Only privately owned watch worn on the Moon up for auction by Boston Firm – Thursday Oct 22

Information on the upcoming live auction event  — Online bidding for Dave Scott’s Apollo 15 watch worn on the Moon will be available until 6:00 pm ET on October 22. At 7:00 pm ET, a live auction of this lot will take place at RR Auction’s Boston Gallery. more details can be found at www.rrauction.com.

What: Dave Scott’s Apollo 15 Chronograph Watch to be auctioned

When: Thursday, October 22 at 7PM 

Where: RR Auction’s Boston Gallery is located at 236 Commercial, Boston, MA 02109. 

 

Media Contact: Mike Graff, 203.807.2575, mikegraffpr@optonline.net

Dave Scott’s Apollo 15 Chronograph Watch to be auctioned

Only privately owned watch worn on the Moon— set for auction on October 22

Dave Scott’s Apollo 15 lunar surface-worn chronograph watch will be auctioned by RR Auction.

Of the select dozen men that have stepped foot on the Moon, all have worn the standard Omega chronographs. Officially issued by NASA, they are acknowledged as government property, and many, including Dave Scott’s watch used during his first two moonwalks are housed in institutions, a distinction that leaves Commander Scott’s Bulova Chronograph, worn during his third and final moonwalk of the mission— as the only lunar surface watch in private hands.

In a letter written by Col Scott that accompanies the sale, he said: ‘The Bulova Lunar EVA (Wrist) Chronograph and attached velcro wrist strap was worn by me on the lunar surface during the third EVA of Apollo 15, and then in lunar orbit and return to Earth.

‘The primary use of the wrist chronograph on the surface of the Moon was to track the elapsed time of consumables use (oxygen, water, and battery) in the Portable Life Support System (PLSS) backpack.

‘Our mission was to basically double the capabilities and requirements of previous missions, including especially the duration of extra-vehicular activities (EVA) outside the Lunar Module.

‘At the moment of lift-off, I was fully responsible for the mission and the safety of my crew.

‘Among the decisions I made, the monitoring and use of time was perhaps the most important.

‘Time is of the essence during human lunar expeditions – and exploration time on the surface is limited by the oxygen and water (for cooling) we can carry in our backpacks.

‘Knowledge of precise time remaining was essential – as a backup to the standard issued Omega chronograph, I carried and used a Bulova chronograph on the lunar surface.

‘NASA post-flight personnel collected all equipment on board the spacecraft and subsequently gave the Bulova back to me. I do not know what occurred between splashdown and delivery to me

‘Hopefully the new owner will share it with as many interested parties as practical.’

Colonel David R. Scott—Gemini 8 Pilot, Apollo 9 CMP, Apollo 15 CDR—amassed a combined 546 hours in space, was the seventh man to walk on the Moon and the first astronaut to operate the Lunar Rover on the Moon’s surface.

The Bulova Wrist Chronograph, exhibits significant wear from exposure while on the Moon, and from splashdown and recovery.

“This may be a once in a lifetime chance to own a watch that was worn on the surface of the Moon,” said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction. “In 2014, we auctioned Dave Scott’s hand controller – used to land on the moon for $610,000, and I expect that the watch will sell for much more.”

The Space and Aviation Autograph and Artifact Auction by RR Auction will run from October 15 through October 22.

Online bidding for the Dave Scott’s Apollo 15 Lunar Surface Chronograph will be available until 6:00 pm ET on October 22. At 7:00 pm ET, the live auction of this lot will begin in our Boston Gallery.

For information, visit the RR Auction web site at www.rrauction.com.