Model Of 'Aries 1B Trans-Lunar Space Shuttle' Used In 2001: A Space Odyssey

Film director Stanley Kubrick purposely destroyed most of the sets, props, costumes, and models used to film his epic "2001: A Space Odyssey" to prevent them from being used in other films. So when a rare example of one of the models from the movie came up for auction recently, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures grabbed it for $344,000.

The model is the Aries 1B Trans-Lunar Space Shuttle, which survived only because of an agreement with an art teacher who was given the model to teach his students about technology. The electronics had been removed from the model before it was given to the teacher.

In the movie, the SFX model of the Pan-Am Nuclear-Powered Aries 1B Trans-Lunar Spherical Space Shuttle transports Dr. Heywood R. Floyd from the International Space Station to the moon. It is the one seen as the spacecraft descends with its landing gear extended. Dateline Hollywood reports that the model is said to be in "amazingly good condition," and includes its thrusters with blast deflectors.

The actual museum is still under construction. It is slated to open in 2017.

(Image from Premiere Props auction catalog)

FMI: www.oscars.org/museum