{"product_id":"wernher-von-braun-handdrawn-rocket-sketch-11425","title":"Wernher von Braun - handdrawn rocket sketch \"Baby satellite\" - Zarelli COA","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWERNHER VON BRAUN ORIGINAL “BABY SATELLITE — ANIMAL CHAMBER” CONCEPT SKETCH\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePreparatory Artwork for the 1953 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollier’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e “Man Will Conquer Space Soon!” Series\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Graphite Drawing • Approximately 11 × 8.5 Inches • Zarelli COA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn exceptional original conceptual spacecraft drawing by pioneering rocket engineer and spaceflight visionary \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDr. Wernher von Braun\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, entitled:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Baby Satellite — Animal Chamber”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExecuted in graphite on approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e11 × 8.5-inch graph paper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the drawing presents a cross-sectional concept for the biological payload section of von Braun’s proposed small Earth-orbiting satellite. Two rhesus monkeys are shown within the chamber, illustrating how living subjects might be housed and monitored during an extended experimental flight in space.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe sketch was created as preparatory technical artwork for the celebrated \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollier’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e magazine series \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Man Will Conquer Space Soon!”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and served as source material for artist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFred Freeman’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e finished illustrations published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e27 June 1953\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e issue.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe drawing is accompanied by a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCertificate of Authenticity from Zarelli Space Authentication\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollier’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Spaceflight Series\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBetween 1952 and 1954, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollier’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e published a landmark series of heavily illustrated articles explaining how humans might establish space stations, travel to the Moon and eventually explore Mars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe series brought together leading scientists, engineers, physicians and artists, including Wernher von Braun, Willy Ley, Heinz Haber, Fred Whipple, Joseph Kaplan and illustrator Chesley Bonestell. Rather than treating spaceflight as fantasy, the articles presented it as an achievable engineering program based on technologies then under development.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe June 27, 1953 issue included von Braun’s article on a compact orbital laboratory commonly known as the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Baby Space Station”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Baby Satellite.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e NASA historical accounts identify the article as part of von Braun’s continuing advocacy for establishing an Earth-orbiting space station.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe present sketch was one of two related cross-sectional drawings prepared for the article. The companion drawing was titled \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Baby Satellite — Payload Compartment,”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e while this sheet focused specifically on the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eanimal chamber\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Auction documentation for the original group identifies both drawings as the basis for Fred Freeman’s published illustrations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe “Baby Satellite” Concept\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVon Braun envisioned the vehicle as a relatively small, short-duration satellite that could remain in orbit for approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e60 days\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts proposed payload included:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThree rhesus monkeys\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTelevision cameras for observing the animals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRadio antennas and communications equipment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSolar mirrors\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeiger counters and other scientific instruments\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnvironmental and biological monitoring systems\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe animal chamber was intended to investigate one of the most urgent unanswered questions of the early Space Age: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCould living organisms survive and function during prolonged exposure to weightlessness, radiation and the confined environment of an orbiting spacecraft?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the time this drawing was created, no artificial satellite had yet reached orbit and no human or animal had completed an orbital spaceflight. The concept therefore predates Sputnik 1 by more than four years and Yuri Gagarin’s first human orbital mission by almost eight years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnimals and the Origins of Space Medicine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBefore sending astronauts into space, scientists needed to understand how launch acceleration, weightlessness, radiation and reentry might affect living creatures.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnimal flights provided early data on:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCardiovascular and respiratory response\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMotion and orientation in weightlessness\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeeding and digestion\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRadiation exposure\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBehavior during confinement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe effects of extended isolation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe operation of life-support and monitoring equipment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVon Braun’s concept of housing rhesus monkeys within an instrumented satellite anticipated later American biological missions involving primates such as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAble, Baker, Sam, Ham and Enos\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn this sense, the drawing represents more than an imaginative spacecraft interior. It illustrates an early attempt to define the experimental infrastructure necessary for human spaceflight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom Von Braun’s Pencil to Fred Freeman’s Illustration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFred Freeman was a noted technical illustrator whose detailed cutaway drawings helped make complex spaceflight concepts understandable to the general public.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVon Braun’s original graphite sketches supplied Freeman with the underlying engineering layout and payload arrangement. Freeman then transformed these working concepts into polished, publication-quality illustrations suitable for the large-format pages of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollier’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe direct relationship between original engineering sketch and published artwork makes this sheet especially important. It documents the creative process through which technical ideas were translated into some of the most influential popular images of early space exploration.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWernher von Braun and the Popularization of Spaceflight\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVon Braun played a central role in convincing the American public that spaceflight could become a practical reality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuring the early 1950s, he was working for the U.S. Army’s rocket program in Huntsville, Alabama. His team later developed the Jupiter-C launch vehicle used to place \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExplorer 1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the first American satellite, into orbit in 1958.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1960, von Braun became the first director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. His organization subsequently developed the Saturn family of launch vehicles, culminating in the Saturn V that carried Apollo astronauts to the Moon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollier’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e articles belong to an earlier stage of this career, when von Braun used technical sketches, magazine features and public presentations to build support for a national space program years before NASA was established.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHis historical legacy must also be viewed in full context. Before coming to the United States, von Braun led rocket development in Nazi Germany and was involved in the V-2 program, whose weapons were manufactured using concentration-camp forced labor. His later contribution to American space exploration remains both technically important and ethically complex.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical and Collecting Importance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis original drawing combines several exceptional qualities:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEntirely hand-drawn by Wernher von Braun (unsigned)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal graphite on graph paper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eApproximately 11 × 8.5 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEntitled “Baby Satellite — Animal Chamber”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDepicts two rhesus monkeys within a biological orbital payload\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eCreated for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollier’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e “Man Will Conquer Space Soon!” series\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBasis for Fred Freeman’s published illustration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAssociated with the June 27, 1953 “Baby Space Station” article\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePredates the launch of Sputnik and the beginning of human spaceflight\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAccompanied by a Zarelli Certificate of Authenticity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal von Braun technical drawings created for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollier’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e series are among the most desirable artifacts of early spaceflight popularization. They stand at the intersection of engineering, scientific planning, illustration and public advocacy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis particular drawing is especially compelling because it addresses one of the fundamental steps toward crewed space exploration: determining whether living beings could survive and function in orbit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA museum-quality artifact and an exceptional centerpiece for an advanced collection devoted to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWernher von Braun, early satellite concepts, space medicine, animal spaceflight, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollier’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e magazine or the origins of the Space Age\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original graphite drawing on an approximately 11 × 8.5-inch sheet of graph paper.  Supplied with a Zarelli Certificate of Authenticity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Been in Space","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58254452424968,"sku":"11425","price":5950.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1490\/3832\/files\/11425.jpg?v=1784305625","url":"https:\/\/www.beeninspace.com\/products\/wernher-von-braun-handdrawn-rocket-sketch-11425","provider":"BEEN IN SPACE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}