Medal

Object Name:

Medal

Object ID:

1997.001.03

Date:

1971

Description:

Commemorative medal taken to moon on board Apollo 14 in 1971. Sterling silver, oval shape. Obverse: earth, moon, and shooting star, with encircling text, "APOLLO 14 / Shepard Roosa Mitchell". Reverse: "LAUNCHED / JAN 31,1971 / LANDED / FEB. 5, 1971 / RETURNED / FEB. 9, 1971 / STERLING", encircled with names, "ALAN B. SHEPARD JR. . STUART A. ROOSA . EDGAR D. MITCHELL" Number stamped on rim: "283".

Material:

Silver

Dimensions:

H-1.2 W-1.35 D-0.1 inches

Provenance:

Accompanying notarized statement: "This is to verify that the accompanying silver medal, the insignia of the flight of Apollo 14, was flown to the moon on board the spacecraft during the time period of January 31 until February 9, 1971."
Admiral Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. (1923-1998), born and raised in Derry, NH. Great-great-great-great-grandson of Gen. Joseph Cilley. In 1961, Shepard became the first American astronaut in space, commanding a 15-minute flight in the Mercury space capsule. In 1971, he commanded Apollo 14, which was the 3rd American moon landing; he was the 5th person to walk on the moon. Donations include a flag and medal that accompanied Shepard on Apollo 14. Shepard retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy, holding the rank of Rear Admiral, in 1974.

Credit Line:

Gift of Alan B. Shepard, Jr.

People:

Shepard, Alan B. (1923-1998)

Subjects:

Earth, Insignia, Medals, Moon, Shooting Stars, Stars, Space programs, Space travel, Space flight, Spacecraft