Artifact: Apollo Remove Before Flight protective cover
Artifact Category: protective cover
Date of use: between 1969/1972
Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
Part Number: LDW 420 P10119-9

Serial Number: LDW 420 10110-1 S/N4

NASA Contract Number: NAS9-1100
Spacecraft/Launch Systems: Lunar Module
Materials: Perspex, Velcro.
Dimensions: 5.1 x 2.5 cm
Weight: 5 gr.
Program: Apollo
Flown Status: unflown

Description: Apollo Lunar Module "Remove Before Flight" Protective Cover, Kennedy Space Center, Ground Support Equipment. This artifact was designed to protect critical Flight Hardware in the Apollo Lunar Module Astronaut Fight Deck. It would have been removed just prior to launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA's prime Lunar Module spacecraft contractor, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, constructed this "Remove Before Flight" tag from clear Perspex material. A patch was affixed to the tag where it would have been attached to an Apollo Lunar Module Spacecraft (possibly Apollo 11 and others). Many of these tags were reused for several LM spacecraft. Cleanliness Level: "C".

This artifact was originally purchased at the Charles H. Bell estate auction in the year 2000 at his Titusville, Florida facility. A copy of the original NASA Manufacturer tag is included.

Artifact: Apollo Lunar Module Remove before flight switch cover
Date of use: between 1969 to 1972
Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation

Part number: LDW 420 M80029-1 / LDW 420-80026-1

NASA Contract Number: NAS9-1100

Markings: 1459 on the plastic plug, and 1610 on metal clip
Dimensions: 5 x 4.2 cm (plastic plug), aproximatly 60 cm (wire), 3 x 0.9 cm (metal clip).
Weight: 20 grs.
Program: Apollo.
Flown Status: unflown.

Description: this is a plastic switch cover for the Apollo Lunar Module. Comes from Charlie Bell's collection of space artifacts.

This cover consists of two pieces of thick, patterned plastic held together with a retaining clip and a metal cable from which a Grumman / KSC quality control tag would hang. The only thing that remains from the quality control tag are a couple of eyelets attached to a thin metal wire.

Protective cover as installed in the Apollo 12 LM prior to flight. The photo shows the Panel 5 area below the Commander's window.Credit: Grumman.

Another view of the same area of Apollo 12 Lunar Module, before flight, this time with no protective covers. Source: Apollo Lunar Surface Journal.

I have another remove before flight cover, which according to documentation, was removed from the Apollo 15 LM. See here.

Artifact: Lunar Module protective cover tag

Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation

Dimensions: 7.9 x 3.3 cm.
Part number: LDW420-10112-1
Markings / Seals: E// LDW-10110 SN.
Description: used to protect Velcro patches in the cockpit of the Apollo Lunar Module (LM). According to documentation this cover tag was removed from the LM of Apollo 15.

One of the protective tags visible inside the Apollo 12 Lunar Module.

Credit: NASA.