[Apollo 10] SPECTACULAR HALF VIEW OF EARTH THROUGH THE SPACECRAFT WINDOW AFTER TRANSLUNAR INJECT...

[Apollo 10] SPECTACULAR HALF VIEW OF EARTH THROUGH THE SPACECRAFT WINDOW AFTER TRANSLUNAR INJECTION Thomas Stafford, 18-26 May 1969 Printed 1969. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS10-34-5012]. With 'A Kodak Paper' watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA / North American Rockwell, Downey, California). (North American Rockwell was NASA's prime contractor for the Apollo Command and Service Modules) 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context This stunning Apollo 10 photograph captures a breathtaking half-view of Earth framed by the spacecraft window shortly after translunar injection (TLI). Taken by Thomas Stafford with the Hasselblad 500EL equipped with an 80mm lens, the image shows our home planet suspended in the vast darkness of space, its swirling clouds and continents bathed in sunlight. At this moment, the crew had just completed one of the most critical burns of the mission—the powerful S-IVB third-stage engine had propelled them beyond Earth's gravitational grasp, setting them on a trajectory toward the Moon. The jettisoned S-IVB, having served its purpose, was left behind as the astronauts continued their historic journey. The stark contrast between the luminous Earth and the infinite void underscores the fragility of our planet, reinforcing the sense of global unity and the delicate nature of life on Earth. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing