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2009 News Archive

All of our Space & Aviation news stories from 2009 can be found here.

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Apollo 11 (1969) set of three signed photographs, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins (PF12)

A superb set of three 8 x 10 inch official NASA photographs, each signed by the Apollo 11 crew

Posted: 23 March 2011
The Editor’s Top 5 stories of 2009

There have been thousands of stories on the website this year – here I highlight my favourites

Posted: 1 January 2010
Happy Hogmanay!

Happy Silvester, Reveillon and Nochevieja for our overseas readers

Posted: 31 December 2009
German flying ace's medals to sell online

Adolf Ritter von Tutschek's three distinguished medals are essential pieces of WW1 and aviation history

Posted: 29 December 2009
Today in history... Galileo is the first to see Neptune

December 28, 1612: he spots the eighth planet from our Sun... and mistakes it for a star

Posted: 28 December 2009
From the Moon, Mars and ...Mercury?

Meteorites worth up to $30k from various heavenly bodies come to auction

Posted: 27 December 2009
Merry Christmas!

Don't forget your free gift from Paul Fraser Collectibles...

Posted: 25 December 2009
Today in history... Man's first broadcast from space

December 24, 1968: Apollo 8 transmits the first space footage to stunned TV viewers back home

Posted: 24 December 2009
A $20k astronomy book in time for Christmas?

German firm Ketterer Kunst is among the auctioneers offering post-auction collectibles

Posted: 23 December 2009
$65k iron meteorite 'sculpture' to star at auction

A Gibeon octahedrite with an unusual shape will go under the hammer in Texas

Posted: 22 December 2009
Paul Fraser Collectibles: one of the 100 best things about Bristol

With Banksy and Wallace and Gromit, we've been named among the Top 100 things to love about our home city

Posted: 22 December 2009
Patrouille de France memorabilia on sale

Hôtel Drouot is offering flight suits from the French aerobatic team

Posted: 21 December 2009
The Story of...

The most exclusive club in History

Posted: 21 December 2009
Today in history... The launch of Soyuz 13

December 18, 1973: after the failure of two space stations, Russia tries its first space science mission

Posted: 18 December 2009
Fred Haise receives Moon rock award

The Apollo 13 lunar module pilot has donated NASA's gift to his old elementary school

Posted: 17 December 2009
The Collections of Darryl Pitt

Curator of the Macovich collection of meteorites supplying auctions and celebrities round the world

Posted: 15 December 2009
$122k for Galileo's first ever telescope observations

The text has sold alongside Uncle Tom's Cabin, 'the most influential C19th fictional work,' at Sotheby's

Posted: 14 December 2009
Apollo 11 construction log to auction

A 1968 report on the Eagle lunar module is also to go under the hammer

Posted: 12 December 2009
Apollo 17: one last small step for man

Today in 1972, mankind landed on the Moon for the last time. We take a look at Apollo 17 memorabilia...

Posted: 11 December 2009
Inverted Jenny up for auction

One of the world's rarest stamps is for sale next week

Posted: 10 December 2009
Russian space suit rockets to €87k in Paris auction

Large iron meteorite finds a resting place for €31k

Posted: 10 December 2009
$140k meteorite leads Californian auction

The most striking US meteorite in private hands to auction

Posted: 9 December 2009
Paul Fraser welcomes James Bly to the Expert Panel

Antique Expert and Fund Manager

Posted: 9 December 2009
'Dam Busters' autographs sell at Bonhams

A party menu signed by the real-life No 617 Squadron after their legendary mission has auctioned

Posted: 8 December 2009
Space gem finds new home

Slice of the Fukang meteorite sold for $16k

Posted: 7 December 2009
Invaders from Mars to go under the hammer

Mars rocks and rare pallasites amongst meteorites at Los Angeles auction

Posted: 3 December 2009
'Rarest and most beautiful' aircraft in the world to sell in Arizona

The only fully-restored 1929 Hamilton Metalplane H-47 in existence will auction with no reserve

Posted: 3 December 2009
Spacesuit to sell for €75k at Paris auction

Flown heatshields and thruster equipment also go on sale

Posted: 1 December 2009
€60k Siberian meteorite heads Paris auction

Hôtel Drouot's Natural History auction offers range of spacerocks

Posted: 30 November 2009
The Collections of Malcolm Forbes

The cheerful multi-millionaire businessman, philanthropist and enthusiastic collector...

Posted: 26 November 2009
US TV star Reyne Haines joins Paul Fraser Collectibles expert panel

Here Reyne shows us that valuable collections aren't just confined to rare stamps or coins, classic cars, or wine cellars

Posted: 26 November 2009
Apollo 13: memorabilia from a 'successful failure'

Artefacts from one of the most remarkable survival stories in human history did well at auction in 2009

Posted: 25 November 2009
Hublot's $1m watch: more than a cosmic price tag

The origins of one of Earth's most remarkable collectible watches are truly out of this world

Posted: 23 November 2009
Warren Buffett v Luxury Collectibles

You'd think there could only be one winner... right?

Posted: 20 November 2009
Ex-orbit-ant prices

The value of different kinds of meteorite

Posted: 19 November 2009
Document from the Mayor of New Amsterdam to sell for $40k

Neil Armstrong, Einstein and Abraham Lincoln signatures also go under the hammer

Posted: 17 November 2009
New images released of moon-landing sites

Views from low-flying satellite to show Apollo missions to a new generation

Posted: 12 November 2009
Apollo 13 badge sells for $23k

It sold alongside a $20k print signed by 22 astronauts at the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's auction

Posted: 9 November 2009
Nixon and the missing Moon rocks

Today in history, Richard Nixon won the US presidency during which 12 men would set foot on the Moon

Posted: 5 November 2009
Heritage to boldy go into space collecting

You are now invited to consign memorabilia to their 2010 space exploration auction

Posted: 4 November 2009
Paul Fraser welcomes John Bly to the expert panel

John Bly is an antiques dealer, author, after-dinner speaker and broadcaster who is best known from the BBC Antiques Roadshow

Posted: 3 November 2009
The Top Five most valuable spacecraft memorabilia

Space artefacts aren't limited to autographs, how about owning your own piece of a space shuttle?

Posted: 2 November 2009
Apollo 11 (1969) (PF16) photograph signed by Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins

A large colour photo measuring 15.5 x 14inches, signed by the three crew members of Apollo 11.

Posted: 30 October 2009
Bonhams announces next 'Space Sale'

More space memorabilia can be yours to own, at the sequel to the highest-grossing space auction

Posted: 29 October 2009
Apollo 11 and Star Trek icons guest at autograph show

Armstrong, Aldrin and space explorers from sci-fi will boldy go to a Florida memorabilia event

Posted: 26 October 2009
SEIKO's new commemorative Spring Drive Spacewalk

The 100-limited special edition is identical to the watch worn by the first 'private spacewalker'

Posted: 25 October 2009
Amelia Earhart's scarf and wristwatch to fly into space

The legendary 1930s aviator couldn't have guessed that two of her belongings would wind up in orbit

Posted: 23 October 2009
How to find rare Buzz Aldrin collectibles

His memorabilia gets less attention than Neil Armstrong's, but savvy collectors can find some real gems

Posted: 22 October 2009
4.6bn year-old meteorite smashes into woman's car

She blamed the windscreen damage on vandals, until a team of scientists visited her town

Posted: 21 October 2009
Space metal crashes into couple's home

The mysterious lump of metal may have fallen from a defunct satellite - but how collectible is it?

Posted: 19 October 2009
$65k Apollo gadget stars at space auction

And a full Russian space suit was among the highlights at Heritage's incredible Dallas sale

Posted: 16 October 2009
Astronaut's 'Moon Rolex' sells for $131k

A watch taken to the lunar surface by Apollo 17's crew vastly exceeds its $30k estimate

Posted: 13 October 2009
Apollo 7: the men who helped us land on the Moon

Neil Armstrong is a household name - but, this week in 1968, three other brave astronauts made his feat possible

Posted: 12 October 2009
Mission patch for Soyuz
TMA-17

Children's competition produces playful new design

Posted: 9 October 2009
NASA to 'bomb' the Moon's surface

A large explosion to test for lunar H₂O could pave the way for future Moon missions

Posted: 7 October 2009
Toy's return from space creates a Buzz

Buzz Aldrin was present to welcome another famous 'astronaut' named Buzz back to Earth

Posted: 5 October 2009
NASA: Mercury 7 (PF13) signed photograph featuring the first US astronauts

A beautiful vintage matte-finish, 10 x 8inch photograph featuring the Mercury 7 astronauts posing with a model rocket

Posted: 4 October 2009
Limited 200-edition signed space artefacts

Materials used on Apollo 14, 16 and Discovery missions are being given away, with autographs

Posted: 2 October 2009
Rolex that went to the Moon priced at $30,000

This Speedmaster Professional watch was present for Apollo 17's last 72 hours on the lunar surface

Posted: 1 October 2009
Apollo 11: What Nixon would have said if they hadn't survived

'The men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace,' reads the President's unused 1969 speech

Posted: 30 September 2009
Bockscar (August 8, 1945)

The plane that dropped the second Atomic Bomb. A superb piece of history is for sale.

Posted: 25 September 2009
Collectibles investments are booming, says The Times

'High net worth individuals are increasingly turning to alternative investments,' reports the respected UK newspaper

Posted: 24 September 2009
Confirmed: there is water on the moon

Equipment on board Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 confirms previous findings.

Posted: 25 September 2009
Space explorer's watch brings $45k

A Seiko wristwatch worn by a business entrepreneur and space explorer has brought five figures at Antiquorum in New York

Posted: 21 September 2009
Global hunt for missing moon rocks

Nearly 270 moon rocks retrieved by Apollo astronauts were given to foreign countries... Today, most of them are missing

Posted: 14 September 2009
Good news: collectibles improve your mental health

They can reduce stress, add years to your life and 'people with hobbies are healthier and happier,' says a new study

Posted: 11 September 2009
How Galileo viewed the heavens...

The astronomer's $3m telescope returns from a tour

Posted: 11 September 2009
Move over, Buzz Aldrin

Another famous Buzz - Buzz Lightyear - has broken the record for the longest time spent in space

Posted: 11 September 2009
Space auction featuring fantastic pieces

The personal recollections of a Gemini 7 astronaut, a flown Rolex and Neil Armstrong's autograph available

Posted: 11 September 2009
Finding a path to Mars

Scientists try to map the easy routes through space

Posted: 10 September 2009
Patek Philippe and an astronaut's watch to appear at auction

A watch worn by a space explorer and the world's finest watches will appear at the next Antiquorum sale

Posted: 10 September 2009
Good news for space collectors: another trip to the Moon is unlikely...

There just isn’t enough money, say White House experts

Posted: 9 September 2009
Spoof news story confuses Bangladesh

Neil Armstrong admits moon landing was faked... sort of

Posted: 5 September 2009
10 things you didn't know about the first Moon landing...

A website has compiled a list of excellent Apollo 11 trivia explaining just how close the mission was to failure...

Posted: 4 September 2009
Art by a man on the moon

A member of the Apollo 12 team tries to capture the experience on canvas

Posted: 31 August 2009
Just a lot of moonshine

How checking their moon rock's origins brought a Dutch museum down to Earth

Posted: 27 August 2009
One small disc for man...

Earth's message to the moon which almost didn't reach it

Posted: 24 August 2009
Watches for sale including a $500k beauty and a space-flown rarity

300 of the finest timepieces in existence are to be auctioned off this autumn

Posted: 19 August 2009
Buzz Aldrin signature at world's biggest autograph show

Apollo 10 pilot Stafford will also give only UK appearance at NASA autographs sale

Posted: 13 August 2009
'Rarest' space rock to sell for £90k

It will appear at the UK's largest private space memorabilia auction

Posted: 12 August 2009
Apollo 11 hero signs books at 'splash down' celebration

Legendary moon explorer appears with unsung heroes appear at 'largest existing Apollo 11 artefact'

Posted: 6 August 2009
Armstrong 'snubs' member of U.S. Congress

Apollo 11's 'first man on moon' refuses to sign autograph for House Speaker

Posted: 28 July 2009
St. Petersburg opens 'one of largest' classic car museums

Cars owned by Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and astronaut Yuri Gagarin will appear in new Vyborg collection

Posted: 28 July 2009
Coffee table book to include space rocks

A publisher is expecting to make thousands with the ultimate expensive coffee table book: it contains space meteorites

Posted: 27 July 2009
JFK receives moon rock from Apollo 11 crew

The legendary crew reunited to present the iconic president with a posthumous award...

Posted: 27 July 2009
The dark side of the moon landings

What you didn't know about that small step for man

Posted: 22 July 2009
Apollo 11 autographs

The signatures of first astronauts on the moon continue to be coveted by collectors everywhere

Posted: 19 July 2009
Apollo 11 navigation chart sells for $218k

Described by astronaut Buzz Aldrin as, 'The single most critical navigational device we used while on the Moon,' this was the star of Bonham's NY space auction

Posted: 17 July 2009
Apollo 16 checklist featuring rude cartoons brings $206k

A wrist mounted checklist turned heads and became one of the highlights at Bonham's massive space auction

Posted: 17 July 2009
Moon astronaut's signature sells for $27k

Cheque signed by 'the Christopher Columbus of the 20th century' is auctioned online

Posted: 17 July 2009