five F1 RocketDyne manufactured engines lifted the 363-foot-tall Apollo vehicle from earth.
Wonderful reading. Quaint actually...and the on-the-fly jargon, like ”join up”, “mid-course check-up” and “semi-confining booths”. I love it.
“Much of the lunar landscape is nearly flat.” Hmmm, really? Possibly in reference to the scene/terrain depicted. The 1971 & 1967 timelines are both also first heard for me. In addition to the 216,000-mile distance to the moon - a little close. Must be in conjunction with a “super duper moon” maybe?
;-)
Wonderful artwork by Roy G. Scarfo.
“Original Project Apollo concept painting by Robert Watts for Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical, accomplished in gouache on 15.25 x 12 illustration board, no date but circa late 1960s/early 1970s. The work shows the Lunar Module on the moon with two astronauts exploring the lunar surface at its feet: one deploys an experiment in the background, while another wheels the Modular Equipment Transporter in the foreground. Signed in the lower right corner in paint, "Robert Watts." A slip affixed to the reverse identifies the artist and designer as Watts, his supervisor as James P. McGowan, and their affiliation as Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical. Double-matted to an overall size of 21 x 18. In fine condition. A detailed and accurate Apollo-era rendering of a fantastic lunar landing scene.”
Nicely written, hence using it, at:
www.icollector.com/Apollo-Concept-Art-by-Robert-Watts_i34...
Credit: iCollector & RR AUCTION websites
Robert Watts, yet another superb & prolific artist - at least of stuff that I like to look at - that few know/care/wonder anything/jack/squat about.
If you also like looking at stellar aircraft/spacecraft art, please click on the “Robert Watts” tag to confirm my assertion. However, it’ll require sifting through some nice, well-composed actual photos.
Irrelevant observation, but I would’ve guessed Craig Kavafes…shows how ‘much’ I know.
Purple hour in Chicago as an American Airlines flight arrives at O'Hare International Airport under the waxing crescent moon phase.
Brilliant, dramatic, striking…almost haunting depiction of an early Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) ascent stage liftoff…by one of NASA’s earliest artists, the supremely talented Gerald “Gerry” J. Lyons.
Although a ‘vintage’ NASA photograph, it was previously - possibly originally - created & issued as part of a presentation by Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) Director, Robert R. Gilruth and Lee N. McMillion of the Space Task Group (STG)/Life Systems Branch, at the Seattle Institute of Aerospace Sciences (IAS), August 6, 1962.
Although I’ve found basically nothing WRT Mr. Lyons, there’s at least a mention of him by another original NASA artist, Chuck Biggs, at the following wonderful NASA oral history.
The oral histories project is thankfully, something NASA somehow managed to get right, really right:
historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/o...
"One Concept of a Moon Base...such a facility lies far in the future"
Much much farther than we ever imagined.
There is NO SUCH THING as an excess of vintage moon base artist’s concepts, hence this posting.
Seriously, look at the exquisite detail throughout. For one, being bespectacled myself, appreciation for the depiction of the (likely) brilliant geologist or astrophysicist wearing glasses, with staff?/penetrometer?/drill?/sample collector? in hand.
And is that a Space Force shoulder patch?
The tripod-mounted camera? Television? Film? Note the crank. For film rewind, once the roll has been exposed?
Finally, for the geologists, check out those substantial talus slopes, center & right.
It's got it all!
Note the lunar lander ascending in the distance to the left. The vehicle configuration depicted might be a clue as to the contractor's identification, thereby narrowing down the artist’s identity? Roy Scarfo maybe? Although the mountains would seem to suggest otherwise. Convair/GD, John Sentovic? Nah. John Gorsuch? Ugh. USAF LUNEX?
Finally, check this out, same fellows...in a dramatically different setting...so cool:
Flickr: Explore! (Yet another hyperlink change. Thank you Flickr! )
dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/2015/06/
Credit: John Sisson/Dreams of Space - Books and Ephemera blogspot.
For whatever, if anything, it's worth, I HIGHLY recommend taking a closer look at Mr. Sisson's site. It's always a pleasure to look through it. Amazing photographs featured and so obviously thoughtfully presented.
Thank you Mr. Sisson!
This is the result of a 30 minute wait. Taken from Newport/Pavonia waterfront in Jersey City facing Manhattan
“LUNAR ROVING VEHICLE – MANNED MODE”
I may be mixing apples & oranges; however, this looks to be one of multiple similarly derived Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) & Local Science Survey Module (LSSM)…manned/unmanned, maybe even lunar Mobile Laboratory (MOLAB) – and who knows what else – artist’s concepts…I think developed/proposed under the auspices of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Possibly by Bendix? Or not. Who really knows.
Just for me - so I remember & hopefully - know where to find it: although there’s no signature, a VERY similar rendition of this vehicle & its derivatives/variations, to include the perspective, lunar surface, etc., was identified to have been by a probable Bendix Corp. artist with the last name of “Brown”. So that narrows down any future searches. 😉 👍
"This photograph shows how Krafft A. Ehricke pictures man going to the moon by nuclear rocket. The manned payload hangs 1000 feet below the nuclear power plant after having been boosted from Earth into space by a chemical rocket. Upon reaching the Moon, the nuclear rocket is set down some distance from where the capsule lands. This arrangement protects the crew from the radiation of the nuclear rocket. (Convair, General Dynamics Corp.)"
Above credit: Leo Boudreau/Man on the Moon from "Rocket to the Moon" by Erik Bergaust and Seabrook Hull (1958), 1st ed. See linked image below.
In my world, this image is rather iconic, especially WRT to the Ehricke & Sentovic collaboration, as it was (relatively speaking), extensively used for press purposes. As such, this rare remnant has obviously been around the block. Despite that, it’s still retained its gloss and is bright & crisp image.
Note the stylized lower-case “dp” next to Mr. Sentovic’s signature, surely by him. No idea what it means/refers to.
Last, but not least - John Michael Sentovic:
e05.code.blog/2022/01/03/artist-profile-john-sentovic/
Credit: Garrett O’Donoghue/“numbers station” blog. I love this guy.
“NASA/Shuttle: Space Shuttle August 1972”
A very nicely presented work by prolific & talented North American Rockwell/Rockwell International artist, Manuel E. Alvarez…depicting the evolution of the ‘vehicles’ of exploration & discovery, at the time culminated by the Space Shuttle. Which, coincidentally, was to be manufactured by his employer. 😉
I don’t know my sailing ships, but I think that’s one of Christopher Columbus’. From what I’ve seen, the Mayflower seemed to have a more complex sail configuration.
And I think the shuttle is deploying the ever-popular (from the time), “planetary probe”. Although, upon closer examination, maybe an asteroid grappling hook?
“This revised illustration of the newly configured LLRV was largely faithful to the final planform. It shows the cockpit in front of the vehicle, the avionics at the aft end, and the true location of the maneuvering rockets. In the background is the Flight Research Center and Rogers Dry Lake. (Bell artist’s conception)”
Above at/from "NASA Monographs in Aerospace History no. 35" (NASA SP-2004-4535/Unconventional, Contrary, and Ugly: The Lunar Landing Research Vehicle), page 28:
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/LLRV_Monograph.pdf
Credit: ALSJ website
This photograph is a wonderful, battered unicorn. Not only is it one of the rarer concept images of the LLRV, it’s also the FIRST/ONLY time I’ve come across it (or any other original LLRV concept art ‘photo’) in color. It seems to have been part of a binder(s), displayed and obviously handled…a lot, I’m sure all by Bell Aerosystems/NASA personnel. I didn’t dare attempt any “clean up” for fear of doing more harm than good.
And, as a bonus, the artist’s signature - J. R. Fisken - is visible! Although I’ve found nothing on him, I’ll take it.
Note the wonderful detail of the Dryden Flight Research Center, to include the parked cars & aircraft. Even the rail line & freight train...its dual locomotives & caboose being easily discernible. Finally, in the lower right corner, the large compass rose painted on the dry lake to aid inbound aircraft. Really gorgeous airbrush work...only now revealed.
Said compass rose:
www.reddit.com/r/InfrastructurePorn/comments/iwiaor/the_2...
Credit: reddit website
“This is the exploration vehicle for the U.S. “Man on the Moon” program, as conceived by scientists and engineers of the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company at Sunnyvale, California. Designed for a 600-mile round trip from a lunar base site, the vehicle would provide almost 200 hours at a destination site for exploratory purposes. The two-man vehicle, 12 feet in diameter, contains a combination air-lock and emergency compartment to provide protection against solar flare activity or meteoroid penetration. The vehicle would be propelled in a ballistic path by a rocket system using a storable propellant.”
I believe the artwork/print is prior to 1964.
Additionally, from Paul Vreede’s wonderful “SPACEX: GOLDEN ASTRONAUT” website, taken from David S. F. Portree’s superlative original blog:
“Lockheed's two-man Lunar Surface Ballistic Vehicle (LSBV) would "hop" over the lunar landscape using a nitrogen tetroxide/hydrazine rocket motor. The motor would fire briefly to lob the LSBV onto a suborbital path, then again to slow it to a gentle touchdown at a remote exploration site. Twin landing skids would cant out of way of the rocket blast in flight. The crew would ride inside a 12-foot-diameter spherical cabin topped by a silver thermal insulation "beanie cap" that would ward off heat from its pitch/roll thrusters and from harsh lunar sunlight. The LSBV, which would weigh 775 pounds on the moon, would need to carry 1250 pounds of propellants in its twin spherical side-mounted tanks to make a 200-mile round trip flight. Short trip time would be the LSBV's chief advantage over the LTV; a 200-mile LSBV flight would last 15 minutes, while a 200-mile LTV traverse would need 40 hours.”
At:
www.triangspacextoys.info/SpGAorig/MnBs_OrF/MnBs_OrP.html
I don’t see the two-man capability, at least not of the second occupant to be similarly seated. However, the object next to the astronaut does look like an ‘examination table’.
See also:
www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/lockheed-moon-base.10309/
Credit: SECRET PROJECTS website
Finally, I’ve come across this multiple times over the decades, loved it & had always hoped to see it at higher resolution! Ta-dah!
It's exquisite & meticulous. I think it’s by Ludwik Źiemba…or one of his protégés. Although, in color, this & all of the others from this ‘series’ look really cartoonish.
A unique Boeing “SATURN V APOLLO TEAM” decal. Possibly created/released ICW with the construction, rollout, etc., of the SA-500F Facilities Integration Vehicle? The SWAG at the time period is based on the exaggerated LM porch, (partially) round hatch & Astronaut’s space suit (which actually looks pre-‘64 to me).
3” x 3”. The gold/brassy colored area exhibits a noticeable sheen & variance in shading when viewed from different angles/lighting conditions.
See also:
www.spacepatchdatabase.com/patches/apollo/boeing-apollo-t...
Credit: Space Patch Database website
Now there's apparently this. Note the write-up; "the largest rocket ever built." More like "the largest rocket if/when actually ever built, let alone flown - SAFELY". Although not quite as catchy, it's more accurate. Oh, and the decal is ‘imported’:
www.boeingstore.com/collections/boeing-stickers/products/...
"Credit": Boeing Store website
“Knowledge From The Moon
Apollo 17’s lunar orbital science package will give experts on earth a wealth of information about the moon. This artist’s sketch, by North American Rockwell’s Space Division, shows the cover of the approximately 900-pound unit being jettisoned just before the spacecraft approaches the moon. It will work in conjunction with instruments on the lunar surface. Apollo 17 is due to rendezvous with the moon Sunday.”
Another beautiful work by North American Rockwell’s talented, prolific and previously enigmatic resident artist, Manuel E. Alvarez. Although, I think he copped out on the moon. Not a mare to be seen, which means far side. Not in this case, it’s just a bunch of muted craters. I wonder if taking the path of ‘least resistance’ qualifies as artistic license. Actually, the LM looks a little cattywampus as well. All good. 😉
All kinds of activity in lunar orbit.
A visual feast, possibly rendered by either Ludwik Źiemba, William Collopy or Anthony Saporito, or some combination thereof.
By extrapolation of other works, possibly on behalf of Lockheed Missiles & Space Company.
“The Saturn C-1 will be used for Apollo earth-orbital flights. It will have the capability of placing the Apollo command center, together with its propulsion and orbiting laboratory units, into an earth orbit between 150 and 300 miles above the earth’s surface.
In order to accelerate the Apollo spacecraft to escape velocity, which is nearly one-and-one-half times satellite velocity, a more powerful launch vehicle other than the Saturn C-1 will be needed. For the Apollo circumlunar flight, therefore, the Saturn C-2 will be employed. The Saturn C-2 differs from the C-1 in that it has a large hydrogen-oxygen propelled second stage. It will have the capability of sending the Apollo spacecraft and its propulsion unit to the vicinity of the moon. Both the Saturn C-1 and C-2 are currently under development. Before a manned lunar landing can be made, a launch vehicle that is much more powerful than the Saturn C-2 must be developed. The name given to such a vehicle, is Nova. A conceptual version of the Nova vehicle is shown on the figure, roughly to the same scale as the Saturn C-1 and C-2; it may approach one-half the height of the Washington Monument. Nova will employ, in its first stage, either a cluster of 1-1/2 million pound F-1 liquid fuel engines, or a cluster of large solid propellant engines.”
“MOON BASED MOBILITY
Looking ahead to the day astronaut-scientists explore the surface of the moon, American aerospace industries are devising vehicles that will make spacemen more mobile. This flying chair idea has been suggested by Bell Aero Systems. Other firms have come up with concepts for wheeled vehicles with wide treads that will support a heavy load on a weak surface.”
7” x 9”.
This is the first dual-occupant Lunar Flying Vehicle (LFV) design I’ve seen in which the passenger/scientist-astronaut maybe, faces aft…with some sort of instrument/display panel at his disposal, which the pilot does NOT have. Interesting and a little odd. Possibly considered to have been a potential distraction?
Or…maybe that guy’s the Radar Intercept Officer (RIO), with the instrument laden foreground LFV scanning for & transmitting the locations of fragmentation mines (banned by UN charter), previously released by intentionally radioactive Soviet impactors. So, we may be looking at a DoD requested configuration for a hostile lunar environment, hence its rarity.
Sophomoric, maybe even juvenile? Shit yeah! Tongue-in-cheek? Maybe/maybe not. Future possibility? Probably at least a 50/50 chance.
Whatever is actually depicted, military or scientific, the two vehicles do appear to be conducting complimentary/coordinated operations.
Or…maybe it’s just Bell’s promotional depiction of the sedan & roadster (shown with XLE scientific package) versions of their 1966 model year LFV.
Whatever is going on, unless there’s an Astronaut, on standby, at a fixed location within a reasonable distance, this is quite risky. Which supports this merely featuring proposed configurations.
In the following linked document, the vehicle is referred to - by Bell Aerosystems I assume - as a/the Manned Flying System (MFS):
documents.theblackvault.com/documents/aviation/ADA175379.pdf
Credit: "THE BLACK VAULT" website
In all seriousness, this is really really nice artwork, beautifully detailed. By Bell Aerosystems artist F. J. Miller. I’d never heard of Mr. Miller…
and on that note, a bittersweet and sad “win”. A win only in that Mr. Miller has been ‘revealed’, to even include a photograph of him! Look at the man’s incredible range/diversity of works…I mean damn!!! However, I’m extremely saddened that some/most/all? of his creations seemed to have been liquidated – possibly by his son – over the course of several years, culminating in a final? offering of his paintings in 2017, prior to the sale of his home. Maybe, hopefully, I’m wrong, it’s not really clear to me what was going with his legacy. If it was just nonchalantly sold off, I sort of get it, but “AAAAARGH!” nonetheless:
www.facebook.com/pages/category/Arts---Humanities-Website...
Credit: Meta/Facebook
Also:
www.astronautix.com/l/lfvbell.html
Credit: Astronautix website
Figure 6 would appear to be a loosely similar depiction of vehicles, by Bell Aerosystems artist J. J. Carr:
ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19680023965/downloads/1968002...
“LUNAR IGLOO
NEW YORK: An artist’s conception shows astronauts building a lunar “igloo” with equipment described October 9th to members of the American Rocket Society. One astronaut is operating a machine that mixes lunar dust and rock with binder to form a semi-liquid, quick-hardening material. The second astronaut (left) is carrying part of an airlock which will be fitted over the side of the building. Germano Di Leonardo, of General Electric’s Missile and Space Vehicles Department, said in a technical paper presented to the A.R.S. that the system would offer easy, rapid construction and require a minimum of material transported from Earth.”
And, per “Advances in Space Sciences and Technology, Volume 7, 1965”, edited by Frederick I. Ordway, III:
“B. Use of Local Materials
A rigid lunar shelter could be built up from lunar material by sintering process. The vast amount of dust and porous rock estimated to exist on the surface of the Moon makes available great quantities of raw material suitable for the construction of surface structures. Rapid and simple constructional methods would dictate a castable material that exists in semifluid state (like concrete) while it is being handled. This is especially necessary for essentially automatic methods.
It is desirable, therefore, to employ binding agents to solidify the granular material into usable forms. These forms could be, for instance, building blocks, or the entire structure itself. Once suitable binding processes are available, the material must be formed into the desired structural configuration.
Figure 5 illustrates a schematic method of automatically forming structural shells of revolution, which utilizes material in a viscous state having the property of being able to solidify in a very short time. The container moves along the horizontal arm which pivots spirally around the center post. All the motions are preprogrammed in order to get the desired structure.
The mechanism for building a lunar “igloo” using automated equipment could consist of a mixer which sinters lunar dust with a binder to form a semifluid, quick hardening material. This material is forced through a hose to the automatic building rig seen extending through the top of the nearly-completed “igloo”. The building material enters the base of the horizontal arm, which is hollow; and, as the arm pivots spirally around the center post, the material flows out through a dispenser at the end, building up the structure in layers. The only material transported from the Earth to construct the structure may be an alkali to sinter the pumiceous dust covering the outer skirt of the crust. [1] An air-tight membrane can be inflated inside the shell so that the atmosphere will not be lost.
Sintering is a process widely used by the ceramic and metallurgical industries to fabricate oxide, nitride, carbide, silicate, and metal powders into various shapes. The process is equally applicable to either simple or complex shapes, and final rigidity of the mass is reached upon application of thermal energy for a given time.
The forming or shaping process on the Moon may present serious problems as opposed to terrestrial techniques. Controlled solar radiation, nuclear power, or solar thermal energy, should be able to provide the heat source for sintering. The energy necessary to produce the desired thermochemical changes during sintering should thus be readily available, and it appears quite reasonable to consider “modified conventional” ceramic fabrication techniques for building lunar structures.
Pumice is a finely divided siliceous material of volcanic origin and may be closely akin to the “lunar dust” reported by many observers. Samples of pumice taken from different locations throughout the United States exhibit a range in melting temperatures from 1050 to 1225°C. Although this reflects compositional variability, the wide melting range and siliceous nature of material coupled with its similarity to the lunar crust qualifies pumice as a good choice for experimental purposes.
[1]: Drawing upon the current estimates of the composition of the lunar crust, a considerable amount of material should be available on the Moon for construction purposes.”
Note the vertigo-inducing length/height of the lunar lander’s ladder.
7” x 9”. I’m nearly certain by Roy Scarfo.
In color:
Credit: Rudolf Ža/Pinterest
First opening to visitors in the summer of 1979, Tranquillity Park was officially dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the historic lunar landing. On bronze plaques placed along the main entrance, the first words transmitted by Neil Armstrong from the Moon, "Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed," are written in 15 languages. A replica of one of the footprints left on the Moon by Neil Armstrong is also on display inside the park.
A two-block-long oasis of water and walkways, the mounds and depressions throughout the park are meant to represent the cratered lunar surface, and the park's 32-level Wortham Fountain features towering stainless steel cylinders designed to resemble the Apollo's rocket boosters.
400 Rusk Street
“Artist drawing by North American Aviation, Inc. -- After 24 hours on the lunar surface the count down for launch will begin when the command module is in line of sight over the horizon. The return stage of LEM will separate and lift off from the landing stage. Three thousand pound-thrust engine will burn for 6 minutes reaching orbital speed of 4,000 MPH at an altitude of 10 miles.”
1963. Nothing had been built yet, to my knowledge…other than models. Nothing had landed, orbited or even just crashed into the moon yet.
Gary Meyer. Brilliant. Timeless. A masterpiece.
Commencing at the 7:12 elapsed time mark:
Credit: Jeff Quitney/Vimeo
“Artist’s concept of the Apollo 17 LRV traverses at the leading site designated Taurus-Littrow on the southeastern rim of Mare Serenitatis (Sea of Serenity). During the 75-hour lunar surface staytime three 7-hour EVA’s are planned. Eva 1 is largely occupied with the deployment of the LRV, ALSEP, and other experiments, with about 2 hours available for a traverse. EVA’s 2 and 3 are largely devoted to the traverses. This section presents the details of the LRV traverses as currently planned. Astronauts Cernan, Evans and Schmitt are the prime crew for the December launch.”
Above per the verso of the black & white photo (linked to below)..
"An artist's concept illustrating the topographical layout of the Taurus-Littrow landing site of the Apollo 17 lunar landing mission. The Lunar Module touchdown point is in the center of the smooth area in the middle of the picture. The imposing mountain in the center is South Massif. A portion of North Massif is in the lower right corner of the photograph. Note the ridge-like feature extending from South Massif to North Massif. The southern portion of the ridge is called Lee Scarp and the northerly portion Lincoln Scarp. (This concept is by JSC artist Jerry Elmore)."
spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/apollo/apollo17/html/...
Above per "official" online source.
And finally:
"An artist's concept illustrating the topographical layout of the Taurus-Littrow landing site, depicting the traverses planned on the Apollo 17 lunar landing mission using the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV). The Roman numerals indicate the three periods of Extravehicular Activity (EVA). The Arabic numbers represent the station stops. The mountain in the center of the picture is South Massif. A portion of North Massif is in the lower right corner of the photograph. The names of some of the craters are: Camelot (at Station 5); Emory (nearest Station 1); Sherlock (at station 10); Steno (between Emory and Sherlock); Amundsen (at Station 2); Lara (at Station 3); Henry (nearest Station 6); Shakespeare (nearest Station 9); Cochise (nearest Station 8); and Powell (halfway between Camelot and Emory). Note the ridge-like feature extending from Station 2 to North Massif. The southern portion of the ridge is called Lee Scarp; and the Northerly portion is Lincoln Scarp. This concept is by MSC artist Jerry Elmore."
Also an "official" description.
Fantastic LROC view from a fairly similar perspective:
lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/M192703697LR_thumb.png
Annotated:
lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/M192703697LR_thumb_anot.png
Full article:
Credit: LROC/ASU website
“Manned Space Vehicle and tractors on the Moon at Sunrise.
Painting by Chesley Bonestell”
Gorgeous…like everything by Mr. Bonestell’s hand…at least having to do with space.
Also, note when compared to the linked images below, that Mr. Bonestell's signature is located below the astronaut working near the left rear of the tractor. Hmm.
Gorgeous II:
www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/museums/ct-adler-bon...
www.chicagotribune.com/resizer/DqHKXmG_YiHdGR-DM7TtaH_GtQ...(black)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/CRG7YGYGIZE7TJYVBOJQFQK5PA.jpg
Both above credit: Chicago Tribune website
I’m pretty sure the degree of minor yellowing & curl of the photograph support my date range guess. Apparently printed by the American Museum of Natural History, for a fee, by request it seems. So then, reasonable to assume that the original resides/resided with them? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The photo paper, although without watermark, has the weight, thickness & feel of high-end (possibly earlier) “THIS PAPER MANUFACTURED BY KODAK” paper.
Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation (GAEC) print/artwork, ca. 1967, depicting the docked Lunar Module-Command/Service Module stack prior to undocking and a/the lunar landing.
GAEC + LEM/LM + artist's concept = (almost exclusively) Craig Kavafes. However, his signature is not to be found, unlike the vast majority of his other work, even early on. Additionally, this doesn't quite look to be by his hand IMHO. Whoever it was, it really looks like the coveted Precise Models Inc. LM model served as the “model”.
Note also how ‘pointy’ the Command Module is, with its SpaceX Crew Dragon-like appearance. Being GAEC-produced artwork, I think accurate depiction of the NAA-manufactured Command/Service Module was not a hard & fast requirement.
Regardless, I love it.
Unbeknownst to Mission Control, the lunar landing site was right in the middle of Scruffy’s territory.
“EVOLUTION OF SPACE”
Although it’s quite the smorgasbord, with U.S. spaceflight - primarily manned - prominent, I see no Gemini representation. Probably because this is a promotion of North American Aviation/Rockwell/Rockwell Int'l & its/their subsidiaries' accomplishments. If so though, then what’s the Mercury Little Joe doing in there? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A very nice work, with no signature unfortunately. Manny Alvarez? Maybe even Bert Winthrop?
“Lunar excursion module blasts off from Moon’s surface with two astronauts for return to orbiting Apollo “mother ship”, where their companion waits, upper left.”
7.875” x 8.625”.
An absolutely stunning depiction of Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) ascent stage liftoff from the moon, as part of a series of Marquardt Corporation ads, circa? 1962-64. Marquardt was the manufacturer of the Reaction Control System (RCS) engines for both the LEM & Command/Service Module.
Despite what appears to be a stylized/logo-like "K" or “JK” near the lower border of the image, I believe the artist of this, along with the other works in this series of ads, to be David "Dave" Hawbecker.
A totally unexpected find – in hard copy – I’m mildly giddy - I don’t get giddy - a huge, albeit insignificant WIN. I’ll still take it. Note the period newspaper clipping of the caption on the verso. Check out the tint of the image – gaudy & almost visually offensive – a credit however to the savvy newspaper editor’s eye in appreciating the eye-popping rendering.
Note the cloudless earth…thus drawing one’s eye to the masterful three-dimensional rendering of the mountainous western regions of both North & South America. 👍
What I hear when I look at the RCS thruster plume. 😉
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dwiompXH6kI&feature=youtu.be
Credit: John Majka/YouTube
Additionally, purportedly, also by the hand of Mr. Hawbecker. If so, a WIN WithIN a WIN...cha-ching. I would've LOVED to have seen the entire lot:
profilesinhistory.com/flipbooks/Historical91/mobile/index...
Credit: "Profiles in History" auction house website
“Scientists and engineers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are studying equipment, such as that depicted above, possibly to be used in a future lunar exploration base. This drawing shows the shelters, communications towers and transportation vehicles which may be needed to man a lunar base”
Note the possible Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) shelter in the distance.
I become a little dejected, crestfallen & morose even, whenever I come across a photo that’s been kinda butchered, IMHO. For whatever shortsighted purpose, especially when it’s bold, bright, rarely seen/published & creative…like this one. 😉
7.25” x 9.875”.