KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – In celebration of the 40th anniversary of man's first steps on the moon, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation offers a rare Apollo 11 crew signed cachet in its upcoming online Semi-Annual Auction of Astronaut Experiences & Memorabilia. Before the grainy images of the astronauts descending the ladder to the lunar surface were broadcast on televisions all over the world, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, along with crewmate Michael Collins, signed this envelope while in quarantine at Kennedy Space Center while preparing for their famed mission.
The colorful cachet features the Apollo 11 mission insignia above a rendering depicting the historical landing of astronauts on the moon. The Foundation beautifully framed the cover using archival methods to preserve the artifact for years to come.
"It is unique to come across an item signed by all three Apollo 11 crewmembers," says Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Executive Director Linn LeBlanc. "This particular piece is just one of the many extraordinary items in our Semi-Annual Auction."
In addition to the space artifacts that flew in outer space and to the surface of the moon, bidders also have the opportunity to win one-on-one astronaut experiences with the likes of John Glenn and Alan Bean. More than 50 astronauts in all have donated their time, items from their personal collection, or signed artifacts.
Online bidding is open at www.astronautscholarship.org/auction.pl and continues through April 18, 2009.
All auction proceeds benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides scholarships to college students who exhibit motivation, imagination, and exceptional performance in the science or engineering field of their major. The Foundation funds nineteen $10,000 scholarships annually and has awarded more than $2.6 million to students nationwide. For more information click here. Winning bids over fair market value are considered a donation.
