Apollo 7 - US 50 Star, Earth Orbit Flown Flag, October 11-22, 1968.
This unique flag was carried aboard the first manned Apollo space flight, the program that would eventually send the first human to the moon. This 6" x 3.75", rayon, 50 Star, United States Flag was carried on the Apollo VII mission by astronauts Walter M. Schirra, Mission Commander; Donn F. Eisele, Command Module Pilot; and Walter Cunningham - Lunar Module Pilot and then presented to Dr. D. Owen Coons, Chief of NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center Medical Office.

The flag is affixed to a 13.5" x 10.5" mat with the Apollo 7 patch. Matted with two color photos (launch, crew) and a 7" x 2" card printed "This Flag Flew on Apollo 7/ The First Manned Apollo Space Flight/ October 11-22, 1968."

Our achievements in space certainly rank among mankind's greatest technological and scientific achievements. In the United States these efforts have been the responsibility of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) who's Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo Programs eventually led to landing men on the Moon.

However, in addition to the extraordinary technological feats involved in space launches, orbiting the Earth, travelling to and orbiting the Moon, landing men on the Moon, and returning safely to Earth; there was a second major accomplishment as well. This was America's victory in the continuation of the Cold War, known as the "Space Race", over the Soviet Union. Accordingly, no other space artifact is more symbolic of the nation that won this race than the United States Flag.

Fully-documented American space artifacts are extremely rare, when taken in comparison to almost virtually any other established category of historically notable "Earthly" object; and among collectors of such artifacts, flown flags from any mission are highly desirable. However, absolute rarity does not always equate to absolute desirability. Within the confines of space collecting there is an informal hierarchy of rarity:

1. Artifacts used in Extra Vehicular Activities (EVA) outside the Lunar Module on the actual surface of the Moon;

2. Artifacts landed on the Moon aboard the Lunar Module that stayed inside.

3. Artifacts flown to the Moon aboard the Command Module which did not land.

4. Artifacts flown in Earth orbit during the Mercury, Gemini & Apollo Programs.

5. Artifacts flown in Earth orbit aboard the Space Shuttle.

6. Artifacts from NASA Earth training and the Manned Flight Awareness Program

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced a new NASA program: to complete a manned moon landing. Thus started the Apollo program which was NASA's human spaceflight program spanning the years 1961-1975 and which accomplished its primary objective by the 20th of July, 1969.
Four of the Apollo missions were preparatory and six Apollo missions also landed astronauts on the Moon, the last one in 1972. These six Apollo spaceflights are the only times humans have landed on another world. The Apollo program, and specifically the lunar landings, is often cited as one of the greatest achievements in human history.

Apollo was the third human spaceflight program undertaken by NASA and, whilst the goal of the program as articulated by President Kennedy was accomplished, the program did set other major milestones in the history of human spaceflight. The Apollo program remains alone in sending manned missions beyond low Earth orbit. Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to orbit another celestial body, while Apollo 17 marks the time of the last moonwalk and also the last manned mission beyond earth orbit.

Apollo 7, which spanned October 11-22 of 1968, was the first manned mission in the Apollo program to be launched. It was an eleven-day Earth-orbital mission, it was the first three-man American space mission and it was, essentially, a confidence-builder. After the January 1967 Apollo launch pad fire, the Apollo command module had been extensively redesigned. Schirra, who would be the only astronaut to fly Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions, commanded this Earth-orbital shakedown of the command and service modules. It did not carry a lunar module.

The Apollo 7 hardware and all subsequent mission operations worked without any problems, and the Service Propulsion System (SPS), the crucial engine that would place Apollo in and out of lunar orbit, made eight almost perfect firings.
Goals for the mission included the first live television broadcast from an American spacecraft and testing the lunar module docking maneuver.

Provenance: From the estate of Dr. D. Owen Coons, Chief of NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center Medical Office.
Deaccessed, Bonhams Auction BOK24021LA, 13 October 2024


ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

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