TLS, one page, 8 x 10.5, NASA letterhead, June 2, 1969. A letter of outstanding content, written to a space enthusiast shortly before the historic Apollo 11 flight. In full: “A committee selects the various astronauts who will make the specific flights. I am grateful that I was selected to make the moon-landing flight and am pleased that Mike Collins and Buzz Aldrin will be flying with me. I am enclosing some material which should provide the answers to your several questions, and many thanks for your interest in writing to me.” Accompanied by the original mailing envelope as well as the materials mentioned by Armstrong consisting of two color NASA photos, one each of the Apollo 7 and 8 launches; and three multi-page NASA briefs on astronaut selection, astronaut training, and space food. In overall fine condition.
The “family values” ingrained in Armstrong by his Midwestern upbringing are palpable in this correspondence. It’s almost hard to imagine in today’s world, yet here was Armstrong, just a few weeks before his date with history, humbly sending educational material to an admirer. According to some tales, it was the same humility shown here that also earned Armstrong the honor of being the first man to walk on the moon—as many in the NASA community viewed him as having less of an ego than his fellow moonwalker, Aldrin. Others maintained that it was simply luck, as Neil’s placement within the lunar module placed him next to the door. Fellow astronaut Deke Slayton, however, referred to it as “a pure protocol basis. I figured the commander ought to be the first guy out.” No matter how he earned his spot in history, this thoughtful correspondence serves as evidence that the NASA committee mentioned here, the one charged with selecting all Apollo crews, chose the right man for the agency’s most historic mission. Pre-certified Scott Cornish and RRAuction COA.
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