Millions of dollars' worth of Apollo moon-landing gear is up for auction on eBay

apollo 11 astronaut planting flag moon nasa 371257main_Flag_full
Apollo 11 astronauts planted a flag on the moon on July 20, 1969. NASA

In the market for a helium tank from an Apollo-era spacecraft? How about a bag to collect lunar soil samples? Or an authentic training checklist for launching to the moon?

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Welcome to the spectacle that is Sotheby's first "Space Exploration" live auction, which is being hosted on eBay.

The event kicks off at 11 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 20 — the 48th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. It features 173 lots of space artifacts and memorabilia, which are collectively worth between an estimated $2.9 million and $5.3 million.

Some sellers hope to fetch a premium on rare toys and signed photographs from the Space Race, while others are hawking near-priceless artifacts that could fetch millions of dollars.

One lot that may garner $4 million alone: a dusty bag that Apollo 11 astronauts dumped the first samples of lunar soil, grit, and rocks into in 1969. (The bag was "lost" for decades until the US Marshals Service confiscated it during a raid and later auctioned off — for $995.)

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NASA and other groups (including "For All Moon Kind") admonish the sale of such one-of-a-kind spaceflight objects. "This artifact, we believe, belongs to the American people and should be on display for the public," NASA said in a statement shortly after a court granted the buyer ownership of the bag.

That said, here are some of the more notable items in Sotheby's and eBay's live auction and how much they might sell for.

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Apollo 11 Contingency Lunar Sample Return Bag

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Lunar Bag
Sotheby's

Used by Neil Armstrong on Apollo 11 to bring back the very first pieces of the moon ever collected — traces of which remain in the bag. The only such relic available for private ownership.

Estimate: $2 million - $4 million

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Gemini G1c spacesuit thermal coverlayer

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Gemini G1C Spacesuit Thermal Coverlayer (lot 64)
Sotheby's

Thermal coverlayer for the Gemini G1C spacesuit, made for Gus Grissom by the David Clark Company, circa 1962.

Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000

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Apollo 13 flown flight plan, with drawings by astronauts (1 of 4)

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Apollo 13 Flight Plan, 1 (lot 140)
Sotheby's

A book that contains the entire Apollo 13 flight plan, including sketches and notations by astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise.

Estimate: $30,000 - $40,000

Apollo 13 flown flight plan, with drawings by astronauts (2 of 4)

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Apollo 13 Flight Plan, 4 (lot 140)
Sotheby's
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Apollo 13 flown flight plan, with drawings by astronauts (3 of 4)

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Apollo 13 Flight Plan, 2 (lot 140)
Sotheby's

Apollo 13 flown flight plan, with drawings by astronauts (4 of 4)

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Apollo 13 Flight Plan, 3 (lot 140)
Sotheby's
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Apollo command module reaction-control system propellant tank

sothebys space exploration auction ebay APOLLO COMMAND MODULE REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM HELIUM STORAGE TANK (lot 38).JPG
Sotheby's

A 39.5-inch-diameter empty, ellipsoidal-shaped tank crafted from two joined titanium alloy hemispheres. Manufactured by Sargent Industries for NASA, ca. 1970. Red identifying labels, as well as one paper label.

Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500

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Apollo lion brothers crew mission emblems

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Apollo Lion Brothers Crew Mission Emblems (lot 86)
Sotheby's

Cloth crew mission emblems, 12 total with sizes from 3 ½ to 5 inches in diameter. Embroidered by Lion Brothers of Owens Mills, Maryland beginning in 1967.

Estimate: $1,200 - $1,800

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Aldrin with the stars and stripes

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Aldrin with the Stars and Stripes (lot 117)
Sotheby's

Color photograph, 8 by 10 inches. Signed by Buzz Aldrin with his inscription of "LMP" added.

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500

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Russian Isayev rocket engine

sothebys space exploration auction ebay ISAYEV ROCKET ENGINE (lot 40).JPG
Sotheby's

Unfired V-751 liquid propellant sustainer powerplant, approximately 39-by-14-by-14 inches, constructed from various alloys. Numerous inspection marks, primarily in red. Mounted onto black metal stand, apparently unfired. Russia, circa 1957. Designed by the Design Bureau of Russian rocket engineer Alexei Isayev.

Estimate: $6,000 - $9,000

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Vostok-1 spacecraft model

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Vostok 1 Spacecraft Model Large 18 scale manufacturer’s project presentation model by NPO Energia
Sotheby's

Large 1:8 scale manufacturer's project presentation model by NPO Energia. 

Estimate: $10,000 - $12,000

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Space shuttle orbiter computer processor

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Space Shuttle Orbiter Computer Processor (lot 39)
Sotheby's

One of the earliest production models with serial number 04.

Estimate: $5,000 - $7,000

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NASA Apollo 11 press release photograph collection (1 of 2)

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 NASA Apollo 11 Press Release Photograph Collection , 1 (lot 97)
Sotheby's

Contains 10 photos, with four signed by Buzz Aldrin.

Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500

NASA Apollo 11 press release photograph collection (2 of 2)

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 NASA Apollo 11 Press Release Photograph Collection , 2 (lot 97)
Sotheby's
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Mascot of the Apollo 10 lunar module crew, signed

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Mascot of the Apollo 10 LM Crew   signed (lot 94)
Sotheby's

Snoopy Astronaut doll, produced in China by Determined Distributions of San Francisco for United Feature Syndicate, 1969. Plastic and fabric, 10 inches tall. With the original display box.

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000

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Records file on the first flight by USSR citizen cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Records File on the First Flight by USSR Citizen Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin Made on Spaceship Sputnik 'Vostok'
Sotheby's

Made on spaceship-Sputnik "Vostok," April 12, 1961. The official English-language governmental report of one of the greatest moments in human history — signed by Gagarin and others.

Estimate: $50,000 - $80,000

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Kennedy Space Center Apollo Saturn launch viewing badges

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Kennedy Space Center Apollo Saturn Launch Viewing Badges (lot 87)
Sotheby's

Issued to flight support personnel, VIPs, guests, and the press corps.

Estimate: $1,200 - $1,800

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Flown Apollo 11 flight plan sheet

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Flown Apollo 11 Flight Plan Sheet (lot 104)
Sotheby's

One of the few sheets describing crew activities while on the moon. Originally from the collection of Apollo 11 Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin.

Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000

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Flown Apollo 9 altimeter cover

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Flown Apollo 9 Altimeter Cover (lot 93)
Sotheby's

From the collection of Peter Fadis. Command module altimeter cover, aluminum, 2.5 inches in diameter, original velcro square to recto, assembly part number "SEB 33100063-302", serial number "1006."

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

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Buzz Aldrin at Tranquility Base

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Buzz Aldrin at Tranquility Base (2)
Sotheby's

The Apollo program’s most iconic image. Large color photograph taken by Neil Armstrong of Buzz Aldrin during their Apollo 11 moonwalk. Signed and inscribed by Buzz Aldrin.

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

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Flown Apollo 11 command module skin fragment

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Flown Apollo 11 Command Module Skin Fragment (lot 107)
Sotheby's

Originally from the collection of Apollo 11 lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin. An approximately 0.5-by-0.5-inch foil segment mounted on a 3-by-8 inch typed note signed by Buzz Aldrin. This foil material served as the thermal protection layer on the very outer surface of command module "Columbia". It was exposed to the vacuum of space for some 195 hours, including almost 60 hours in lunar orbit, and traveled over 500,000 miles.

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000

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Apollo 11 - Step-by-step plans for surface exploration

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Apollo 11   Step By Step Plans For Surface Exploration (lot 98)
Sotheby's

Includes the procedure to collect the first lunar soil sample.

Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000

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Flown to the moon on Apollo 11: Command module pilot Michael Collins' crew-signed Apollo 11 emblem

sothebys space exploration auction ebay 9759 Flown to the Moon on Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot Michael Collins’ Crew Signed Apollo 11 Emblem
Sotheby's

From the collection of Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins. One of the very flew flown Apollo 11 mission artifacts to be signed by Neil Armstrong.

Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000

NASA
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