Consignments are being accepted now until Sept. 19 for Heritage Auctions’ Nov. 10 Space Exploration Auction. The auction will feature a number of important private collections, including those from Buzz Aldrin, James Lovell and items once belonging to Russian astronaut Alexei Leonov.
Heritage will present a truly rare piece of history this November: The first official document ever to be signed in space; also known as the “Space Magna Carta”. This 12-by-9-inch certificate, valued at $18,000, is one of only four original copies, and may be the only one available to the public in the foreseeable future. These extraordinary certificates mark the start of the long road to cooperation in space between the U.S. and Soviet/Russian programs – a significant watershed for the end of the Cold War “Space Race.” The document has been signed by all members of both crews and is accompanied by a 19-by-13-inch silk finish color photo of the signing of these documents onboard Apollo-Soyuz.
Also on offer is a rare Prototype of the first Apollo Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment, signed by the Apollo 12 crew, which may sell for $5,000. This particular suit was issued, with various others, to NASA’s Landing & Recovery Division in 1965 for use in Launchsite Recovery Exercises. It never was used for that purpose and instead was given to a member of that team. We are proud to offer this rare and desirable early link in the chain of Apollo spacesuit development. We are not aware of another ever having been offered at auction. The one-piece metallic-finish suit is approximately 64 inches from neck to pants cuff, 20 inches across the waistline, 31 inches at the inside leg and 31 inches from center of neck to sleeve cuff. The zipper at front is 25 inches from neck to crotch, the sleeve cuff zippers are 7 inches long and the pants cuff zippers are 10 inches long. The suit is in fine condition and is well suited for display.
A 5-3/4-by-4-inch cloth U.S. flag flown on the Apollo 17 mission is in very fine condition and would serve as a distinctly patriotic memento from the last manned mission to the moon. The flag is mounted to a 14-by-11-inch illustrated certificate reading: “In recognition of your outstanding contribution to the manned space flight programs. Presented to A.J. Rogers.” A.J. “Jack” Rogers was the director of NASA Center Operations at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
