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Author
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Topic: Apollo 11 goodwill silicon discs (Sprague Co.)
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dadsdisc
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posted 08-15-2006 10:18 AM
   
I was looking for some information on the Apollo 11 silicon disc made by Sprague Company (now Allegro). I do not want information on the one with 73 signatures/messages that actually went to the moon. I am looking for information on the first one made with 66 signatures/messages that does not include the communists countries. Any information about how many made and it's value would be greatly appreciated. Any additional information would also be helpful.
Below is a portion of an article from the North Adams Transcript: According to the article, NASA officials dropped off the goodwill messages on July 3 and 4, with the first printing being completed on July 5 at 3 a.m. However, on July 9, the company was asked to create a new disc with eight additional messages. It was completed and sent to Houston at 3:30 a.m. on July 11. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-15-2006 11:23 AM
Sprague used a photo-etching technique to engrave the signatures in the substrate... since the process was relatively new at the time, its likely a number of specimens were made to insure they got it right (no idea here how many though). Your best bet will be to locate a former employee from their Electrical Division to track down the numbers... |
Jurvetson
Member Posts: 93
From: Los Altos an SF, CA, United States
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 07-17-2012 12:54 AM
I just posted a write-up on the disc that I bought this year... Any pointers to additional information always welcomed. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-13-2012 12:04 AM
I've added a Goodwill disc to the collection (obtained from the daughter of a Sprague engineer directly involved with the project) -
Although difficult to discern from the available online photo, the message placement and row apportionment appears very consistent with the Goodwill disc retained within National Air and Space Museum's collection.Difficult to shoot images of the disc - attempted under two different lighting conditions with the results presented below. Have also annotated the second image to provide a reference for rows; arrows denote the additional messages (relative to Steve's disc). Please click on the photo's for higher resolution views.   |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 09-13-2012 08:31 AM
Some Photoshop relighting on Scott's second photo. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-14-2012 07:51 PM
Phonecon with John Sprague this evening after reviewing Tahir's book. Besides the added row, a relatively easy way to discern the difference between the two variants is the location of the Vatican message (its the bright rectangle at the start of row 6). The earlier of the two versions has the plaque located in the center of the disc (it was displaced as the additional messages were added). |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-16-2012 11:26 AM
Tahir's book cite's a Sprague advertisement stating 17 discs were manufactured, however the following footnote extracted from a NASA Oral History Interview of Geneva Barnes hints at more:There were three major items for the astronauts to present to heads of state and other dignitaries during the Apollo 11 world tour. These included the following: - Replica of the plaque left on the moon mounted on a walnut backing. A plaque was presented to the leading official at each city.
- Replica of Goodwill Message disc left on the moon, eight-power magnifying glass and framed photograph. These were presented to the signers of each of the individual messages that were contained in the original message disc. Nations on the Apollo 11 World Tour that provided goodwill messages include on the message disc were Argentina, President Juan Carlos Ongania; Australia, Prime Minister John Gorton; Belgium, Baudouin I, King of the Belgians; Brazil, President Arthur Da Costa E. Silva; Colombia, President Carlos Lleras Restrepo; Congo, President J. D. Mobuto; India, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi; Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi Aryamehr; Italy, President Guiseppe Sarget; Japan, Prime Minister Eisaku Sato; Korea, President Park Chung Hee; Mexico, President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz; Netherlands, Juliana R.; Norway, King Olav R.; Pakistan, President A. M. Yahya Khan; Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyade, King of Thailand; Turkey, President Cevdet Sunay; United Kingdom, Elizabeth R.; Vatican, Pope Paul VI; Yugoslavia, President Josip Broz Tito; Canada, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
- Color photographs from the Apollo 11 mission autographed aboard the aircraft for presentation to other dignitaries (i.e. ministers, ambassadors, mayors, etc.)
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SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-16-2012 03:09 PM
About 40 seconds into the video, Armstrong presents a disc in Amsterdam to Queen Juliana. Later in the video - one of the more unique ways to exhibit the Command Module.. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-23-2012 01:59 PM
An analog disc was fabricated by Bell Labs and flew artwork on Apollo 12's Lunar Module. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-23-2012 02:02 PM
See: Interplanetary art smuggler sought by PBS detectives for moon mystery questioning and the discussion thread here |
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