Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 Pen Sells for Over $850,000

A historic artifact from the Apollo 11 mission has sold for a staggering sum at a Sotheby's auction in New York. The Duro Rocket pen, used by astronaut Buzz Aldrin to repair a critical circuit-breaker during the mission in 1969, fetched $857,600. This felt-tip pen proved to be a crucial tool for the astronauts, as it allowed Aldrin to fix the malfunction and ultimately escape from the moon.

The Duro Rocket pen was part of a larger lot that included the broken circuit-breaker, which Aldrin used to make the repair. Both items came from Aldrin's personal collection and were estimated to sell for between $800,000 and $1.2 million. The auction saw fierce competition, with five bidders vying for the historic items. In the end, the winning bidder secured the pen and the circuit-breaker, taking home a piece of space history.

The sale of the Duro Rocket pen is a testament to the significance of the Apollo 11 mission and the crucial role that Aldrin played in its success. The mission marked a historic milestone in space exploration, with Aldrin and Neil Armstrong becoming the first humans to set foot on the moon. The sale of this artifact is likely to be of great interest to space enthusiasts and collectors, providing a unique glimpse into the history of space exploration.