[Apollo 16] COMMAND MODULE CASPER AND EARTHRISE Charles Duke, 16-27 April 1972

[Apollo 16] COMMAND MODULE CASPER AND EARTHRISE Charles Duke, 16-27 April 1972 Printed 1972. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS16-113-18289]. With 'A Kodak Paper' watermark on the reverse, numbered 'NASA AS16-113-18289' in red in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas). 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context Command Module Casper and Earthrise: a rare convergence of worlds. This extraordinary photograph captures two celestial bodies and the manned spacecraft that linked them way and back, in a single frame—a sight only Apollo 16 had the opportunity to witness. This image was taken from Lunar Module Orion, which was orbiting at 57 km above the Moon's surface, after an unexpected engine issue on the Command Module Casper jeopardized the planned landing. Due to the failure of Casper's circularization burn, John Young and Charles Duke had to rendezvous with Ken Mattingly, forcing the two spacecraft to reunite in lunar orbit before Houston could resolve the issue. At this moment, Duke was aiming the EVA Hasselblad camera (60mm lens) westward to capture Casper, about a mile away. Just then, the extraordinary sight of Earthrise unfolded before them, adding a poetic dimension to this critical moment. In the background, the lunar far side highlands east of Crater Saha stretches toward the horizon. Duke later recalled the tension of the moment and the unexpected beauty they encountered: 'We had a problem with the Command Module before landing. Mattingly reported a major engine problem that required us to rendezvous. This photograph was taken as we closed in on Mattingly for a little station keeping until they solved the problem. We were co-altitude at the time and started closing when we had Earthrise. Actually, we were pretty down in the dumps about that time because the mission rules said we were going to abort and not land. Fortunately, Houston solved the problem.' — Charles Duke (Schick and Van Haaften, p. 119) Footnotes: From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken: 098:08:45 Young (Orion): See Ken out there? 098:08:46 Duke (Orion): Yeah, I see Ken. [...] 098:09:39 Duke (Orion): Well, the Earth's—ain't come up yet... 098:10:38 Duke (Orion): There it comes. 098:10:45 Duke (Orion): Okay, Ken, we're getting Earthrise. 098:10:47 Mattingly (Casper): Yeah, I got my high gain set up. 098:11:16 Mattingly (Casper): Okay; they're locking up on me. Hello, Houston. This is Casper [garble] now. We did not do [the] Circ(ularization) [burn], and I'd like to talk about the TVC servo loops. 098:11:29 Hartsfield (Mission Control): Understand. No Circ. 098:11:33 Mattingly (Casper): That's affirmative. Presently, about a mile ahead of the LM. Literature National Geographic, December 1972, pp. 862-863 The View from Space: American Astronaut Photography, 1962–1972, Schick and Van Haaften, p. 119 Watch more CLICK HERE: Apollo 16 - Nothing So Hidden For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing