Official 3 5/8" x 6 1/2" NASA Manned Spacecraft Center Stamp Club Official First Day Cover of the First Man on the Moon stamp with a Houston, TX, Sep 9, 1969 postal cancellation.
On the right side of the cover is a genuine, flown fragment of the gold Kapton foil that covered the Apollo 11 command module, Columbia that flew around the moon. It is attached to the cover in the center of a rubber-stamped circle attesting to the fact that the Kapton flew to the moon on Columbia. A thin, clear, plastic, adhesive disk covers the Kapton for protection. The flap on the back is partially sealed.
On the reverse are black and white images of the Apollo 11 emblem and the plaque attached to one of the landing legs of the lunar module. This piece comes with a copy of the original Certificate of Authenticity from Bill Whipkey, the NASA employee who obtained it.
Dupont created Kapton, a polyimide film that was resistant to extreme temperatures. This thin material was applied to the surfaces of the Apollo 11 modules for additional protection. The polymer film is yellow, and when it is aluminized for reflecting heat, it appears gold in color on one side.
After the Apollo 11 capsule was recovered from its splashdown, sections of this ‘flown’ polymer foil were removed by NASA employees. The foil was used in presentation pieces for the employees involved in the Apollo 11 program. One individual involved in making the presentation pieces was Production Control Engineer W.R. Whipkey.
The Kapton on this cover is certified as flown by Whipkey, and his COA accompanies this item (along with an Orbital Artifacts COA). The certification letter reads in part: “Flown Apollo 11 Kapton Foil—This Kapton foil is from Apollo 11 Command Module, “Columbia.” Kapton foil provided thermal protection for the Command Module and upon return to earth was easily removed from the spacecraft… This foil was given to me in 1969 and has been in my possession ever since.”
Note: I have four of these covers available for pruchase. The cover you receive may vary slightly from the image (for example, the shape of the piece of kapton will vary, but it will be approximately the same size as shown). All other features of the covers are identical (cache, postmarks, etc).
Accompanied by an Orbital Artifacts holographically-sealed COA, and a 100% guarantee of authenticity.
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