This United States one dollar bill holds the signatures of the three Apollo 16 astronauts (John Young, Ken Mattingly, and Charlie Duke) in addition to two other signatures, that of a certifying official from the National Aeronautic Association and one from a NASA official, all on the front of the bill. This memento of the fifth human landing on the Moon in April 1972 was part of the official process of certifying the flight.
Before human spaceflights, the NAA had the astronauts autograph dollar bills, witnessed by an official from the NAA (and in this case also from NASA) who also signed the bills. The bills were then placed aboard the spacecraft. After the mission, recovering the identifiable bills served "as the basis for certification of the identity of the astronauts on each of the flights."
In consultation with the NAA, the NASA Johnson Space Center transferred this bill to the National Air and Space Museum in 1976.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Miscellaneous
Manufacturer
U.S. Bureau of Engraving
Dimensions
3-D: 15.6 × 6.5 × 0.1cm (6 1/8 × 2 9/16)
Storage: 20.3 × 10.2 × 2.5cm (8 × 4 × 1 in.)
Materials
Paper
Ink
Inventory Number
A19770440000
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Aeronautics Association
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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