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Apollo 17 Lunar Module Flown American Flag Presented by Gene Cernan to NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center Director Rocco Petrone...
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Sold on Jun 14, 2024 for:
$5,250.00
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Description
Apollo 17 Lunar Module Flown American Flag Presented by Gene Cernan to NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center Director Rocco Petrone with Signed Letter of Presentation, in Framed Display, Directly from the Dr. Rocco Petrone Family Collection. A 5.5" x 4.125" cloth U.S. flag framed to an overall 13" x 15.5" with a one page 5.25" x 7.5" letter on NASA JSC letterhead dated December 7, 1975, reading as follows:"Dear Rocco: This flag Of Our nation flew to the moon aboard the spaceships 'AMERICA' and 'CHALLENGER,' Apollo XVII. December 6-19, 1972. Let it be to you as it is to me, a symbol of the ambition, effort, and self-sacrifice of a people dedicated to the greatest nation in the history of the world. Please accept this flag with the pride the heritage of our country so righteously deserves. Sincerely, [signed] 'Gene Cernan' Eugene A. Cernan. Captain, USN. NASA Astronaut."
The fact that Cernan mentions Challenger indicates that this flag went to the lunar surface aboard the LM. No flag ever spent more time on the moon than this one as Apollo 17 still holds the record for lunar surface time, more than three full days. This flag was from Gene Cernan's personal PPK as noted by another recipient of one of these presentations, NASA Protocol Officer Edward S. Barker, whose flag Heritage (with only a photocopy of letter) sold in November 2015 for $11,250. More recently, in May 2023, Heritage sold the flag (with letter signed by Cernan and Evans) presented to NASA Program Director Fred Kleinknecht for $13,750. Apollo 17 LM flown flags are uncommon and this is a particularly desirable example as given to such an important person in the Apollo program.
Note that the flag and letter were apparently framed by Petrone after receiving them, denoting their importance to him. Minor taped bleedthrough on flag, a couple dings to frame. Very fine.
Auction Info
2024 June 14 - 15 Space Exploration Signature® Auction #6292 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2024
14th-15th
Friday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 8
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 374
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