Apollo 13 - US 50 Star Flag, Apollo 13 / April 11-17 1970.
The U.S. flag that accompanied the infamous Apollo 13 manned mission into space, the only mission in NASA's Apollo program that was deemed a 'Successful Failure".

Our achievements in space certainly rank among mankind's greatest technological and scientific achievements. In the United States these efforts have been the responsibility of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) who's Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo Programs eventually led to landing men on the Moon.

However, in addition to the extraordinary technological feats involved in space launches, orbiting the Earth, travelling to and orbiting the Moon, landing men on the Moon, and returning safely to Earth; there was a second major accomplishment as well. This was America's victory in the continuation of the Cold War, known as the "Space Race", over the Soviet Union. Accordingly, no other space artifact is more symbolic of the nation that won this race than the United States Flag.

Fully-documented American space artifacts are extremely rare, when taken in comparison to almost virtually any other established category of historically notable "Earthly" object; and among collectors of such artifacts, flown flags from any mission are highly desirable. However, absolute rarity does not always equate to absolute desirability. Within the confines of space collecting there is an informal hierarchy of rarity:

1. Artifacts used in Extra Vehicular Activities (EVA) outside the Lunar Module on the actual surface of the Moon;
2. Artifacts landed on the Moon aboard the Lunar Module that stayed inside.
3. Artifacts flown to the Moon aboard the Command Module which did not land.
4. Artifacts flown in Earth orbit during the Mercury, Gemini & Apollo Programs.
5. Artifacts flown in Earth orbit aboard the Space Shuttle.
6. Artifacts from NASA Earth training and the Manned Flight Awareness Program

Weight and storage constraints limited the size and number of artifacts that could be carried on any of the Apollo missions, and flags from the Apollo Missions are extremely rare.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced a new NASA program: to complete a manned moon landing. Thus started the Apollo program which was NASA's human spaceflight program spanning the years 1961-1975 and which accomplished its primary objective by the 20th of July, 1969.

Four of the Apollo missions were preparatory and six Apollo missions also landed astronauts on the Moon, the last one in 1972. These six Apollo spaceflights are the only times humans have landed on another world. The Apollo program, and specifically the lunar landings, is often cited as one of the greatest achievements in human history.

Apollo was the third human spaceflight program undertaken by NASA and, whilst the goal of the program as articulated by President Kennedy was accomplished, the program did set other major milestones in the history of human spaceflight. The Apollo program remains alone in sending manned missions beyond low Earth orbit. Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to orbit another celestial body, while Apollo 17 marks the time of the last moonwalk and also the last manned mission beyond earth orbit.
The Apollo program was completed with only two major failures. The first failure resulted in the deaths of three astronauts, Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee, in the Apollo 1 launchpad fire. The second was an in-space explosion on Apollo 13, which badly damaged the spacecraft on the moonward leg of its journey. The three astronauts aboard narrowly escaped with their lives, thanks to the efforts of flight controllers, project engineers, backup crew members and the skills of the astronauts themselves.

The program set other major milestones in the history of human spaceflight. This program remains alone in sending manned missions beyond low Earth orbit. Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to orbit another celestial body, while Apollo 17 marks the time of the last moonwalk and also the last manned mission beyond earth orbit.

Apollo 13 was planned as the third manned lunar-landing mission, part of Project Apollo under NASA in the United States. The crewmembers were Commander James A. Lovell, Command Module pilot John L. "Jack" Swigert, and Lunar Module pilot Fred W. Haise. It launched on April 11, 1970. However, two days after the launch, an explosion, caused by a fault in the oxygen tank, crippled the Apollo spacecraft.
After the rupture of the service module oxygen tank on board on April 13th, the Command Module's normal supply of electricity, light, and water was lost. Apollo 13 was about 200,000 miles from Earth. Jack Swigert saw a warning light that accompanied the explosion, and said, "Houston, we've had a problem here." The moon-landing mission was aborted.

The explosion had damaged the spacecraft, resulting in a loss of oxygen and electrical power. The crew used the Lunar Module as a lifeboat in space. The Command Module remained fully functional on its internal batteries, but they were needed for re-entry and landing so it was shut down shortly after the accident. Despite great hardship caused by severe constraints on power, cabin heat, and potable water, the crew successfully returned to Earth. The mission was thus called a "Successful Failure".

This 4" x 5.5", rayon, 50 Star, United States Flag was carried on the Apollo XIII mission by astronauts John Young (Commander), John L. "Jack" Swigert (Command Module Pilot) and Charles Duke (Lunar Module Pilot) and was presented to Sgt. Joe Garino USAF, the Physical Condition Supervisor for NASA; who trained astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo in the gym at NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center. Garino promoted the role of physical conditioning as crucial for peak astronaut performance and successful missions. He also invented space exercise equipment and developed improvements for the space helmets and air masks for the comfort of the astronauts. As thanks for his innovations and close training with the astronauts, Joe Garino was often the recipient of very interesting souvenirs, such as this flag.

This Apollo 13 U.S. flag is affixed to a 12" x 14" wooden shield-plaque and comes with the Apollo 13 patch, covered in clear plastic. The 5.5" x 3" metallic plaque affixed certifies that "This Flag & Patch travelled on/ Apolo 13/ April 11-17 1970/ Presented to Joe D. Garino Jr. / By Jim Lovell Jack Swigert and Fred Haise." Ironically, there was a problem with this plaque as well. "Apollo" is misspelled! It is accompanied by a one page, 8" x 10.5", August 29, 1972, typed letter signed "Jack Swigert," and addressed to Joe Garino. It states "This flag and patch travelled aboard Apollo XIII..."

Provenance: From the collection of renowned former physical trainer of the astronauts Joe Garino. This lot is accompanied by a signed certificate of authentication from Garino verifying its provenance.

ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

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