Lot #4028
Neil Armstrong Typed Letter Signed on Preparedness for Extraterrestrial Encounters: "As to your question of whether we will be prepared to communicate and/or defend ourselves when we land on the moon, my answer is basically no"

Three months before landing on the moon, Neil Armstrong elaborates on preparedness for alien encounters: "As to your question of whether we will be prepared to communicate and/or defend ourselves when we land on the moon, my answer is basically no"

Previous Lot

Next Lot

This lot has closed

Sold For: $23,544

*Includes Buyers Premium

Estimate: $4000+

Sell a Similar Item?

Submit for Free Evaluation

Refer Collections and Get Paid

Start Today

Three months before landing on the moon, Neil Armstrong elaborates on preparedness for alien encounters: "As to your question of whether we will be prepared to communicate and/or defend ourselves when we land on the moon, my answer is basically no"

TLS, one page, 8 x 10.5, NASA letterhead, April 28, 1969. Letter to Richard G. Robinson of Annandale, Virginia, responding to an inquiry about preparations made for a potential encounter with extraterrestrial life on the moon. In part: "As to your question of whether we will be prepared to communicate and/or defend ourselves when we land on the moon, my answer is basically no. However, we will observe the lunar surface from the security of our spacecraft for a number of hours prior to any extra-vehicular activity." In fine condition, with some light creasing. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.

While NASA scientists did not expect to find advanced alien life on the moon, Apollo 11 demonstrated humanity's growing curiosity about extraterrestrial life and some precautions were indeed taken relative to interplanetary contamination, both in terms of protecting the Earth from potential 'alien' microorganisms and ensuring the integrity of the moon's environment. When astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins returned to Earth on July 24, 1969, they were placed in quarantine at the Lunar Receiving Laboratory for a period of 21 days. There, the Apollo 11 spacecraft, lunar samples, and astronauts' personal items were decontaminated and analyzed for the presence of any potentially harmful toxins or microorganisms—neither of which were discovered.

Auction Info

Auction Title: Remarkable Rarities
Dates: #712 - Ended February 20, 2025

This item is Pre-Certified by STEVE ZARELLI
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for $250.00

*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.

Lot #4028 Neil Armstrong Typed Letter Signed on Preparedness for Extraterrestrial Encounters: "As to your question of whether we will be prepared to communicate and/or defend ourselves when we land on the moon, my answer is basically no"

Three months before landing on the moon, Neil Armstrong elaborates on preparedness for alien encounters: "As to your question of whether we will be prepared to communicate and/or defend ourselves when we land on the moon, my answer is basically no"

Sell a Similar Item?

Refer Collections and Get Paid

Description

Three months before landing on the moon, Neil Armstrong elaborates on preparedness for alien encounters: "As to your question of whether we will be prepared to communicate and/or defend ourselves when we land on the moon, my answer is basically no"

Auction Info

Lot #4028
Neil Armstrong Typed Letter Signed on Preparedness for Extraterrestrial Encounters: "As to your question of whether we will be prepared to communicate and/or defend ourselves when we land on the moon, my answer is basically no"