566 a
Alfred Worden, James Irwin, or David Scott

Telephotograph of the receding Moon

Apollo 15, July 26 - August 7, 1971

Unreleased photograph, vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in) [NASA AS15-95-13001]

566 b
Taken by the 16mm Maurer camera mounted by Worden on the hatch of the Command Module

The first deep space Extra Vehicular Activity in history, performed by Alfred Worden

Apollo 15, July 26 - August 7, 1971

Vintage chromogenic print on resin coated Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA HQ caption and “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso

566 c
James Irwin

Alfred Worden’s backpack and umbilical EVA cable during the first deep space EVA

Apollo 15, July 26 - August 7, 1971, 242:21:10 GET

Unreleased photograph, vintage chromogenic print on resin coated Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso (NASA / North American Rockwell) [NASA AS15-96-13099]

566 d
Alfred Worden, James Irwin or David Scott

Slender crescent Earth seen with reflections of the Sun through the spacecraft’s window

Apollo 15, July 26 - August 7, 1971

Vintage chromogenic print on resin coated Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso (NASA / North American Rockwell) [NASA AS15-96-13132]
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

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Lot Essay

566 a
A view of the Moon never seen before the space age, centered on the boundary between the lunar near side and the Moon’s hidden face (at latitude / longitude 49S 103E) as the astronauts used the 500mm lens with the lunar surface telephoto camera to photograph the lunar disc receding behind them after trans-Earth injection.

“We went to the Moon as trained, hopefully efficient, observers to gather data with both our scientific instruments and our minds. We spent 150 hours circling over this unique planet, exploring the Hadley Base area, and performing the scientific tasks required. Yet, in addition to making these assigned scientific observations, we left the Moon indelibly impressed with its stark, surrealistic features, its nearly overwhelming variety of landforms, and, above all, its awesome beauty. It is truly a fascinating place for exploration and study” (NASA SP-289, Apollo 15 crew observations, p. 4.1).

566 b
The spacecraft was 316,000 km from Earth when this picture was taken from a frame of motion picture film.

Worden’s EVA has been described as the first interplanetary spacewalk in an age that placed much prestige on space “firsts”.

Apart from the three Apollo 15, 16, 17 EVAs to retrieve SIM bay film cassettes, every other EVA from a spacecraft in freefall has taken place in low Earth orbit, never more than about 600 kilometers away from the home planet.

Worden’s 22 minutes-EVA in deep space was very succesful. “I wish I were back outside. It’s hell in here,” he said (at 242:27:11 GET) as he got back in the spacecraft.

566 c
Approximately 18 hours after transearth injection, Alfred Worden left the CM to retrieve film cassettes from the SIM bay during the first deep space EVA.

In this very rare photograph taken by Irwin with the 80mm lens Hasselblad from the open hatch of the Command Module, an open spiral of the umbilical frames the oxygen purge system mounted low on Worden’s back.

As Worden was inspecting the SIM bay, he could see his photographer set against the backdrop of the Moon. Regrettably he was not given a camera during his spacewalk.

242:21:10 Worden: Jim, you look absolutely fantastic against that Moon back there. That is really a most unbelievable, remarkable thing.

566 d
With the Earth presenting such a thin crescent, the Sun is very near the camera’s field of view. At the same moment the astronauts could see a full Moon receding behind them.
The photograph was taken with the Hasselblad mounted with a 105mm lens and magazine 96/Q.
It is apparent from the angular size of Earth’s image that this photograph was probably taken just before or just after the last sleep period of the crew before coming back to Earth.

From the mission transcript as the crew woke up for their final day before landing:

286:51:57 Scott: Well, we just got our first view of the Earth this morning, and, can you believe it’s getting larger and it’s getting smaller? We see just a very, very thin sliver of a very large round ball.