A ‘Penguin’ for TV from the Moon

Here’s a little-known recognition for the Apollo 11 lunar telecasts –

In recognising the technical triumph of receiving live television from the Moon, in late 1969, the Television Society of Australia presented this special award to the Australian Department of Supply.

(The Department of Supply operated NASA’s assets in Australia on behalf of the space agency, and also co-ordinated Australian support for Apollo.)

The trophy, apparently depicting an ear listening to a television set, looks a lot more like a penguin, hence the nickname. This Penguin trophy is in the CDSCC archives at Tidbinbilla.

The Penguin Award for Apollo 11 lunar television. Large, Larger.

Here’s a closeup of the text. Photos: Colin Mackellar, February 2012. With thanks to Glen Nagle, CDSCC.

Here’s an article from SCODOS, the Department of Supply’s newsletter, for December 1969. It mentions the Penguin Award, as well as NASA awards for key Australians. Preserved by Mike Dinn, scanned by Colin Mackellar.

Apollo 11 TV index page.

Honeysuckle Creek home page.