^Lot 403 Apollo 11

Color glossy 9.25 x 7 photo of the Apollo 11 prime crew posing together in their spacesuits against a lunar background, affixed to a 12 x 10.5 mount, signed and inscribed in black felt tip on the mount, “To Cliff Charlesworth–With our sincere appreciation for your friendship and your professional performance as our ‘flight’ Neil Armstrong,” and “Michael Collins,” and “Buzz Aldrin,” with Armstrong adding “Apollo 11,” next to Aldrin’s signature. Light surface impression to upper left background of image, mild uniform fading to photo, as well as signatures and inscriptions, but all still completely legible, and a bit of mild toning to mount, otherwise fine condition. Photo was originally acquired from the Lousma Family collection.

The Apollo 11 crew had good reason to thank Charlesworth for his friendship and “professional performance” as he served as a NASA flight director for the first moon landing. In his capacity as flight director for the Manned Spacecraft Center at Houston from 1962 to 1970, he was ultimately responsible for all decisions pertaining to mankind’s most important spaceflight. He also served as director for Gemini 11, Gemini 12, and Apollo 8. Charlesworth died in 1991. Sincere admiration from Apollo 11 to one of the forgotten heroes who made their mission a success.