NEW YORK, NY.- On September 27,
Bonhams will offer The Air and Space Sale, which comprises over 200 lots that celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our greatest aviation and space pioneers. Highlights include a full-scale Sputnik-1 EMC/EMI test model, a Neil Armstrong Apollo-Era Training Glove, and a Wright Brothers photo album featuring the first photos ever published of their flyer inflight. The public exhibition begins September 22 to 26.
Bonhams will offer an exceptionally rare vintage test model of the Sputnik-1 satellite. It is a full-scale vintage test model of the Sputnik-1 satellite, serial number "0K6-1/002/1957", with live transmitter (modern 12 volt power supply included) (estimate: $100,000-150,000). This is one of only a few made to test ground Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Electromagnetic Interference (AMI) testing. There are only a handful of known vintage test models of the Sputnik-1: three in private hands (including one sold at Bonhams in 2016), one just outside Moscow at the Energia Corporate Museum, and one at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, which does not have the internal components of that at Energia Corp.
The Sputnik-1 artificial satellite was launched into Earth orbit by a R7 Semiorka rocket on October 4, 1957. The satellite had several scientific objectives: test the method of placing an artificial satellite in Earth orbit; provide information on the density of the upper atmosphere; test radio and optical methods of orbital tracking; determine the effects of radio propagation through the atmosphere; and check principles of pressurization used on satellites. Sputnik-1 was visible around the globe and anyone with a shortwave receiver could pick up its signal. The American Sputnik crisis and the birth of the Space Race were by-products of its launch.
Additional highlights include:
A Neil Armstrong Apollo-Era Training Glove Issued to Neil Armstrong, with his Beta Cloth Tag (estimate: $8,000-12,000)
This is an A7L Intra-Vehicular Glove, International Latex Corporation, late 1960s, rubberized-cloth with articulated fingers with an additional support layer that can be tightened by black nylon strap with light blue velcro closure, cuff in white Beta cloth and with revolving blue anodized aluminum disconnect ring. The International Latex Corporation won NASA's 1965 competition with their AX5-L for a spacesuit that would be advanced enough to comply with the needs of the Apollo program. The A7L (A for Apollo; 7 for seventh in the series; and L for ILC Industries) was a version of that suit.
U.S. Airforce School of Aviation Medicine Rhesus monkey biopack (estimate: $10,000-15,000)
This biological package (biopack), which is an aluminum-framed tubular structure, includes the inner harness suit into which the rhesus monkey was sewn. Markings on the side of the shell are mostly illegible, but include the insignia of the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, the words Aerospace Medicine - Medical Division, and the partly legible [Brook]s Air Force Base, Texas. It is uncertain whether this was used by Sam or Miss Sam, or both, and whether it was flown, but the unit appears to have been fully functional and to have been used on either the Little Joe 2 or Little Joe 1-B launch, which were part of the testing phase for Project Mercury.
Wright Flyer Model Made from The Original Fabric of The First Airplane (Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000)
This is a 1:42 scale model of the 1903 Wright Flyer flown at Kitty Hawk, in wood, covered with original fabric taken from the Wright airplane itself. In 1916, Orville Wright partially re-covered the wings of the 1903 flyer prior to its display at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Later, in late 1926 and early 1927, Orville completely re-covered the original 1903 Flyer in new muslin fabric, in preparation for sending it to be displayed in London. Some of the original fabric was saved and later distributed after his death.
James Hare Album Containing 55 Photographs of Wright Brothers (Estimate: $ 20,000 - 30,000)
Photograph album containing 55 photographs of the Wright Brothers by James Hare, including the first published photograph of a Wright Flyer in air at Kitty Hawk, 1908.