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Lot 161
[Apollo 8] DEEP SPACE 'FIREFLIES' AROUND THE S-IVB STAGE AS HUMANITY FIRST ESCAPES EARTH'S GRAVITY James Lovell, 21-27 December 1968
14 – 28 April 2025, 12:00 CEST
Paris, Avenue HocheSold for €640 inc. premium
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[Apollo 8] DEEP SPACE 'FIREFLIES' AROUND THE S-IVB STAGE AS HUMANITY FIRST ESCAPES EARTH'S GRAVITY
James Lovell, 21-27 December 1968
Printed 1968.
Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS8-16-2583].
With "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA / North American Rockwell, Downey, California). (North American Rockwell was NASA's prime contractor for the Apollo Command and Service Modules).
20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.)
Historical context
This striking photograph captures the first-ever spacecraft manoeuvres conducted by humans in deep space, featuring the expended third stage of the mighty Saturn V rocket—the very engine that propelled Apollo 8 beyond Earth's gravity for the first time in history—drifting through the dark void.
Taken by James Lovell from the Command Module after translunar injection and separation, the image shows the S-IVB stage as Apollo 8 manoeuvred to inspect it following detachment.
A dazzling display of sunlight reflecting off small particles released during separation creates the "firefly" phenomenon, first reported by John Glenn during his Mercury-Atlas 6 mission, adding a mesmerizing, almost surreal effect to the scene.
Printed 1968.
Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS8-16-2583].
With "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA / North American Rockwell, Downey, California). (North American Rockwell was NASA's prime contractor for the Apollo Command and Service Modules).
20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.)
Historical context
This striking photograph captures the first-ever spacecraft manoeuvres conducted by humans in deep space, featuring the expended third stage of the mighty Saturn V rocket—the very engine that propelled Apollo 8 beyond Earth's gravity for the first time in history—drifting through the dark void.
Taken by James Lovell from the Command Module after translunar injection and separation, the image shows the S-IVB stage as Apollo 8 manoeuvred to inspect it following detachment.
A dazzling display of sunlight reflecting off small particles released during separation creates the "firefly" phenomenon, first reported by John Glenn during his Mercury-Atlas 6 mission, adding a mesmerizing, almost surreal effect to the scene.
Footnotes
Literature
National Geographic, May 1969, p. 610
Watch more
CLICK HERE: NASA APOLLO 8 MANNED SPACE FLIGHT REPORT 1968 LUNAR MISSION 63124
Additional information
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