[Apollo 16] PANORAMIC SEQUENCE OF STONE MOUNTAIN WITH CHARLES DUKE AND THE ROVER IN THE DISTANCE...

[Apollo 16] PANORAMIC SEQUENCE OF STONE MOUNTAIN WITH CHARLES DUKE AND THE ROVER IN THE DISTANCE, STATION 4 (diptych) John Young, 16-27 April 1972, EVA 2 Printed 1972. Two vintage chromogenic prints on fibre-based Kodak paper [overlapping NASA images AS16-107-17473 and AS16-107-17475]. Numbered 'NASA AS16-107-17473' and 'NASA AS16-107-17473' in red in the top margin, with 'A Kodak Paper' watermark on the reverses (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas). Each: 25.4 x 20.3 cm. (10 x 8 in.) Historical context These two overlapping frames are part of a panoramic sequence taken by John Young from the rim of a 25-metre-wide crater uphill from the Lunar Rover at Station 4. The steep and uneven terrain made parking the Rover a challenge, as seen in the first photograph, where Charles Duke is storing core tubes at the back of the vehicle, which is partially obscured by a depression in the lunar surface. Scattered across the northeast wall of the crater (visible in the second photograph) are numerous boulders, likely ejecta from South Ray Crater. The footprints left by Young as he climbed to this vantage point are clearly visible, alongside a white Sample Collection Bag (SCB) in the foreground. Reflecting on the experience, Duke later recalled: 'Stone Mountain was really steep. Driving up the slope, you felt as if you were going to go over backward, but the Rover handled it beautifully. We found a small ledge to park so we could work around the Rover. It seemed as if the South Ray Crater ejecta was everywhere.' —Charles Duke (Constantine, p. 103) Footnotes: From the mission transcript when the panoramic sequence was taken: 144:47:52 Young: Okay. From this vantage, Houston, I'd like to shoot a pan... 144:47:59 England (Mission Control): Have at it, John. 144:48:00 Young: It might be able to make some stereo...Might be able to make some stereo with it. (Long Pause) 144:48:30 Young: I tell you, this is a graphic illustration of a secondary (crater) from South Ray, though, (straining to get the camera aimed high enough) and it'll show up good if I can bend over good enough to get it.) For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing