NASA space photos: rare images of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin up for auction

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Neil Armstrong on the moon next to an American flag. Laika the dog seated in a space capsule, shortly before becoming the first animal to orbit the Earth. Buzz Aldrin taking a selfie, our planet a blue curve behind him, in the very first self-portrait taken in space.

These are just three of the 2,400 rare NASA photos now for sale at an online auction hosted by Christie’s. The images capture “the golden age of space exploration,” the auction house said in a press release.
the "Blue marble," the first fully lit human photo of the Earth, in 1972.

The “Blue Marble”, the first fully illuminated photo of the Earth taken by a human, in 1972. Credit: Harrison Schmitt / Christie’s

The collection of original photographs covers a number of historical missions, from the Mercury and Gemini space flight programs to the Apollo missions to the moon. Some of the images are now iconic, like the “Blue Marble” photo taken by the crew of the Apollo 17 – the first fully illuminated photo of Earth taken by a human in space.

Others, however, were not released by NASA at the time they were taken and are new to the general public.

Most expensive item the offer is the only photo showing Armstrong on the Moon, taken by Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. His estimate is valued between £ 30,000 and £ 50,000 (around $ 37,800 to $ 63,000), depending on the auction house.

The first self-portrait in space, made by Buzz Aldrin in 1966.

The first self-portrait in space, made by Buzz Aldrin in 1966. Credit: Buzz Aldrin / Christie’s

Other high-value images include “Blue Marble”, which is estimated to be priced at £ 25,000 ($ 31,500), and a photo of the first “Earthrise” seen by humans in space, dated 1968 and valued at £ 30,000 ($ 37,800)).

The images were captured while the photograph was still analog, requiring “light sensitive chemistry, film and photographic papers,” the press release said. Astronauts were instructed on how to take photos in space by NASA, alongside specialists such as Kodak and National Geographic.

“Through their cameras, astronauts turned artists were able to convey to humanity the beauty and depth of their experience in space, forever changing the way we see ourselves and our place in the universe,” said the press release.

Crescent Earth rising beyond the barren horizon of the Moon, taken in 1971.

Crescent Earth rising beyond the barren horizon of the Moon, taken in 1971. Credit: Alfred Worden / Christie’s

For decades, the previously unseen photos were kept in the archives of the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas, and were only accessible by accredited researchers. The pieces, assembled over 15 years by private collector Victor Martin-Malburet, have been exhibited in museums around the world, including the Grand Palais in Paris and the Kunsthaus in Zurich.

“Astronauts are often portrayed as great scientists and heroes, but they are rarely hailed as some of the most important photographers of all time,” Martin-Malburet said in the statement.

“The first pioneers of Mercury and Gemini were given as a canvas space and the Earth; the Apollo astronauts an alien world.”

First American spacewalk, Ed White's EVA over Texas, June 3-7, 1965.

First American spacewalk, Ed White’s EVA over Texas, June 3-7, 1965. Credit: James McDivitt / Christie’s

The photos are now auctioned off for “others to now add to their collections”, according to Christie’s auction site. The online sale, titled “Voyage to another world: the collection of Victor Martin-Malburet photographs”, runs until 19 November.

Top image caption: The only photograph of Neil Armstrong on the moon, taken in 1969.

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