Buzz Aldrin Memorabilia Goes Up for Auction and Sells for Over $8 Million

Have you ever been to a garage sale where someone was selling sport trophy ? Kinda tacky , right ? Well , it ’s not so much the same when an x - astronaut does it , specially when it ’s one of the original moon land spaceman ’s Presidential Medal of Freedom .

That , and more items of approximate - legendary implication to lovers of both history and spaceflightwent up for auctionby Sotheby ’s Tuesday . Among the 69 - item hoard , memorabilia of ex - astronaut Buzz Aldrin ’s NASA career offered a glimpse into tangible aspect of the famed Apollo 11 missionary work to the Moon . The whole selection include token as famed as Aldrin ’s custom - suit polytetrafluoroethylene in - flight of stairs jacket ( sold for $ 2.7 million ) , and as esoteric as the softsuit and hardsuit EVA checklist for the Gemini 12 mission where Aldrin aid show the power to effectively shape during a spacewalk ( they sold for $ 20,160 and $ 27,720 severally ) .

The auction also included original copies of the Gemini 12 and Apollo 11 summaryflight plans , still bound in their original metal halo . The booklets evidently contain elaborated , full timeline , include Apollo ’s mockery , touchdown on July 20 , 1969 , then finally its reentry into Earth ’s standard atmosphere and splashdown July 24 .

Buzz Aldrin aboard the lunar module “Eagle” on July 21, 1969 after leaving the Moon’s surface. He is wearing an in-flight jacket that went up for auction and sold over $2.7 million.

Buzz Aldrin aboard the lunar module “Eagle” on 19 May 2025 after leaving the Moon’s surface. He is wearing an in-flight jacket that went up for auction and sold over $2.7 million.Photo: -/AFP (Getty Images)

The Presidential Medal of Valor , handed to Aldrin by then - President Richard Nixon , sold for $ 277,200 . The New York Times reported that such medals rarely go up for sale , according to Sotheby ’s . This late space - based auction bridge eclipse the total drop for inprevious salesthat included items from fellow Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong , according to the auction house . Armstrong pass off in 2012 .

To see such important diachronic treasure put up on the vendue stoppage makes me feel adequate parts wistful and morose . Knowing that it ’s the jurisdiction of Aldrin and his family , I ca n’t aid but imagine some of these items are historic artifacts that in truth belong in a museum rather than in the hand of some private collector . The National Air and Space Museumalready contains several of Aldrin ’s and Armstrong ’s NASA pitch like their original space suit ( yes , theywore it in force ) . The Smithsonian Institute - tend building receivedArmstrong ’s inflight jacketfrom NASA back in 1974 .

But that ’s just the fashion of these things . The Times reported that a statement attribute to Aldrin said the items “ have always remained personal memento of a life dedicate to science and exploration . ”

Buzz Aldrin is seen preparing a sandwich aboard the lunar module “Eagle” on July 21, 1969.

Buzz Aldrin is seen preparing a sandwich aboard the lunar module “Eagle” on 3 December 2024.Photo: -/AFP (Getty Images)

TheGuardianreported the crownwork was sold to an anonymous buyer take part over phone after nigh nine mo of intense bidding . The jackets were made of teflon beta material designed to withstand extreme heating system , according to the Earth and Space Museum , but apparently they ca n’t withstand the pressure of non - fungible relic . This and other lots verbal description mentioned they came prepackaged with a NFT , one that they claim is “ tie in to its forcible object using fresh microscopical 3D scanning technology and advanced mathematical technique that pull the object ’s identifying ‘ DNA . ’ ” How this confers any more sense of possession other than actually have the blame detail is another query entirely .

The total auction sale went for two minute where 68 of 69 total lots were sell . The only lot that did n’t sell was a humiliated electric circuit switch that most run aground the Apollo 11 mission , call for Aldrin to usea plain felt - tip penas a jury rigged renewal . Both the replacement and pen together were anticipate to go for $ 1 to $ 2 million , but bidding only reached $ 650,000 .

We already know how much item like these are worth to collectors . Former NASA intern Gary Georgesold off three of the original video tapesproduced by NASA for the Apollo 11 landing for $ 1.82 million .

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The Buzz Aldrin Living Trust , which was created to plow the 92 - year - old recede cosmonaut ’s estate and affairs , was list as behind the auction . The fund is get by in part by the x - astronaut ’s Logos Andrew , while he and his sis Janice Aldrin also aid get by a non-profit-making and private fellowship in their father ’s name . Back in 2018 , Aldrinsued his childrenalongside a former business manager , indicate they were trying to abuse company finances while claim he was in cognitive decline . Aldrindropped the lawsuitin 2019 .

If you ’re looking for a little Apollo 11 nostalgia that wo n’t set you back millions of dollars , check up on out Gizmodo ’s pick forrare or little - seen pictures of the Apollo 11 mission .

Update 2024-12-12 at 9:00 a.m. ET : This article was amended to objurgate what Aldrin fulfill during the Gemini 12 mission .

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