Space Auction Features Astronaut Autographs, Rare Artifacts
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s Fall Auction of Astronaut Memorabilia opens at 9 a.m. (EDT) on Friday, Aug. 16, 2013 at www.AstronautScholarship.org/auction. The online charity auction features 34 lots of rare, flown-in-space and autographed collectibles.
Treasures up for grabs include a command module heat shield plug that orbited Earth for 84 days on Skylab 4, a NASA-issued lunar index map signed by 10 Apollo astronauts including Buzz Aldrin and James Lovell, and a genuine SPACEHAB strap buckle that flew in space aboard the space shuttle Endeavor during STS-118.
These and a variety of other space artifacts and astronaut-autographed memorabilia, which altogether represent every era of manned spaceflight, will be on the auction block until 9 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013. Winning bids, over fair market value, may be considered a charitable donation.
Space enthusiasts interested in participating may view the catalog, register for a virtual paddle number and start bidding at www.AstronautScholarship.org/auction.
Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which aids the U.S. in retaining its world leadership in science and technology by providing scholarships to exceptional college students pursuing degrees in these fields. Astronaut Scholarships are the largest monetary awards given to undergraduate science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM) students in the U.S. based solely on merit. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $3.7 million to deserving students nationwide. For more information visit: www.AstronautScholarship.org.
