Alfred Worden (American, b. 1932)
Four UV photographs of the increasing crescent Earth and the receding Moon seen during the homeward journey, Apollo 15, August 1971. Numbered 'NASA AS15-99-13481,' 'NASA AS15-99-13496,' 'NASA AS15-99-13500,' and 'NASA AS15-99-13506' (NASA MSC), respectively, in black on the recto left margin. Vintage gelatin silver prints, image sizes to 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 in. (18.3 x 18.3 cm), unmatted.
Condition: Scattered minor handling crimps.

N.B. On the way home, Command Module pilot Alfred Worden picked up a Hasselblad camera on board and captured these amazing views of the Moon diminishing in size and of the crescent Earth increasing in size, illuminated by sunlight from the side and basked in the beam of a lens flare. This particular 70mm film magazine (#99) contained spectroscopic film for ultraviolet photographs. "In richness of scientific return, the Apollo 15 voyage to the plains at Hadley compares with voyages of Darwin's H.M.S. Beagle, and those of Endeavor and Resolution. Just as those epic ocean voyages set the stage for a revolution in the biological sciences and exploration generally, so also the flight of Falcon and Endeavor did the same in planetary and Earth sciences and will guide the course of future explorations," remarked NASA administrator James Fletcher (quoted in NASA SP-289, foreword).
Estimate $600-800


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