Edgar Mitchell or Alan Shepard, 31 January - 9 February 1971
Printed 1971.
Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS14-66-9216].
With "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse, numbered "NASA AS14-66-9216" in red in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas).
20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.)
Historical context
The Apollo 14 Lunar Module Antares undocks, capturing a stunning view of the Command Module Kitty Hawk in lunar orbit.
This photograph was taken from LM Antares after undocking in lunar orbit, as Alan Shepard, Commander, and Edgar Mitchell, Lunar Module Pilot, prepared to descend toward the Fra Mauro region of the Moon. Meanwhile, Stuart Roosa, Command Module Pilot, remained aboard the CSM Kitty Hawk, tasked with conducting solo lunar orbital operations and photographing the Moon's surface while awaiting the safe return of his crewmates.
103:51:19 Shepard (Antares): Okay, Stu. We have you and have the camera on, and you look mighty pretty out there.
103:51:24 Roosa (Kitty Hawk): Yes. I've been taking a few shots of you there. Pretty impressive.
Reflecting on his time alone orbiting the Moon, Roosa later recalled:
"I think this solo aspect of being in that spacecraft by yourself, being 250,000 miles away from Earth, you feel fairly lonely. A lot of mixed emotions. None of which is fear. I guess, some wonderment. Awe, I suppose, thankfulness that you're there, that you have the opportunity to experience that."
—Stuart Roosa (Chaikin, Voices, p. 106)