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Buzz Aldrin's 'Lucky Pen' Saved Apollo 11
15 Jul
Summary
- Buzz Aldrin's felt-tip pen is auctioned for $800,000-$1.2m.
- The pen fixed a crucial circuit breaker, enabling moon departure.
- It was part of Aldrin's personal kit, not official equipment.
A felt-tip pen used by Buzz Aldrin to avert disaster on the Apollo 11 mission is set for auction, with Sotheby's estimating its value between $800,000 and $1.2 million. This pen was critical in repairing a broken circuit breaker, which was vital for the ascent engine that would lift the astronauts off the moon.
During the historic July 1969 mission, Aldrin noticed the broken switch for the engine-arm circuit breaker. Mission Control was unable to reroute power, leaving the astronauts in a precarious situation. Aldrin ingeniously used his personal felt-tip pen to secure the circuit, preventing them from being stranded.
Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, brought the pen as part of his 'personal preference kit.' This tool, along with the broken circuit breaker, is now part of his personal collection. The sale highlights the ingenuity required during the early days of space exploration.
While Aldrin has advocated for a focus on Mars exploration, NASA is planning a return to the lunar surface as early as 2028, with China also aiming for a crewed landing by 2030. This event underscores the enduring legacy of the Apollo missions.
