UPDATE: This lot is one of 16 in the current auction that comprise a complete suite of a medal, a patch, and a cover for each of John Young’s six space missions. Because select pieces within this collection are very rare, it took over seven years of determination and dedication to complete the project. The other 15 lots associated with this special collection are listed here.
John Young's flown sterling silver STS-9 Robbins medal, approximately 1.5 x 1.5, with a raised design on the face featuring the mission insignia. The reverse is encircled by the names of the astronauts and is engraved with the launch date of November 28, 1983, and landing date of December 8, 1983, at "RW 17 Edwards AFB, CA." The medal is serial numbered "8F" on the edge. Condition is mint state. Accompanied by its original matching case, and by a signed letter of authenticity from STS-9 Commander John Young: "I hereby certify that STS 9 silver Robbins Medal, serial number 8, was flown with me aboard Columbia November 28-December 8, 1983 and has been a part of my personal collection since the mission."
Though not as widely known as contemporaries like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, John Young is unquestionably one of America's most accomplished astronauts: he flew the first manned Gemini mission in 1965, then commanded Gemini 10 the next year; he became the first man to complete a solo orbit of the moon on Apollo 10; he drove the lunar rover and walked on the moon as commander of Apollo 16; and he commanded two Space Shuttle missions, including the very first: STS-1. Roughly two-and-a-half years later, Captain Young became the first person to fly six space missions when he took part in his final spaceflight as commander of STS-9 on November 28, 1983. Over the course of the ten-day mission, the 53-year-old Young managed the six-member crew, the largest of any manned space mission at the time, while aiding in the highly successful transportation of the first Spacelab laboratory module into orbit. Deriving from the personal collection of one of America's greatest astronauts, this immensely sought-after medal is one of only 76 silver examples flown on the STS-9 mission-a truly remarkable space rarity.
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
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