Apollo 13 Command Module Foil

About the Apollo 13 Command Module Foil Specimen

This specimen is a fragment of mission-flown kapton foil which provided thermal protection for the astronauts aboard the Apollo 13 Command Module.

The specimen measures approximately 1mm x 1mm and is enclosed in an acrylic cube with a magnified lid for easy viewing. The acrylic cube is housed inside a padded, glass-topped riker box display case measuring 5 1/2" x 6 1/2".

An information card is included with images from Apollo 13, details about the mission, and a certificate of authenticity.

The card also features a centerline die-cut square matching the dimensions of the acrylic cube.

This allows you to showcase the specimen inside the display case with any one of four different designs.

Please Note: The magnified lid is secured to the acrylic cube with special tape, but the specimen inside is directly accessible. If you choose to remove the lid to examine the specimen, please use extreme caution. This cannot be stressed enough. Kapton foil is very light and can easily escape. In addition, due to the delicate nature of the material, fragments can vary in shape.

Source: Acquired at auction, this material comes from the personal collection of retired NASA Production Control Engineer William R. Whipkey. Among space collectors, Whipkey is considered the most reliable source for kapton foil because he oversaw the decommissioning of the Command Modules from multiple missions. He was also responsible for making most of the commemorative displays for astronauts, VIPs, and others who worked on the Apollo Program.