They're from out of this world.

But space related memorabilia comes up for auction pretty frequently, say experts.

One auction house, RR Auction, is auctioning off hundreds of space memorabilia online beginning January 12, 2011.

So what are space collectors after? Items from or associated with Apollo 11, the 1969 mission that first brought man on the moon, are always more valuable than others, says Larry McGlynn, an avid collector who helped RR Auction value the auction items. Anything that has been on the moon’s surface is sure to bring in a bigger price. “Twelve humans out of the 100s of millions of people who have passed through earth since the beginning of time have been on the moon," says McGlynnn. "That’s rare.”

Check out some of the highlights from the auction.

Posted Dec. 13, 2010


» Investing in Memorabilia
» Preview Auction Items

Estimate: $80,000-$100,000

The first words muttered from the moon came through this device. Astronaut Charlie Duke was wearing it at NASA mission control on July 20, 1969 when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. Armstrong was heard from this earpiece saying his famous line: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."


» Investing in Memorabilia

Estimate: $12,000-$15,000

A backup crew hid this calendar, featuring a topless DeDe Lind, in the command module of the Apollo 12 mission, unbeknownst to astronauts Pete Conrad, Alan Bean and Richard Gordon. Gordon found the calendar in one of the lockers while he was alone orbiting the moon in the module while Bean and Conrad were on the moon’s surface.


» Investing in Memorabilia

Estimate: $30,000-$40,000

This flag, flown on the Apollo 11 shuttle during the first moon landing, is also signed by the three astronauts on the mission: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. Armstrong’s signature is one of the hardest to get a hold of since he stopped autographing anything some time ago, says McGlynn.


» Investing in Memorabilia

Estimate: $25,000-$30,000

This medal from the first moon-landing mission was made available to the astronauts to give to friends and family as souvenirs. This medal has Apollo 11 written on the front and the launch date, moon landing date and return date on the back.


» Investing in Memorabilia

Estimate: $25,00-$30,000

This map, which has traces of lunar dust on it, was used by astronauts on the Apollo 17 mission as a backup in case they had to abandon their rover on the moon’s surface and walk back to the lunar module. Astronaut Gene Cernan, who walked the moon in 1972, signed it.


» Investing in Memorabilia

Estimate: $6,000-$8,000

This coin was 118 miles up at the edge of space and then 16,000 feet at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean all in a matter of hours. This dime, along with 51 others, was brought onto the Liberty Bell 7 with astronaut Gus Grissom. The 1961 mission was successful, as was the splashdown, but the Liberty Bell 7 took on too much water and sank, the only capsule to do so (Grissom was rescued). The capsule was recovered 38 years later from the ocean, and 52 dimes were found in it, including this one.


» Investing in Memorabilia

Estimate: $10,000-$12,000

Before boarding the doomed flight which broke apart shortly after takeoff on January 28, 1986, the Challenger crew wrote checks to Cape Kennedy Medals to order souvenirs and memorabilia to commemorate the flight. There are six checks from the crewmembers up for auction, including one from S. Christa McAuliffe who was on the shuttle as part of NASA’s Teacher in Space Program.


» Investing in Memorabilia