Crew kit case assembly issued to veteran Space Shuttle astronaut Norm Thagard, who became the first American to fly to space on board a Russian vehicle—and hence the first American cosmonaut—when he joined the crew of Soyuz TM-21 for the Russian Mir-18 mission on March 14, 1995. The blue fabric case, 11.5 x 4 x 9.5, features a carrying strap marked in black felt tip, “Norm Thagard,” and the top bears a Beta cloth parts label, “Ass’y, Crew Kit Case, P/N: SED46105008-301, S/N: 1002,” and an affixed NASA-Johnson Space Center label, with matching model and serial numbers and identifying it as “Artifact, Crew Kit Case.” The underside of the kit cover has storage areas for “Lens Wipes,” “Batteries,” “Contact Lens Kit,” “Mirror,” and “Antifog Wipes,” (4) with the latter two still present, and each pack of the antifog wipes is dated to August 17, 1992. The case’s foam-lined interior features compartments for “Biotrol Holding Tray,” “Wet & Soak Solution,” “Saline Solution,” “Shroud,” “Tape Recorder,” “HLOG” black-out goggles, and “Alternate Lens,” with the latter four items still present, as is a group of 18 microcassettes. Parts labels are affixed to the sides of the tape recorder (“Micro Recorder, P/N SED46105156-301, S/N 1005”) and the HLOG goggles (“HLOG, Part No. SED46104619-301, Serial No. 1011”). The case features numerous Velcro swatches for antigravity purposes. Attached to the carrying handle is a “Non Functional Equipment Parts Tag” from the Johnson Space Center, stamp-dated to October 10 and 17, 1991, with “K” decal and the “Crew Kit” identified as a “Class I” item, confirming the case as suitable for flight use. In fine condition.
RR Auction has been unable to establish actual flight provenance.
