Own a Piece of the Apollo 11 Command Module for a Ridiculously Low Price

This summer marks the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon mission, which saw human beings walk on the surface of the moon for the very first time. This mission was, without a doubt, one of the single greatest achievements of the human mind and spirit. And now, thanks to the folks at Mini Museum, you can celebrate this achievement by owning an actual piece of the historical Apollo 11 spacecraft.

Traditionally Mini Museum has specialized in creating beautifully curated collections of rare miniature specimens and artifacts. However, more recently they’re started catering to collectors with more specific interests by selling individual specimens. And one of the coolest specimens currently on offer is a piece of foil from the Apollo 11 command module.

Apollo 11 Command Module Foil

Available just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, this specimen is a fragment of mission-flown kapton foil that lined the Apollo 11 command module.

The command module was one of three components of the Apollo spacecraft, the other two being the service module and the lunar module. During the Apollo 11 mission, the command and service modules functioned as the mothership, carrying the lunar module and astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins into orbit around the moon.

Once in orbit, the lunar module carried Armstrong and Aldrin down to the surface of the moon, leaving Collins behind to pilot the command module. Armstrong and Aldrin then used the lunar module to return to and dock with the command module, at which point the lunar module was discarded and the command module carried the three astronauts back to earth. Just prior to reentry, the service module detached from the command module burned up in the atmosphere. Then the cone-shaped command module safely transported the astronauts back to the surface for splashdown in the South Pacific on July 24, 1969.

The kapton foil that lined the Apollo 11 command module provided thermal protection for the astronauts. After the command module returned to earth, sections of the foil were removed, affixed to acrylic squared for presentation purposes, and gifted to NASA employees. One of these employees was Production Control Engineer W.R. Whipkey. Whipkey received his section of kapton foil in 1969, and it remained in his possession until late 2017, when he sold it to Mini Museum.

The specimens of Apollo 11 kapton foil Mini Museum has made available for purchase measure roughly 1mm by 1mm. They are encased in acrylic cubes with magnified lids for easy viewing, and the cubes are then housed in padded riker boxes for storage and display. Each specimen comes with a certificate of authenticity, as well as an information card with details and images of the Apollo 11 mission.

So how much will a piece of kapton foil from Apollo 11 set you back? Well, that’s probably the most amazing part. This one-of-a-kind Apollo 11 collector’s item won’t break the bank. In fact, at just $69, it’ll probably be the cheapest priceless artifact you’ve ever owned.

If you’re a history buff, this is one piece you don’t want to miss out on. However, quantities are extremely limited. And with all the attention the first moon landing is going to get this month, these specimens are going to sell out. So don’t wait. Get your piece of Apollo 11 today.