U.S Flag that accompanied the manned Apollo 14, which landed on the moon on the 5th of February, 1971.
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, are 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.

Apollo 14 was the eighth manned mission in the Apollo program and the third mission to land on the Moon, touching down on February 5, 1971.The astronauts were Alan Shepard (Commander), Stuart Roosa (Command Module Pilot) and Edgar Mitchell (Lunar Module Pilot). After landing in the Fra Mauro formation, which was the intended destination for Apollo 13, Shepard and Mitchell took two moon walks, adding new seismic studies to the by-then familiar Apollo experiment package, and using a Mobile Equipment Transporter (MET) nicknamed the "lunar rickshaw" cart to carry their equipment. Roosa, meanwhile, took pictures from on board the command module "Kitty Hawk", which remained in lunar orbit.
Shepard and Mitchell had taken various scientific instruments with them on the flight and upon touchdown conducted various experiments as well as collected almost 100 pounds (45kg) of lunar samples to take with them back to Earth. The flight itself marked several new historic milestones for human spaceflight including: the first use of the aforementioned MET, the largest payload place in lunar orbit, the largest payload ever returned from the lunar surface, the longest time ever spent on the surface of the moon (33 hours), the longest lunar surface EVA (9 hours and 17 minutes), the first use of shortened lunar orbit rendezvous techniques, the first use of a colour TV on the lunar service, the first extensive orbital scientific survey and, on the way back to Earth, the crew conducted the first U.S. materials processing experiments in space. The Apollo 14 astronauts were the last lunar explorers to be quarantined on their return from the Moon.

Shepard and Mitchell named their landing site Fra Mauro Base, and this designation is recognized by the International Astronomical Union (depicted in Latin on lunar maps as 'Statio Fra Mauro').

This 4" x 6", rayon, 50 star, United States flag was one of 25 carried in the OFK on the Apollo XIV mission by astronauts Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa and Edgar Mitchell. It was presented to Sergeant Joe Garino USAF, the Physical Condition Supervisor for NASA, who trained astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs 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 U.S. flag measures 6" x 3.75" and includes a letter and an Apollo 14 patch that has been affixed to a 10.5" x 13.5" mat, framed to 12" x 15". The typed letter (signed "Edgar D. Mitchell") is on undated NASA stationery and is addressed to Joe Garino. Signed as Captain, USN, LM Pilot, Apollo XIV, Mitchell writes, in full:
"Dear Joe: The enclosed American flag was carried to the moon on the Apollo XIV mission with Alan Shepard, Stu Roosa and myself. Please accept it as a token of our thanks for the support you provided in making Apollo XIV a success."
The letter is soiled and the left half is damp stained, affecting Mitchell's signature. The flag and patch, however, are in apparently excellent condition. Apollo 14 was the third successful manned lunar landing with Mitchell and Shepard walking on the moon. Accompanied by a one page, 8" x 10.5", typed letter which is signed "Mitch", meaning Ed Mitchell, and addressed to Joe Garino. The letter reads, in part "the flag and patch are my pleasure..."

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.
Deaccessed Heritage Auctions - 13 November 2023 - Auction 6276


ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed