Space History Sale Commemorates 50th Anniversary Of Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 Flight

Personal items which belonged to several astronauts will be sold in a "Space History Sale" taking place at Bonhams, New York on May 5th. The sale will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Alan Shepard's historic mission on Freedom 7 as the first American in Space. Items from the Forbes collection and from the estate of James E. Webb, a NASA administrator in the 1960s will also be featured.

Alan Shepard Aboard Freedom 7 NASA Photo

While a complete list of items is not yet available, some of the artifacts to be offered include:

• A Russian spacesuit, Sokol K, worn by cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, Commander of the Soyuz 19 Spacecraft, during the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project on July 15-19, 1975. This mission represented a symbolic end to the Space Race. Estimate $100,000-150,000.
• A Russian spacesuit, Sokol KV-2, used by cosmonaut Gennadi Strekalov on the Soyuz TM 10, from August 1 to December 10, 1990, during a mission to the Mir space station. Estimate $60,000-80,000
• Apollo 14 Maurer Camera, from the personal collection of Edgar Mitchell, the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 14 and the sixth person to walk on the Moon. This 16mm Maurer Data Acquisition Camera was used to film movies through the Lunar Module Pilot's window during the approach and landing of the Lunar Module. Estimate $60,000-80,000.
• Apollo 14 Tissue Dispenser, flown into orbit to the moon. Estimate $6,000-8,000.

FMI: www.bonhams.com