Auction to benefit Lindbergh Foundation, mini-rocket flew
aboard SpaceShipOne
The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation has
announced that one of six “Retro Bronze Mini Rockets”
designed and created by Erik Lindbergh, grandson of aviator Charles
A. Lindbergh, is now being offered in an auction on eBay which
began Friday morning, December 3, 2004.
The auction will run for 10 days, with proceeds benefiting the
Lindbergh Foundation. The “Retro Rocket” flew
aboard SpaceShipOne on October 4, 2004, the winning flight in the
$10 million Ansari X Prize competition. Of those flown into
space, this is the only one available to the public.
The Rocket is identified as Serial Number 2, and is dated and
initialed by Erik Lindbergh. A framed Certificate of Authenticity
signed by Burt Rutan and SpaceShipOne pilots Mike Melville, Brian
Binnie and Doug Shane is included. The stationery used for
the Certificate was also flown into space aboard
SpaceShipOne’s winning flight.
The sculpture measures 1.5 in by 1.5 in by 4.5 in and comes in a
secure frame shadow box for display. It will be on display at the
Museum of Flight in Seattle until January 31, 2005 as part of a
special exhibit entitled ”Rustic Rocket Science – The
Sculptures of Erik R. Lindbergh.”
Erik Lindbergh is vice chairman on the Board of Directors of the
Lindbergh Foundation and has served on the Board since 1998.
In May 2002, Erik honored his grandfather by recreating his 1927
solo New York-to-Paris flight in a single engine Lancair. He
is also vice president and trustee of the X-Prize Foundation,
founding board member of the Aviation High School in Seattle, and
is a commercial pilot.
The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation is a public
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, based in Minnesota, which
strives to encourage and inspire present and future generations to
work toward improving the quality of life through a balance between
technological advancements and environmental preservation. The
Lindbergh Foundation pursues its mission through three major
programs: Lindbergh Grants, the annual honorary Lindbergh
Award, and a variety of educational programs, which are designed to
bring life to, and engage others in, the Lindberghs’ passion
for balance.
(ANN Associate Editor Juan Jimenez made the first
sacrificial bid of the auction in honor of comedian Bill Dana and
his famous character, "Jose Jimenez," whom everyone
knows always wanted to be an astronaut. As expected and on
schedule, the bid was summarily vaporized by another
bidder some 15 minutes later... but it was worth it!)