Lot 1723

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Description:

A great Space Age relic, a cream colored, fiberglass hard hat worn during the Apollo era during four of the five 'Little Joe II' rocket launch tests. The hard hat is roughly 8 in. diameter, with a 2 in. curved brim on the front. It bears five triangular shaped decals, each with the launch dates of the respective tests, red reading: 'BP 12 WSMR 5-13-64', blue: 'BP 23 WSMR 12-8-64', black: 'BP 22 WSMR 5-19-65' and green: 'BP 23A WSMR 6-29-65'. Also present is an all-white triangle, a red white and blue NASA meatball decal, and the name tag 'H.R. Van Goey.' The interior features a plastic sweat guard at the crown, a leather one around its rim, an original chin strap, and a maker's stamp from 'The Fibre-Metal Products Co, Chester PA.' Little Joe II was rocket used by NASA for five uncrewed tests from 1963-66 to verify the performance of the space craft launch escape system, as well as the command module parachute system. Moderately worn from obvious use, scratches and dents throughout, fading to colored regions. Henry Van Goey (1921-2016) was a NASA Administrator at Vandenberg Air Force Base from 1965 to 1980, working as the chief of the Western Launch Operations Division for unmanned launch operations, primarily Delta rockets. A graduate of Purdue University, Van Goey began his career by testing Sparrow Missile rocket engines at the Naval Weapons Center at Point Magu. He then went to work in Texas while the Johnson Space Center was being built but decided he did not like the weather. He transferred to White Sands, where he helped design a launch gantry for the Little Joe program and tested the emergency escape systems for Mercury and Apollo capsules. Van Goey worked on 79 launches, earning him NASA's Exceptional Service Medal in 1976. (EX. Aurora 2008)

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April 7, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000