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1969 FLOWN TRANS-LUNAR COAST BLACK STAR CHART

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Approximately 16"x8" on plastic film, rolled into a tube (minor emulsion chipping at edges & few bends from usage noted for accuracy). Title: 'CSM TLC STAR CHART (B)/LAUNCH JULY 21' Latitude & longitude coordinates marked around edges with prominent navigational stars numbered, circled & enlarged compared to others. Sun & Planets are in color. Three stars noted that are NOT on most Star charts, these were named by Astronaut Gus Grissom who was involved in early Apollo star chart planning. Includes: 'Navi' (Grissom's middle name spelled backwards, 'Regor' (Roger Chaffee's name backwards) and 'Dnoces' ('second', spelled backwards after Ed White II, backwards). After these three perished in the Apollo I fire NASA kept these names on the charts as a tribute. These charts were used along with onboard guidance systems to confirm the exact location of the spacecraft at a given moment. In one TV broadcast during the trip to the Moon, Buzz Aldrin pointed to a window where a Star chart (maybe this one) was used as a sun shade with the black film blocking the sun, the stars and planets colorfully letting in the bright light of the sun. Buzz Aldrin has signed the back of this chart and a letter of authenticity from when this lot was originally sold by Superior Galleries in January of 1993 also included, along with copy of that original catalog & photocopies of paperwork pertaining to the original purchase in that Superior Galleries sale. Without a doubt, this is an extraordinary relic that illustrates a part of the 'Age of Exploration' as well as Man's first lunar landing mission. As such it should have a home in the finest institutional or private collection.

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