Space Programs

People have stared at the stars for thousands of years, but the technology to travel to them was not available until after World War II. The Soviet Union was the first country to launch a satellite into space with Sputnik I in 1957. The Soviet Union was also the first to achieve manned space flight when Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the earth in 1961. Neil Armstrong, an American astronaut, became the first person to set foot on the moon in 1969, and space exploration continues today.

Collecting space memorabilia has become a popular hobby, especially since the end of some of the major space initiatives such as the U.S. Space Shuttle program. Since the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, items associated with the shuttles have boomed in popularity. Gift shop memorabilia such as t-shirts, mugs, pins, and other items have little value to collectors of space memorabilia. Rather, serious collectors look for items that have historical significance such as items that have traveled to space or were used for a mission.

The most sought-after space memorabilia continues to be items from the Apollo 11 moon mission in 1969. Space collectors greatly desire anything that has been to the moon's surface in particular. Items that were associated with the first moon landing continue to sell for the highest prices during space memorabilia auctions.

Quick Facts

• In 2011, scraps from the first flag to be flown on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission sold at auction for $45,000. The scraps never left Earth
• At the same auction, the checklist used by the launch pad director who strapped in the astronauts for the fatal Challenger flight in 1986 sold for $1947
• Stargazer Lottie, a 7-inch doll produced by Irish toy company Arklu arrived on the International Space Station in December 2015, making her the first doll in space