- EACH FOLDING OUT TO 36 X 10¼ INCHES -

LUNAR ORBITER MISSIONS I-V (a series of five uncrewed missions launched by the United States from 1966 through 1967. Intended to help select Apollo landing sites by mapping the Moon's surface, they provided the first photographs from lunar orbit and photographed both the Moon and Earth).

A collection of 13 original lithographic photograph index maps of the surface of the Moon, with frame location points from all 5 missions shown in colour, March 1969.

(n.p.): Prepared under the direction of the Department of Defense by the Aeronautical Chart and Information Centre, United States Air Force for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, March 1969 ('Base chart compiled ACIC February 1968 / Lithographed by ACIC 3-69'. 13 oblong maps, each folding out to a size of 92.5 x 26cm / 36 x 10¼ inches. Maps numbered A-1 (a) to A-d (d). Lithographically with photographic areas outlined in colours.

Very Good condition. First map - Figure A-1 (a) - with creasing to first of the panels and a small closed nick to bottom edge, and a minor mark to another panel. A couple of the other maps with very minor creasing to one outer corner. Light scattered overall creasing from handling. Please ask if you require a more detailed condition report, or view gallery images closely.

These original photographic indices maps were lithographed by the Aeronautical Chart and Information Centre in March 1969 (base charts compiled Feb 1968). They show in colour outline the hundreds of locations on the Moon that were photographed by the Lunar Orbiter missions I-V. The The probes transmitted photographic data back to Earth in segments, where NASA technicians were able to create composite images such as this one, for scientific and publicity purposes.

Highly detailed charts such as these would have been used by scientists to locate suitable landing sites for the Apollo missions.

Provenance: from a private collection in the U.K.