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Felt-tip pen and plastic piece from Apollo 11 auctioned for $857,600

At a Sotheby's auction on July 15, 2026, a felt-tip pen and a piece of molded plastic associated with the Apollo 11 mission sold for $857,600. The pen was used to address a critical malfunction during the mission, highlighting its significance in the successful return of the astronauts.

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Buzz Aldrin

A felt-tip marker and a piece of molded black plastic sold for $857,600 at a Sotheby's auction on July 15, 2026. These items were part of NASA's Apollo 11 mission, which was the first to land astronauts on the Moon. The marker was used to address a malfunction with the circuit breaker switch that could have jeopardized the mission. Buzz Aldrin communicated with Mission Control regarding the issue, asking if there was a way to show the configuration of the engine arm circuit breaker after realizing that the switch had broken off.

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Original Headline

Buzz Aldrin sells famous felt-tip pen that helped launch Apollo from the Moon

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Felt-tip pen and plastic piece from Apollo 11 auctioned for $857,600