'God bless all of you' - Apollo 8 collectibles continue to enthral buyers

From the Space Race to NASA TV, space television broadcasts have come a long way since 1968...

As NASA TV relays space shuttle Endeavour's last mission in high definition quality, it is a good time to remember the first television broadcast made from space.

In December 1968, the three astronauts on board Apollo 8 delivered a number of live television transmissions. The second broadcast, aired on Christmas Eve, featured readings from the book of Genesis by all three crew members and the famous sign off by Frank Borman: "Good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you - all of you on the good Earth."

Apollo 8 was the first manned mission to leave the Earth's orbit and the first to orbit the moon. This historic flight has ensured that Apollo 8 collectibles are highly sought after by investors.

Earthrise: a print of this famous photo made $3,240 at auction

A print of the famous picture of the earth taken on the mission sold for $3,240 at Christie's in 2006, while a Texas flag flown on the mission and signed by command module pilot James Lovell made $2,200 at Heritage Auctions in 2008.

NASA's final space shuttle mission takes place in July, when Atlantis and four crew members will spend 12 days in space.