Space collectors rejoice! A Rotational hand Controller (RHC) used in the Apollo 15 mission to the moon will be sold in an auction that will take place later this month. The controller is one of the few items from Earth to have gone to the moon and back.
The RHC, which is essentially a glorified joystick, was installed on the Falcon Lunar Module in the Apollo 15 mission commanded by NASA astronaut Dave Scott. The controller was one of the key pieces of equipment essential to landing the lunar module safely on the moon's surface.
The Apollo 15 mission is one of the successful missions of the Apollo Program. Along with his crew, Commander Scott successfully and safely touched down on the moon back in August 1971. While the lunar module was on its final approach vector, the astronauts found that they are approximately 3,000 feet off target. The mission commander used the RHC to correct the lander's course. After the mission was concluded and the Apollo 15 crew safely returned to Earth, Commander Scott kept the RHC as a keepsake from the moon mission.
The RHC was manufactured by Honeywell in the US. In those days, almost all of the components used on spacecraft were manufactured domestically. Aside from the joystick itself, the auction house will also be bundling a letter of authenticity written by Scott. The bidding for the historic joystick will start at a cool $10,000. However, the auctioneers expect that the item could easily reach several hundred thousand dollars. After all, there are only a very small number of man-made items to have made it to the moon and back.
"I hereby certify that the Rotational Hand Controller (RHC) included with this letter was used to maneuver the Lunar Module ‘Falcon' during the Apollo 15 descent and landing on the Moon; and after 3 days on the surface of the Moon, this RHC was used during lunar launch, ascent and rendezvous with the Command and Service Module, ‘Endeavor,' in lunar orbit...," said Scott in the letter of authenticity accompanying the RHC.
After the mission was concluded and the Apollo 15 crew safely returned to Earth, Commander Scott kept the RHC as a keepsake from the moon mission and it has been in his possession up until it was sent to the auction house. The auction will be handled by RR Auction headquartered in Boston.
"This Apollo 15 Lunar Module Rotational Hand Controller (RHC, aka ACA) has been in my personal collection since returning to Earth," said Scott.
While a joystick from a successful Apollo Mission would be difficult to pass up on for a wealthy collector of space memorabilia, the joystick isn't the only thing from the moon up for grabs. A glove that was worn by Buzz Aldrin during the historic Apollo 11 mission will also be auctioned off.
