FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, sell or consign to Nate’s space flown auction, please email [email protected] or call Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com) at (310) 440-2982.  Thank you.

Please let us know if you have items for our Space Flown Auction for sale. Top dollar obtained for your memorabilia in our Space Flown Auction.

Space Flown Auction

Al Worden served as command module pilot for Apollo 15 which commenced on 26 July 1971 , becoming one of NASA’s great Apollo missions. Along with spacecraft commander David Scott and lunar module pilot James Irwin, the team successfully led the fourth manned lunar landing mission, becoming the first to visit and explore the moon’s Hadley Rille and Montes Apenninus.

The mission was completed on 7 August 1971 as the flight splashed down in the Pacific Ocean that day, logging 295.2 hours in space and a distance of over 1.4 million miles.

We sold Al Worden’s hand controller in our Nate D. Sanders Space Flown Auction for $72,556.

As Al Worden puts it in the signed COA included with this hand controller, which is mounted on wood: “…this control stick cover, NASA serial number MSC 991-0001.12, was the hand controller I used during the flight of Apollo 15. The function of the hand controller was to adjust the attitude of the spacecraft during flight. For instance it was critical to the maneuver designed to withdraw the Lunar Module from the S-IVB stage of the launch vehicle once leaving earth orbit. This maneuver involved 180 degree rotation of the Command and Service Module to align with the Lunar Module in storage. It was also essential for the alignment of the spacecraft in the proper direction for any thrusting maneuver. This controller was essential to the success of Apollo 15 and has been in my possession since the flight.”

http://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=14611

 

Space flown auction memorabilia is one of the genres that the Nate D. Sanders Auction specializes in, achieving very high prices realized for our consignors.  For example this John Glenn “Friendship 7” Flight Plan, which sold at Nate’s Space Flown Auction for $66,993.

This one-of-a-kind piece of space history was flown with John Glenn on the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission aboard Friendship 7, the capsule that carried Glenn on the first manned orbit of the earth by an American astronaut. Above are the in-flight photo instructions that were used by Glenn aboard the 20 February 1962 mission and feature both a chronological flight plan with detailed astrological markers (“+7′ CASSIOPIA/COUNT STARTS” and “+23′ ORION & MOON/UV PHOTOS COUNT STARS”), as well as fixed geographical landmarks (“LAKE VICTORIA/KENYA NAIROBI” AND “CHRISTMAS ISLANDS”). All data on the instructions was personally used by Glenn to confirm the capsule’s flight path during its 4 hour and 55 minute mission, instructing Glenn at which point to take photos in flight. Instructions also include an in-flight check list that covers such tasks as “Chng Film-Color Filter Out” and “STOW  & R. SEQ CHK CET”. The document was attached to a bobbin at each end, forming a scroll that Glenn was able to move back and forth with his thumb during the mission.

Check out this video! The scroll is visible in the middle of the screen starting at 20:20, just after Glenn settles into the cockpit – the scroll is visible right above the pen hanging from a string:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUxUBIFsKps

The long and narrow document measures 4.75″ x 42.5″, its ends trimmed to fit into the bobbin slits. The in-flight instructions were given by Glenn to Frogman Richard “Dick” Dunham of UDT-21 (Underwater Demolition Team) as a thank you memento for his work with Mercury 6; a precursor to Navy Seals, the UDT both trained astronauts for egress from the space capsule into the ocean and retrieved the astronauts after splashdown. The flight plan was then given to U.S. Navy veteran Justin C. Pollard by Dunham, who became a mentor during Pollard’s time in the Navy Bud/S School, Class 240.

https://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=43935#

This United States flag flown to the moon on Apollo 11 during the historic 1969 mission sold for $63,195 in our Space Flown Auction.

The flag is mounted to an official NASA certificate reading: ”This flag traveled to the Moon with Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing, July 20, 1969.” Certificate is signed ”Neil Armstrong”, ”Michael Collins” and ”Buzz Aldrin” in felt tip and has the Apollo 11 crew emblem near the center. Printed along the bottom edge are the first words by Neil Armstrong after stepping upon the moon: ”One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. The silk United States flag measures 6” x 4”, mounted to the NASA certificate, which measures 10” x 12”.

http://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=24705

 

We also sold this United States flag flown to the moon on Apollo 11 during the historic 1969 mission for $62,500.

The flag above is mounted to an official NASA certificate reading: “This flag traveled to the Moon with Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing, July 20, 1969”. The certificate is signed “Neil Armstrong”, “Michael Collins” and “Buzz Aldrin” in felt tip and features the Apollo 11 crew emblem. Printed along the bottom edge are the words spoken by Neil Armstrong after stepping upon the moon: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. It was accompanied by an 84pp. copy of commemorative Newsweek magazine from 11 August 1969, featuring color photos of the moonwalk.

https://natedsanders.com/lotdetail.aspx?inventoryid=36983

 

Jack Swigert’s Apollo 17 flown Robbins medal, serial number 41, sold for $56,250 in our Jack Swigert Estate Space Flown auction.

This sterling silver medal commemorates Apollo 17 as the most recent lunar landing conducted by NASA to date. The mission launched 7 December 1972 and returned safely twelve days later. Pictorial obverse is cast with mission insignia, featuring stylized design elements of the U.S. flag and an eagle, alongside a bust in profile of Greek god Apollo. Figures are set against a detailed space ground featuring the moon and ringed planets. Scene is circumscribed by title, ”Apollo XVII / Cernan-Evans-Schmitt”. Reverse reads, ”Launch / Dec. 6, 1972 / Taurus-Littrow / Dec. 11, 1972 / Entry / Dec. 19, 1972”, circumscribed, ”America – Challenger / Apollo XVII The Beginning”. Coin measures 1.25” and is made of sterling silver, housed in its original ”Robbins Company” plastic box with an ”41” sticker on the bottom. 

https://natedsanders.com/lotdetail.aspx?inventoryid=29286

The medal was consigned by Virginia Swigert, sister of Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert, who famously reported, “Houston, we have a problem here’’. His sister consigned 160 items with us at Nate D. Sanders, and wrote a letter about her experience working with us:

 

We also sold this rare Apollo 11 Robbins medal, serial number 217, for $34,375.

The front of the coin has ”Apollo 11” engraved above the mission insignia of an eagle landing on the moon’s surface carrying an olive branch. Verso has three dates for the launch, ”July 16, 1969”, landing, ”July 20, 1969”, and return, ”July 24, 1969”. For the moon landing missions, three blank fields were included for the launch, lunar landing, and return dates and later engraved, as is the case here. Verso also has the ”217” serial number engraved with each astronaut’s last name. Coin measures 1” and is made of sterling silver, housed in its original ”Robbins Company” plastic box with an ”217” sticker on the bottom.

http://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=29245

 

We also sold a very scarce collection of four Jack Swigert flown Apollo 13 space suit patches for $27,500.

The crew endured incredible circumstances after launching 11 April 1970, when two days later, they were forced into an emergency turn-around before ever reaching the moon. Fortunately the astronauts expertly improvised a repair to the spacecraft and narrowly escaped disaster, ultimately returning safely to Earth. Beta cloth patches were designed from a material made of fireproof material woven from Teflon fibers. NASA spacesuits each featured four beta cloth patches, including a name tag, the NASA logo, mission insignia, and an American flag. All four of Swigert’s patches are intact and housed in sheaths of plastic for protection in the following order: the first depicts his last name, measuring 5” x 2”, the second depicts the traditional NASA logo, measuring 5” x 4.25”, the third, the Apollo 13 mission insignia including the name of the mission, three of Apollo’s chariot horses flying toward the Moon, and the slogan ”Ex Luna, Scientia” (”from the moon, knowledge”), measuring 4” x 4”, and the fourth, an American flag measuring 7.25” x 5.25”.

http://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=29252

 

Another great example from our Jack Swigert Estate Space Flown Auction is this Robbins medal flown aboard Apollo 11, the mission that first put humans on the moon on 20 July 1969, which sold for $25,000.

The coin includes the mission name and depicts the mission insignia of an eagle landing on the moon’s surface carrying an olive branch. Verso has three dates for the launch, ”July 16, 1969”, landing, ”July 20, 1969” and return, ”July 24, 1969”. Verso also has each astronaut’s last name and the “178” serial number engraved.

https://natedsanders.com/lotdetail.aspx?inventoryid=40902

 

We also sold an Apollo 13 space-flown American flag affixed to a NASA certificate, signed by each astronaut, for 18,291.

This printed 6” x 4” fabric flag accompanied the astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission, the third of the Apollo lunar missions, that was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded, though each of the astronauts returned safely to earth. Flag is affixed to an official NASA certificate with the Apollo 13 printed insignia and reading: ”This flag was on board Apollo XIII during its flight and Emergency Return to Earth.” Certificate is signed, ”Jim Lovell”, ”Jack Swigert” and ”Fred Haise”.

http://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=29258

 

Jack Swigert’s own official NASA Apollo 11 patch flown to the lunar surface sold for $17,188 at our auction.

Beta cloth patches were designed as commemorative pieces to carry along the mission in a material made of fire proof material woven from Teflon fibers. Circular patch features various mission emblems including an eagle landing on the moon’s surface carrying an olive branch. Patch measures 3.25” in diameter and is matted to an overall size of 20.5” x 10.5” with two photos of the Apollo astronauts on the surface of the moon and captions, ”This emblem carried to the lunar surface / July 20, 1969” and below, ”Presented to Jack Swigert in appreciation for your service to Apollo 11 / From Neil, Mike & Buzz.”

http://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=29246

 

We also sold this Apollo 13 flown instrument cover and omega Velcro watch strap for $13,920.

 

 

 

The first item is Swigert’s NASA issued Omega velcro watch strap, worn by Swigert over his space suit, and likely space flown. Velcro strap with metal fastener is imprinted with code numbers ”P/N SEB12100030-202 / S/N 1067”. Measures 22” in length.  Lot also includes an Apollo 13 flown instrument cover, measuring 1.75″ in diameter, made of a stainless steel disc with an articulated ring at center. Above and below the ring are codes printed in black that read, ”P/NSEB33100063-301 / S/N1017 ASSY.” A small square of velcro is affixed to verso at center, certainly to secure cover in place in the weightless environment of space.

http://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=29263

 

We also sold Jack Swigert’s flown Apollo 13 toothbrush for 11,794.

 

 

Swigert’s personally owned NASA Oral B-40 clear toothbrush was space-flown on Apollo 13. The toothbrush measures 6.25” with some toning and wear. It is housed in a plastic case.

http://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=29257

 

An Apollo 13 lunar module space flown silver pencil owned by Jack Swigert sold for $10,313 in our Nate D. Sanders Space Auction.

 

 

With ”SEB 12100081-301” and ”S/N 2015” engraved in black to the side of the pen, it measures 5” with tiny piece of velcro taped to top.

http://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=29254

 

Another example where we have achieved a strong price for our consignor is this Apollo 11 crew-signed NASA photo, which sold for $6,875.

Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin each sign their spacesuits, with no inscription: “Neil Armstrong”, “M Collins” and “Buzz Aldrin”.

https://natedsanders.com/lotdetail.aspx?inventoryid=43903

 

We also sold this Gemini astronaut-signed NASA photo collage for $6,250.

Paving the way for the Apollo program, Gemini missions first launched on 8 April 1964 and ended on 15 November 1966. Astronauts boldly sign their names in black, green and blue ink: “Neil Armstrong”, “Mike Collins”, “Buzz Aldrin”, “Richard Gordon”, “Gordon Cooper”, “James Lovell”, “James G. McDivitt”, “Gene Cernan”, “Wally Schirra”, “Charles Conrad”, “Tom Stafford” and “Frank Borman”. Verso includes a summary of the Gemini Program and captions for each photograph.

https://natedsanders.com/lotdetail.aspx?inventoryid=42260

 

Nate D. Sanders Space Flown Auctions looks forward to continuing to provide both consignors and collectors the opportunity to share in the celebration of all things Space-related.

FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, sell or consign to Nate’s space flown auction, please email [email protected] or call Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com) at (310) 440-2982.  Thank you.

Please let us know if you have items for our Space Flown Auction for sale. Top dollar obtained for your memorabilia in our Space Flown Auction.

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