Apollo 11 Command Module Foil
Apollo 11 Command Module Foil
This specimen is an actual, mission-flown fragment of kapton foil from the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia. This material helped protect Apollo astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their journey from Earth to the Moon and back. Salvaged after splashdown, this is a unique collectible from one of the greatest achievements in human history.
LAUNCH: July 16, 1969 - LUNAR LANDING: July 20, 1969 - SPLASHDOWN: July 24, 1969 - TOTAL DISTANCE: 953,054 Miles
Apollo 11
"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." ~ Neil Armstrong
Above: Stylized image of the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia. This picture was taken on the deck of the U.S.S. Hornet after recovery of the craft on July 24, 1969. (Source: NASA S69-21294).
The Apollo program was conceived during President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration and later dedicated to President John F. Kennedy's goal of "landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth" within a decade.
President Kennedy proposed this bold agenda during an address to the United States Congress on May 25th, 1961. On July 20, 1969, NASA fulfilled the mission when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to land on the Moon. This was the 11th flight of the Apollo program, and the success was broadcast live to the entire world.
Piloted by astronaut Michael Collins, Command Module Columbia orbited the Moon while fellow astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin explored the surface. The craft carried all three astronauts safely back to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969.
The technological and scientific breakthroughs associated with the Apollo program were vast and long-lasting, but it is the human achievement that has held our imaginations for so many years.
📸 Closeup of the Apollo 11 specimen inside its acrylic cube. The lid can be removed for direct examination, but please be careful as the kapton is incredibly light.
MISSION-FLOWN KAPTON FOIL
As noted above, this specimen is a fragment of mission-flown kapton foil, which provided thermal protection for the astronauts aboard the Apollo 11 Command Module.
Acquired at auction, this material comes from the personal collection of retired NASA Production Control Engineer William R. Whipkey. Among space collectors, Whipkey is considered the most reliable source for kapton foil because he oversaw the decommissioning of the Command Modules from multiple missions. He was also responsible for making most of the commemorative displays for astronauts, VIPs, and others who worked on the Apollo Program.
📸 Why yes, we do have a NASA cafeteria tray at MMHQ.
The specimen measures approximately 1mm x 1mm and is enclosed in an acrylic cube with a magnified lid for easy viewing. The acrylic cube is housed inside a padded, glass-topped riker box display case measuring 5 1/2" x 6 1/2".
As pictured, an information card is included with images from Apollo 11, details about the mission, and a certificate of authenticity.
📸 The information card that also serves as a four-way display for the specimen.
An information card is included with images from Apollo 11, details about the mission, and a certificate of authenticity.
The card also features a centerline die-cut square matching the dimensions of the acrylic cube.
This allows you to showcase the specimen inside the display case with any one of four different designs.
INSIDE OF THE CARD
Back of the Card
📸 The Apollo 11 Command and Service Modules (CSM) as photographed from the Lunar Module (LM) in lunar orbit on July 20, 1969. The lunar surface below is in the north central Sea of Fertility. The coordinates of the center of the picture are 51 degrees east longitude and 1 degree north latitude. About half of the crater Taruntius G is visible in the lower left corner of the picture. Part of Taruntius H can be seen at lower right. (Source: NASA AS11-37-5445)
What is Kapton Foil? Is it Gold or Silver?
Kapton "foil" is aluminized polyimide film. The polyimide film is semi-transparent, so the shiny gold appearance is really light reflecting off the aluminum on the other side.
The entire surface of Columbia was coated with many layers of this foil, with the outermost layers installed aluminized side out to provide maximum reflection of radiation.
📸 Specimen with the magnified lid removed. If you do this, be very careful.
As pictured, we've elected to display the material "gold" side out as it accurately depicts the way it was found on recovery. If you prefer the aluminized side, you can easily flip it over, but do be extremely cautious as the kapton foil floats away at the slightest breeze.
Please Note: The magnified lid is secured to the acrylic cube with special tape, but the specimen inside is directly accessible. If you choose to remove the lid to examine the specimen, please use extreme caution.This cannot be stressed enough. Kapton foil is very light and can easily escape. In addition, due to the delicate nature of the material, fragments can vary in shape.
Kapton foil was used on both the Lunar Module (LM) and the Command Module (CM). NASA Technical Note D-7564 "Apollo experience report: Thermal protection subsystem " (1974), describes the usage in this way:
"This low ratio is achieved with a pressure-sensitive Kapton polyimide tape that is coated with aluminum and oxidized silicon monoxide and that is applied over the entire external surface of the ablator. The installation of a boost protective cover over the conical portion of the CM prevents contamination of the thermal-control coating and the CM windows by aerodynamic heating during boost and by the tower jettison engine plume." (See Page 5, Fig. 4)
Source: Acquired at auction, this particular sample comes from the personal collection of retired NASA Production Control Engineer William R. Whipkey. Among space collectors, Whipkey is considered the most reliable source for kapton foil because he oversaw the decommissioning of the Command Modules from multiple missions. He was also responsible for making most of the commemorative displays for astronauts, VIPs, and others who worked on the Apollo Program.
Information Card References
Front of Card (11 Images - Top to Bottom):
NASA Image # : 69PC-0421: Apollo 11 Launch. At 9:32 a.m. EDT, the swing arms move away and a plume of flame signals the liftoff of the Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle and astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.
NASA Image # : AS11-44-6552: This photograph shows the partly-illuminated Earth rising over the lunar horizon. The lunar terrain shown, centered at 85 degrees east longitude and 3 degrees north latitude on the nearside of the Moon is in the area of Smyth's Sea. The Earth is approximately 400,000 km away.
NASA Image # : AS11-37-5445: The Apollo 11 Command and Service Modules (CSM) are photographed from the Lunar Module (LM) in lunar orbit during the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. The lunar surface below is in the north central Sea of Fertility. The coordinates of the center of the picture are 51 degrees east longitude and 1 degree north latitude. About half of the crater Taruntius G is visible in the lower left corner of the picture. Part of Taruntius H can be seen at lower right.
NASA Image # : S69-38317: Michael Collins practices in a simulator prior to Apollo 11 launch. With 18 days before launch, Apollo 11 Command Module (CM) pilot Michael Collins practices docking hatch removal from CM simulator at NASA Johnson Space Center.
NASA Image # : AS11-44-6581: The Apollo 11 Lunar Module (LM) "Eagle", in a landing configuration is photographed in lunar orbit from the Command and Service Modules (CSM) "Columbia". Inside the LM were Commander, Neil A. Armstrong, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. The long "rod-like" protrusions under the landing pods are lunar surface sensing probes. Upon contact with the lunar surface, the probes send a signal to the crew to shut down the descent engine.
NASA Image # : AS11-40-5877: One of the first steps taken on the Moon, this is an image of Buzz Aldrin's bootprint from the Apollo 11 mission. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
NASA Image # : AS11-40-5903 Astronaut Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot, walks on the surface of the Moon near the leg of the Lunar Module (LM) "Eagle" during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA). Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera.
NASA Image # : 69-HC-893: This interior view of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module shows Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., lunar module pilot, during the lunar landing mission. This picture was taken by Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, prior to the moon landing.
NASA Image # : AS11-40-5873: Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., Lunar Module pilot, is photographed during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA) on the lunar surface. In the right background is the Lunar Module "Eagle." On Aldrin's right is the Solar Wind Composition (SWC) experiment already deployed. This photograph was taken by Neil A. Armstrong with a 70mm lunar surface camera.
NASA Image # : AS11-37-5528: Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Apollo 11 Commander, inside the Lunar Module as it rests on the lunar surface after completion of his historic moonwalk.
NASA Image #: 108-KSC-69PC-452: Command Module Recovery Area. Pararescueman Lt. Clancy Hatleberg closes the Apollo 11 spacecraft hatch as astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin, Jr., await helicopter pickup from their life raft.
Interior Card Illustrations (4 Images - Left to Right):
Apollo Launch Configuration for Lunar Landing Mission
Apollo 11 Flight Profile
Apollo Command and Service Modules And Launch Escape System
Apollo Command Module Diagram
Rear or "Far Side" Image (1 Image):
NASA Image # : AS11-44-6552: This photograph shows the partly-illuminated Earth rising over the lunar horizon. The lunar terrain shown, centered at 85 degrees east longitude and 3 degrees north latitude on the nearside of the Moon is in the area of Smyth's Sea. The Earth is approximately 400,000 km away.
