Features Actual Space Flown Relic from Apollo–Soyuz
The Apollo–Soyuz Test Project was the first joint U.S.–Soviet space flight, and the last flight of an Apollo spacecraft. The flight launched in July 1975, and was the last manned US space mission until the first Space Shuttle flight in April 1981. The mission included both joint and separate scientific experiments and provided useful engineering experience for future joint US–Russian space flights, such as the Shuttle–Mir Program and the International Space Station. This photograph shows the Apollo spacecraft being recovered in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1975 after traveling over 3.5 million miles. In total, the spacecraft flew 136 orbits around the earth during its nine day mission.
This photograph is matted to include a piece of flown Kapton relic. This pressure-sensitive Kapton polyimide tape was part of the spacecraft's thermal protection subsystem and was removed from the heat shield after splashdown. Kapton is a polyimide film developed by DuPont which can remain stable in a wide range of temperatures, from −273 to +400 °C (−459 – 752 °F).
Certificate of Authenticity included.