Apollo 17 backup crew – launch cover

Extremely Rare Apollo 17 Backup Crew Signed Launch Cover – Young, Roosa, Duke

This is an exceptionally rare Apollo 17 launch day cover, postmarked Kennedy Space Center,  and hand-signed by all three members of the official Apollo 17 backup crew:

• John Young – Veteran of Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs; later commander of Apollo 16 and STS-1

• Stuart Roosa – Command Module Pilot of Apollo 14

• Charlie Duke – Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 16 and the tenth man to walk on the Moon

This backup crew was prepared to replace the prime crew of Cernan, Evans, and Schmitt for NASA’s final Apollo lunar landing mission. Multi-signed covers by this particular trio are virtually unheard of, and this example is the first we've encountered in over 25 years of handling high-end space memorabilia.

• Postmarked: Kennedy Space Center, FL – December 7, 1972 (Apollo 17 launch date)

• Signatures: John Young, Stuart Roosa, Charlie Duke

• Condition: Excellent – clean cover with bold, clear signatures

With direct ties to three prominent Apollo astronauts, this piece is not only a rare collector’s item—it’s a powerful reminder of the depth of experience and preparation behind the Apollo program.

A true gem for serious collectors of Apollo-era history.