Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 Felt-Tip Pen Sells for $857,600

A felt-tip marker and a piece of black plastic sold for $857,600 at a Sotheby's auction on Wednesday, 57 years after they were used on NASA's Apollo 11 mission. These items were crucial in resolving an issue that nearly stranded astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface.

Aldrin contacted Mission Control from the Moon, explaining that the tip of the circuit breaker switch needed to ignite their ascent engine had broken off. This switch was essential for their return journey to Earth. Aldrin expressed concern about being able to reinsert the broken piece if it was pushed back in, indicating the potential severity of the situation.

The marker was used to push the circuit breaker back into place, allowing the ascent engine to ignite and enabling the astronauts to return to Earth. The auction highlighted the historical significance of these seemingly ordinary objects, which played a vital role in the success of humanity's first lunar landing mission.