Artifact: Ablative Plugs, Forward Heat Shield, Apollo 11 Command Module

A set of 14 plugs deinstalled from the Apollo 11 Command Module (Columbia) after return from its historic mission to the moon. The set was originally retained and encapsuled by North American Aviation employee Mr. Howard Spensor, a Rocketdyne division test engineer who also served as a member of the Apollo recovery team. Mr Spensor was present aboard numerous prime recovery ships, brining him in direct contact with many of the Apollo Command modules immediately following  splashdown of the Apollo spacecraft.

These plugs were integral to the Apollo Command Module heat shield and provided access to fasteners which attached the heat shield to the Command Module's stainless steel substructure.