A foot-long aluminum scoop used by astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell to pick up moon dust on the 1971 Apollo 14 mission is estimated to sell for a quarter-million dollars in a public auction to be conducted by Heritage Auction Galleries ( www.HA.com) in Dallas, Texas and online on March 25, 2008. The air and space memorabilia auction also features lunar maps and charts used in the Apollo 12 and 17 moon missions, and other historic, space-flown and moon-used items obtained directly from astronauts and their families.

“Our first auction of Air & Space material, held in September of 2007, was a resounding success,” said Tom Slater, Director of Americana auctions for Heritage, “and we’re excited to present this second event. More than 100 lots in this auction come from the personal collection of such renowned space pioneers as Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Gene Cernan, Alan Bean, Dr. Edgar Mitchell, Charles M. Duke, Richard F. Gordon, and Paul Weitz. These pieces have impeccable provenance, having been obtained from the very people that used them on some of NASA’s most historic missions, and include signed Certificates of Authenticity from the astronauts themselves, some of them handwritten.”

“To celebrate this exciting auction,” Slater said, we’ll be holding a reception and lot preview on March 24 from 7 pm until 9 pm at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas.” Attending the reception will be a number of well-known astronauts and their spouses, including:

· Captain Eugene Cernan (Gemini 9A co-pilot, Apollo 10 Lunar Module Pilot, Apollo 17 Commander, moonwalker),

· Walter Cunningham (Apollo 7 Lunar Module Pilot),

· Charles Duke Jr. (Apollo 16 Lunar Module Pilot, moonwalker),

· Richard Gordon (Gemini 11 Pilot, Apollo 12 Command Module Pilot),

· Dr. Joseph Kerwin (Skylab 2 Science Pilot),

· Jack Lousma (Skylab 3 Pilot, STS-3 Commander), and

· Dr. Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14 Lunar Module Pilot, moonwalker).

More details on the reception can be found at http://historical.ha.com/space_articles/?article=space_invite

“This is an exceptional opportunity,” said Slater, “not only to meet these brave explorers, but to see, and then bid on, these important and historical items. When one considers the relatively few occasions on which man has ’slipped the surly bonds of earth,’ and ventured into space, and then realizes just how few actual objects have been off-planet, it’s amazing to think that any of us would have the opportunity to actually own one of these incredibly rare pieces. For anyone interested in the bold spirit of exploration that has, in many ways, driven human history, this is an event you will certainly not want to miss.”

Heritage Auction Galleries’ upcoming Air & Space Auction will be held on March 25, 2008 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit www.HA.com.

Highlights of the auction include:

From the Gene Cernan Collection:

Apollo 10 Complete Lunar Module Flown Rendezvous Checklist with Original Signed Snoopy Sketch by Charles Schulz:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58026&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $10,000 - $15,000

Apollo 14 Lunar Module Flown Lunar Scoop Used on the Surface of the Moon:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58027&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $250,000 - $300,000

Apollo 17 Lunar Module Flown Complete Orbit Monitor Chart:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58038&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $125,000 - $150,000

From the Dr. Edgar Mitchell Collection:

Apollo 14 Lunar Module Antares Flown American Flag, Signed by Edgar Mitchell:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58130&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $12,000 - $15,000

Apollo 14 Lunar Module Flown and Surface-Used Beta Cloth Covered Strap from Portable Life Support System:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58131&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $60,000 - $80,000

From the Charles M. Duke Collection:

Apollo 16 Lunar Module Flown Beta Cloth Transfer Bag:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58061&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $25,000 - $35,000

Apollo 16 Lunar Module Flown Needle Nose Pliers:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58060&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $20,000 - $25,000

From the Richard F. Gordon Collection:

Apollo 12 Lunar Module Intrepid Flown Spacecraft Identification Plate:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58089&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $30,000 - $50,000

Apollo 12 Flown Command CSM Lunar Orbit Chart A, Signed by Richard Gordon:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58093&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $60,000 - $80,000

From the Paul Weitz Collection:

Apollo Bracelet Containing All Eleven Flown Silver Robbins Medallions:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58136&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $20,000 - $30,000

Additional Featured Items:

Buzz Aldrin’s Original Gemini 12 Space Suit Patches:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58147&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $50,000 - $75,000

Magnificent Battle-Scarred B-17 Nose Art “Naturals”:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58233&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $30,000 - $50,000

Fantastic WWII P-47 Thunderbolt Nose Art “Butchie”:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58234&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $25,000 - $35,000

Apollo 11 Flown Robbins Silver Medallion, Serial Number 188, from the collection of astronaut Charles M. Duke, Jr.:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58066&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $13,000 - $16,000

Apollo 11 Flown Robbins Silver Medallion, Serial Number 140, obtained by Astronaut Joseph P. Kerwin as a member of the Astronaut Flight Office:

http://www.HA.com/6000*58106&type=prte-pr031708a

ESTIMATE: $13,000 - $16,000

For more information about Heritage’s auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of political memorabilia, Americana, and related collectibles are invited to visit www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email Tom Slater at TomS@HA.com .

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 1150, or visit www.HA.com/Catalog to order by email.