Device Used On The Moon Goes To An Unidentified Bidder

There were a lot of NASA items up for bids at the recent RR Auction's 7th Space and Aviation Autograph and Artifact Auction, and the prices on some of the items reached orbital altitudes.

An unnamed bidder paid $610,693 for the joystick that was mounted on the left side of the Lunar Module Falcon, according to the tech site Blastr. The site reports via CNet that the joystick was used by Cmdr. Dave Scott to safely land Falcon on the surface of the Moon in 1971, and then fly the lander back for rendezvous with the command module. It was reportedly the highest price paid for a space-related item at a public auction in history.

Cmdr. Scott provided a certificate of authenticity for the item. “I hereby certify that the Rotational Hand Controller (RHC) included with this letter was used to maneuver the Lunar Module 'Falcon' during the Apollo 15 descent and landing on the Moon; and after 3 days on the surface of the Moon, this RHC was used during lunar launch, ascent and rendezvous with the Command and Service Module, 'Endeavor,' in lunar orbit…," he wrote.

It was not, however, the highest price ever paid for an item that went to the moon and back. A camera that went to the Moon reportedly fetched $908,000 at a private auction earlier this year.

(Image provided by NASA)

FMI: www.rrauction.com