The crew of Apollo 11, the first men to walk on the Moon, helped their families plan for their deaths before they launched, memorabilia to be sold at auction has revealed..
When the crew of Apollo 11 set off for the moon in 1969, they were feted as heroes and praised as pioneers.
.
But mementoes to be sold at an auction commemorating the mission's 40th anniversary shows how the three astronauts secretly feared they may be on a one-way ticket – and how they helped their families to plan for their deaths
But mementoes to be sold at an auction commemorating the mission's 40th anniversary shows how the three astronauts secretly feared they may be on a one-way ticket – and how they helped their families to plan for their deaths
.
With insurance companies unwilling to cover them for such a treacherous venture, and aware that government compensation in the event of their demise could be modest, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins dreamed up an idea for securing their loved ones' futures: autographed first-day covers.
.
One of the signed envelopes – bearing the Apollo 11 mission emblem and postmarked at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, on July 16, 1969, the day of the launch – is among 400 lots going under the hammer in a sale of rare space memorabilia at Bonhams auction house in New York.
One of the signed envelopes – bearing the Apollo 11 mission emblem and postmarked at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, on July 16, 1969, the day of the launch – is among 400 lots going under the hammer in a sale of rare space memorabilia at Bonhams auction house in New York.
.
"Since we were unable to obtain adequate life insurance due to the high risk nature of being an astronaut, we signed this group of covers and evenly distributed them to our families for safe keeping while we performed our mission," explained Buzz Aldrin, 79, in an accompanying letter certifying authenticity.
"Since we were unable to obtain adequate life insurance due to the high risk nature of being an astronaut, we signed this group of covers and evenly distributed them to our families for safe keeping while we performed our mission," explained Buzz Aldrin, 79, in an accompanying letter certifying authenticity.
.
"If an unfortunate event prevented our safe return, the covers would have provided a limited financial means of support to our families."
"If an unfortunate event prevented our safe return, the covers would have provided a limited financial means of support to our families."
.
The auction, one of many events marking the anniversary later this month, is expected to draw bidding from space enthusiasts and collectors around the world, and raise at least $1.5 million.
The auction, one of many events marking the anniversary later this month, is expected to draw bidding from space enthusiasts and collectors around the world, and raise at least $1.5 million.
.
"We have already had a lot of interest from people, both stateside and internationally," said Bonhams specialist Christina Geiger.
"We have already had a lot of interest from people, both stateside and internationally," said Bonhams specialist Christina Geiger.
.
"Much of the material comes directly from the collections of various astronauts and there's certainly the feeling that they were holding back on some of their better material for the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing."
"Much of the material comes directly from the collections of various astronauts and there's certainly the feeling that they were holding back on some of their better material for the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing."
.
Among the items expected to attract the most interest is a selection of pages taken from the mission manual that was transported with Armstrong and Aldrin aboard the lunar landing module Eagle, setting out the computer procedures they needed to follow to set the spacecraft down safely.
Among the items expected to attract the most interest is a selection of pages taken from the mission manual that was transported with Armstrong and Aldrin aboard the lunar landing module Eagle, setting out the computer procedures they needed to follow to set the spacecraft down safely.
.
Considered Apollo 11's most historically significant documents, they were critical in guiding Armstrong through the final nail-biting minutes of the descent as he desperately tried to steer clear of craters and boulders, ultimately bringing the module to a halt with just 20 seconds' worth of fuel to spare before the world heard his announcement:
Considered Apollo 11's most historically significant documents, they were critical in guiding Armstrong through the final nail-biting minutes of the descent as he desperately tried to steer clear of craters and boulders, ultimately bringing the module to a halt with just 20 seconds' worth of fuel to spare before the world heard his announcement:
"The Eagle has landed."
.
Another star lot lined up for auction is a page from Nasa's Apollo 11 flight plan, which the astronauts took to the moon and plotted their schedule, hour by hour.
Another star lot lined up for auction is a page from Nasa's Apollo 11 flight plan, which the astronauts took to the moon and plotted their schedule, hour by hour.
.
Aldrin has jotted on it the precise moments at which he and Armstrong set their footprints in the lunar soil, with the notes: "Neil's first step," and "My first step."
Aldrin has jotted on it the precise moments at which he and Armstrong set their footprints in the lunar soil, with the notes: "Neil's first step," and "My first step."
.
According to the timeline the astronauts were supposed to take a three-hour rest after landing, before they ventured outside.
According to the timeline the astronauts were supposed to take a three-hour rest after landing, before they ventured outside.
.
"Needless to say, Neil and I had an abundance of energy and adrenaline surging through our bodies after this historic event and starting a rest period was the last thing on our minds," Aldrin noted, recalling how Armstrong won permission from mission control to bring the moonwalk forward.
"Needless to say, Neil and I had an abundance of energy and adrenaline surging through our bodies after this historic event and starting a rest period was the last thing on our minds," Aldrin noted, recalling how Armstrong won permission from mission control to bring the moonwalk forward.
.
"The lunar surface was indeed desolate, but had a striking beauty all its own," Aldrin reminisced in his subsequent written account, which forms part of the auction lot.
"The lunar surface was indeed desolate, but had a striking beauty all its own," Aldrin reminisced in his subsequent written account, which forms part of the auction lot.
.
Other souvenirs include a section of Armstrong's training spacesuit, a scale model of the Saturn V rocket that launched the lunar explorers into space – formerly owned by the late Dr Maxime Faget, one of the rocket's lead designers – and a brush used on the Apollo 14 mission in 1971 to clean the astronauts' camera lenses.
Other souvenirs include a section of Armstrong's training spacesuit, a scale model of the Saturn V rocket that launched the lunar explorers into space – formerly owned by the late Dr Maxime Faget, one of the rocket's lead designers – and a brush used on the Apollo 14 mission in 1971 to clean the astronauts' camera lenses.
.
Moon dust is still embedded in its bristles.
.
Jacqui Goddard
Miami
telegraph.co.uk
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario