[Apollo 14] ASTRONAUT'S SHADOW AT THE FARTHEST LUNAR TRAVERSE BY FOOT IN HISTORY, STATION C1 Edg...

[Apollo 14] ASTRONAUT'S SHADOW AT THE FARTHEST LUNAR TRAVERSE BY FOOT IN HISTORY, STATION C1 Edgar Mitchell, 31 January - 9 February 1971, EVA 2 Printed 1971. Vintage gelatin silver print on fibre-based paper [NASA image AS14-68-9453]. Blank on the reverse (issued by NASA). 25.4 x 20.3 cm. (10 x 8 in.) Historical context The shadow of exploration—Apollo 14 at humanity's farthest footsteps on the Moon The shadow of astronaut Ed Mitchell stretches across the foreground, captured at Station C1 near the rim of Cone Crater, serving as a solemn reminder of humanity's farthest lunar footsteps at the time. Apollo 14 astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell had struggled through the undulating, deceptive landscape of Fra Mauro to reach this high ground, coming within mere metres of Cone Crater's rim before ultimately turning back due to time constraints. Their geological sampling at this site provided crucial insights into the Moon's ancient and violent history. A hammer and sample collection bag rest atop a small lunar boulder, offering a sense of scale for the rugged terrain. The surrounding boulders— 'Layered Rock' (left) and 'Saddle Rock' (right)—are remnants of a cataclysmic impact that shaped the Moon's landscape. Scientists believe these rocks were ejected from deep within the lunar crust during the colossal event that formed the Imbrium Basin billions of years ago. Footnotes: From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken: 133:42:31 Mitchell: I've chipped off one of the white rocks. I put it in bag 13-N. I'll photograph it. There don't seem to be any samples of the white rocks lying around that are small enough for me to sample and be sure they're what I'm looking for. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing