Apollo 17 Fragments During S-IVB Maneuver
Source: NASA-UAP-D2, Apollo 17 Transcript, 1972
During the Apollo 17 S-IVB stage separation maneuver, astronauts observed numerous bright particles or fragments drifting past the spacecraft window, described as jagged, angular pieces tumbling slowly, possibly ice chunks or paint debris from the launch vehicle.
“CMP Now we've got a few very bright particles or fragments or something that go drifting by as we maneuver. LMP There's a whole bunce of big ones on my window down there - just bright. It looks like the Fourth of July out of Ron's window. CMP Yes. Now you can see some of them in shape. They're very jagged, angular fragments that are tumbling.”
Verbatim from NASA-UAP-D2, Apollo 17 Transcript, 1972 · View original on war.gov
Case details
- Date
- 1972-12-07
- Precision
- day
- Location
- Earth orbit during Apollo 17 mission
- Branch
- NASA
- Unit
- Apollo 17 Command Module Pilot and Lunar Module Pilot
- Sensors
- eyewitness, photo
- Shape
- Jagged, angular fragments; flat, flakelike particles
- Size
- Some may be 6 inches across; big ones
Resolution
Identified as debris from S-IVB stage, possibly ice chunks or peeling paint from the launch vehicle
Source document
Agency: NASA
File: NASA-UAP-D2, Apollo 17 Transcript, 1972
Case ID: 1972-NASA-548D8D
View original on war.gov →Extracted via LLM. Verbatim excerpt validated.