For sale is the flomaster that Buzz Aldrin used to save the Apollo 11 mission.

A silver marker used by Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission to fix a damaged switch and ensure the safe return of the lunar module from the Moon is set to be auctioned in New York. The item, described as a crucial tool in preventing the astronauts from being stranded on the Moon, will go up for sale with an estimated price range of $800,000 to $1.2 million, according to reports from Sotheby’s, the auction house handling the sale. The marker, along with a broken piece of the switch it repaired, comes from Aldrin’s personal collection and will be sold together with a letter written by him to accompany the items. The incident occurred in July 1969, shortly after Neil Armstrong and Aldrin had landed on the Moon as part of the historic Apollo 11 mission. After their first moonwalk, while preparing for sleep, Aldrin noticed a small black piece of plastic on the floor of the module. In his 2009 autobiography, Magnificent Desolation, he described the moment in detail, explaining how the broken fragment had fallen off a critical switch responsible for sending power to the ascent engine, which would have been necessary to lift them back into orbit and return to Earth. Aldrin recounted how he had accidentally knocked the switch with his heavy backpack, either while getting ready for the moonwalk or upon returning to the module. He noted that both he and Armstrong were concerned about the situation and contacted Mission Control in Houston for guidance. However, no solution was forthcoming from Houston, and instead, they received a message stating there was no way to reroute the electricity through the switch. In his book No Higher Honor published in 2016, Aldrin admitted responsibility for damaging the switch, acknowledging that it had been located on his side of the capsule. He explained that he decided to try using the marker he carried with him as part of his personal gear, even though it wasn’t listed among the official equipment taken to the Moon. The marker, made by the Duro Rocket brand, was found in his pocket on his spacesuit. Aldrin carefully inserted the marker into the switch mechanism, hoping it would hold the switch in place long enough for them to get back to Earth. He later recalled feeling hesitant to remove the marker, fearing the switch might turn off again. Eventually, he removed it, and the switch remained engaged, allowing the lunar module to ascend successfully. Buzz Aldrin, who is currently 96 years old, is one of four surviving individuals who walked on the Moon during the Apollo missions of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon, passed away in 2012. Aldrin has long advocated for NASA to send astronauts to Mars and establish a base on the planet. In a 2013 article in the New York Times, he argued that American resources should be directed toward establishing human presence on Mars rather than focusing solely on returning to the Moon. He mentioned keeping the broken switch from Apollo 11 and the marker that helped them take off from the Moon as reminders of the importance of space exploration beyond Earth. NASA plans to return to the Moon’s surface by 2028 and recently sent four astronauts on a trip around the Moon and back, marking the first such journey since 1972. China also aims to land a crewed mission on the Moon around 2030. Aldrin continues to push for a manned mission to Mars, emphasizing the need for continued investment in deep-space exploration. The sale of the marker and the broken switch represents more than just a historical artifact, it symbolizes the ingenuity and resourcefulness required in space travel. As the auction approaches, the item is expected to attract interest from collectors and space enthusiasts alike, offering a tangible connection to one of humanity’s greatest achievements.