Original video of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s first steps on the Moon will be auctioned off in New York later this month.
The video was made by NASA itself on 20th July 1969 and has only been viewed three times. According to auction house Sotheby’s it is the only surviving original recording of the Moon landing.
The three rolls of film were in a pile of a total of 1,150 bought by engineer Gary George at auction by NASA in 1976 for $217.77. At the time neither NASA nor George were aware the tapes were included in the sale.
The footage includes Armstrong’s infamous word as he stood on the lunar surface for the first time, Buzz Aldrin bounding around in minimal lunar gravity, as well as their call with President Richard Nixon, the duo planting the American flag on the lunar surface, and collecting soil and rock samples.
According to Sotheby’s the tapes could sell for as much as $2 million at the sale on 20th July.
