Apollo 17 Flown Trans Lunar Injection Cards

From Commander Gene Cernan.

These three TLI cue cards were for the S-IVB stage engine burn that boosted the Apollo 17 CSM and LM spacecraft onto their coast to the Moon. These cards showed the data that appeared on the DSKY display for the Apollo Guidance Computer; during a normal burn, the Nominal cards would be used, and in the event of a failure of the automatic sequencer, the Manual cards would be used. These cards represent the operation of the last TLI burn that propelled humans to the Moon in the 20th century.

These cue cards were carried into lunar orbit on board the Command Module America during the Apollo 17 mission. Each card measures 2.75” x 4.25”, and is headed “Manual SIVB TLI” or “Nominal SIVB TLI”. All cards are also labeled, “Dec. 6 Launch…9/4/72,” and two have numerical notations in Cernan’s hand. The reverse of each card also bears his personal signed flight-certification stamp, and three small swatches of Velcro.

An artifact from the Future Ventures’ 🚀 Space Collection.