NASA Moon landing: Incredible Apollo 11 artefacts go ON SALE – Grab a piece of history

More than 500 NASA items, including autographed photos, hardware and Apollo trinkets are on sale at the Boston-based RR Auction house. The incredible collection of NASA artefacts is on sale until June 20, ending one month before the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Included in the sale, are rolls of film shot by the Apollo 11 crew on the surface of the Moon. The photos feature 126 of the world’s most iconic photographs taken by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

The roll of 75mm film, shot on Hasselblad cameras, was acquired by Terry Slezak of NASA’s decontamination team at the NASA Manned Space Centre.

The photos feature snapshots of the Apollo astronauts on the Moon, pictures from inside of the Eagle Lunar Lander and the first ever photo of Commander Armstrong on the Moon.

Almost 50 years ago, on July 20, 1969, three US astronauts completed a successful voyage the Moon.

The incredible voyage of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission saw Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin walk on the surface of the Moon.

The third astronaut, Command Module pilot Michael Collins, observed and coordinated the Moon landing from lunar orbit.

Now, as part of the RR Auction sale, one lucky bargain hunter will have the chance to own a US flag carried into lunar orbit and signed by Mr Collins.

The auction also features Commander Armstrong’s Flown Robbin Medallion, which was minted for the Apollo 11 mission.

Listed at the auction house are also an Apollo 11 Flow Burn Chart signed by pilots Aldrin and Collins.

A signed Apollo 11 log book from President Richard Nixon’s Air Force One is also up for sale.

Jeff Hoffman was NASA’s first Jewish male astronaut

Bobby Livingston, RR Auction

And as part of the auction are items from astronaut Jeff Hoffman’s collection.

Mr Hoffman is a former NASA astronaut who flew in space five times and was the first person of Jewish heritage to do so.

The astronaut was also the first person to log more than 1,211 hours and more than 21.5 million miles in space over the course of his five spaceflights.

One particular item from his collection is a silver mezuzah case and scroll carried on Space Shuttle Columbia from February 22 to March 9, 1996.

A mezuzah is a decorative piece of parchment containing a specific Hebrew verse or piece scripture from the Torah.

Bobby Livingston, executive VP at RR Auction said: “Since Jeff Hoffman was NASA’s first Jewish male astronaut, this Shuttle-flown religious artefact holds a meaningful place in the history of space travel.”

While in space, Mr Hoffman would affix the mezuzah to the entryway of his sleeping compartment.

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