Charles Duke (American, b. 1935)
The Command Module and the Earth both rising over the lunar horizon, Apollo 16, April 1972. Stamped "RCA Astro-Electronics Div. 72-8-549C" on the verso. Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper with 'A Kodak Paper' watermark on the verso, image size 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (18.9 x 24.0 cm), unmatted.
Condition: Subtle scratch u.l.

N.B. This remarkable image shows the loneliness of Ken Mattingly orbiting the Moon solo aboard the CSM Casper with the Earth in the background, while Young and Duke descended to the lunar surface aboard the LM Orion. That was 'the most exhilarating thing in the world,' said Mattingly. 'To be there, by yourself, totally responsible for this thing. Dead quiet. And this spectacular, unreal world. Nothing could be more exhilarating' (Chaikin, Voices, p.105). 'We had a problem with the Command Module before landing,' recalled Duke. 'Mattingly reported a major engine problem that required us to rendezvous. This photograph was taken as we closed in on Mattingly for a little station keeping until they solved the problem. We were co-altitude at the time and started closing when we had Earthrise. Actually, we were pretty down in the dumps about that time because the mission rules said we were going to abort and not to land. Fortunately, Houston solved the problem' (Schick and Van Haaften, p. 119). The NASA negative number is AS16-118-18289.

Literature: Schick and Van Haaften, p. 119.
Estimate $500-700


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