Congressman Peter Pellarin (center top) chose to all but ignore evidence gathered by FBI special agent Michael Russo (upper left) that Apollo 18 Command Module Pilot Bo Cunningham had made a secret trip to China in the months preceding the mission. Why?

One of only three remaining originals of the map provided to the first American investigators permitted to access the Takla Makan desert landing site of Apollo XVIII. Map and identifying labels were provided by People's Liberation Army officials who conducted the initial survey of the site with American Pararescue personnel. American investigators were not permitted to create their own maps, except under PLA supervision. Hand-written legend in upper right corner refers to gro

Below... Death Certificate for Lunar Module Pilot Al Borden, filed upon return of remains to Texas after recovery in the Takla Makan Desert in China. Below... P. 72 from the Pellarin Commission report -- includes photo taken by investigators at the camp established by the Apollo 18 crew near the landing site in China.

Why did the White House order the end of the FBI investigation before it had been completed...?

Competing accounts of the Apollo XVIII tragedy. Only two were interested in the truth.

Top: The only known photograph taken during Apollo 18's time in the Takla Makan desert is a single photo of Commander Ed Lovett. NASA analysts found the photo at the end of a roll of film still in one of the Hasselblad 500 EL EVA cameras. This photo is believed to have been taken on June 3, 1973 at approximately 10:00am (UTC + 8) Note the reseau plate fiducials (crosshairs) on the photo of Lovett in the desert. The accompanying photo of Lovett on the moon during his fourth mo

Souvenir button manufactured in 1973 prior to the return of Apollo XVIII. Highly collectible today for tragic reasons. Photo of original item owned by Joan Lovett.