638 a
Taken by the RCA TV Camera mounted on the Lunar Rover

Eugene Cernan setting up the deep core drilling near Geophone Rock

Apollo 17, December 7-19, 1972, EVA 1, 119:56:28 GET

Unpublished photograph, vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), stamped “RCA Astro-Electronics 72-12-525” on the verso (NASA / RCA)

638 b
Harrison Schmitt

Geophone Rock

Apollo 17, December 7-19, 1972, EVA 1, 120:40:30 GET

Unreleased photograph, vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso, numbered “NASA AS17-147-22561” (NASA MSC) in red in top margin

638 c
Harrison Schmitt

Eugene Cernan and the Lunar Rover at the lunar science station

Apollo 17, December 7-19, 1972, EVA 1, 120:48:56 GET

Unreleased photograph, vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso, numbered “NASA AS17-147-22576” (NASA MSC) in red in top margin
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

Conditions of Sale
FAQs
This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

Lot Essay

638 a
The South Massif is visible in the background.
“Cernan has the drill in hand, he is back at the second heat flow hole and threads the 137-cm
stem into the drill chuck” (from the ALSJ mission transcript at 119:56:28 GET).

“It doesn’t make any difference whether you’re in a suit or whether you’re in shirtsleeves,” said Schmitt. “You’re still going through the same mental process. It’s the mind that you’re taking, not the hands... Your mind is not in a spacesuit” (Chaikin, Voices, p. 85).

638 b
A frame of the Geophone panorama taken by Schmitt near the lunar-science station (or ALSEP
site) showing Geophone Rock, the South Massif and footprints.

Geophone rock was the biggest rock in the ALSEP area, 190m west of the LM.

638 c
A frame from the ALSEP panoramic sequence taken at the lunar-science station. Wessex Cleft forms the skyline in the background. “Cernan is at the Lunar Rover with the jack-and-treadle he will use to extract the deep core” (ALSJ caption for AS17-147-22576).

120:47:43 Schmitt: Hey, Bob, where do you want the focus on the pan to be?
120:47:47 Parker (Mission Control): Stand by on that.
120:47:49 Schmitt: About 15 feet?
120:47:54 Parker: Stand by. (Long Pause)
120:48:14 Cernan: Where’s my rammer? There it is. (Pause) Hey, Bob, that’s strange. That plug was too small for the core. (Long Pause)
120:48:41 Parker: Hey, Jack. You’ve got to focus it somewhat short...Well, between 74 feet...(that is), just a little short of 74 feet?
120:48:52 Schmitt: I’ve already taken it at 15, Bob. I think that’s pretty good.