Rare flown 5.5 x 5.5 swatch of Beta cloth bearing a 3.5″ diameter emblem of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, signed around the insignia in black ink by Thomas Stafford, Deke Slayton, and Valeri Kubasov, in green ink by Alexei Leonov, and in purple ink by Vance Brand. In fine condition, with light fading to Leonov. Accompanied by a signed letter of authenticity from Commander Stafford, in part: “This is to certify that the accompanying Apollo/Soyuz Test Project Beta Cloth Patch bearing the signatures of the American and Soviet crew was carried, by me, aboard our spacecraft during the first flight of international cooperation…During the ASTP Program, NASA’s policy allowed astronauts to keep disposable equipment or personal memorabilia from their mission as personal mementos, and I accordingly chose to include this beta cloth patch presentation among mine. The ASTP Beta cloth patch bearing the American and Soviet crew signatures…has remained a treasured part of my personal space collection for over thirty years, ever since NASA presented it back to me in 1975, shortly after my return to Earth.” The ASTP Beta cloth patch remains both an historic piece of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project’s rich history which ended the Cold War human space race, and a rare example of an astronaut flight-certified artifact from the first international joint manned space mission.
From the personal collection of General Thomas P. Stafford; proceeds to benefit the Stafford Air and Space Museum (SASM) Foundation expansion fund. The hammer price, minus the auction estimate, is considered a tax deductible donation to the SASM; winning bidder should contact the SASM for a donation letter.
This item is Pre-Certified by STEVE ZARELLI
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