While no remnants of the Big Bang (that we know of!) are available, astronauts John Glenn, Jim Lovell, Buzz Aldrin and 30 more legends have their space artifacts and signature on the auction block for this event which benefits the nonprofit Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
Bids are already rolling in on the 30 lots of space artifacts and memorabilia. Up for grabs are such rare items as a couch segment from the famous Apollo 13 Command Module, an American flag carried to the moon onboard Apollo 14, a Skylab astronaut jacket worn in space and a John Glenn autographed issue of LIFE magazine.
“The auction is a great way for the astronauts to show our support for such a worthy cause,” said Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise. “The proceeds from the artifacts we donate help pave the way for the future innovators of science and technology in America by the college scholarships the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation provides.”
The auction promises a bang for anyone who has ever gazed up at the sky. The launch window for bidding closes on September 12, 2009 at 5 p.m. EDT.
All auction proceeds go directly to support the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s mission of offering scholarships to top science and technology college students. To date the Foundation has dispersed more than $2.8 million to students nationwide.
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization established in 1984 by the six surviving members of America’s original Mercury astronauts. Its mission is to aid the United States in retaining its world leadership in science and technology by providing scholarships for college students who exhibit motivation, imagination, and exceptional performance in these fields. Today, more than 80 astronauts from the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle and Space Station Programs have joined in this educational endeavor. For more information, call 321-455-7015 or log on to www.AstronautScholarship.org.
