Robert Pearlman

Robert Pearlman

@collectspace.bsky.social

editor of http://collectSPACE.com, on the trail of space history artifacts, missing moon rocks and where space exploration intersects with pop culture

951 followers46 following530 posts

Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Were it not for its late owner having been steadfast to a 40-plus year old agreement among crewmates, this example of their mission memento is unlikely to have driven the bids it received... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-10...

collectspace.comWhy one astronaut's autograph sent the value of this space-flown envelope soaringHow much can a rarely sought after astronaut's autograph add to the value of a relatively common, yet flown-in-space item? If one example is any guide, it is thousands of dollars. The item, a stamped ...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

The Henry Ford of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan is now the third stop (second in the US) for the Artemis Adventure in LEGO Bricks traveling exhibition... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-10...

collectspace.comNASA's Artemis moon craft, built out of LEGO, lands at Henry Ford museumNASA's Artemis moon-bound rockets, spacecraft and suits are landing at a Michigan museum -- piece by toy piece. The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn is opening "Artemis Adventure w...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Thirteen years after NASA's Mars rover Opportunity surpassed the Apollo 17 lunar roving vehicle and 12 years after it rolled by the Soviet Union's Lunokhod 2, the solar system has a new record holder for the distance driven on another world... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-10...

collectspace.comPerseverance Mars rover sets record for distance driven on another worldA planetary exploration record places into perspective that not all distances logged off-Earth are astronomically large. NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has now driven farther than any other vehicle on...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

After succumbing to a harsh winter, what remains of one of the Artemis Moon Trees is for sale. Trunk cross sections and fragments, as well as branches and needles are available as displays from Mini Museum... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-10...

collectspace.comArtemis Moon Tree: Survived space. Killed by winter. Now for sale.It survived the vibrations of a rocket launch, was exposed to cosmic radiation for more than three weeks, held up to the stress of four times the force of gravity and made it home after a record-setti...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

As the U.S. Mint winds down its semiquincentennial program, director Paul Hollis pointed out another reason the 1776-2026 nickel, dime, quarters and half dollar share an added distinction. One of each spent 30 days on the International Space Station. Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-10...

collectspace.comOut of circulation, into orbit: 2026 coins spent a month in spaceThe United States Mint has begun selling sets of its 2026 coins, featuring designs celebrating the nation's semiquincentennial. The collection is special for another reason, though -- it includes exam...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

For the four months spanning November 2025 and February of this year, a refrigerator-size satellite thought it was a commercial space station... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-10...

collectspace.comYou can now own an artifact from Vast's Haven space station testbedA company working to develop the world's first commercial space station sent a satellite into orbit to verify the technologies it needs to operate its inaugural module. Now, Vast is selling the metal ...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

He led the room when astronauts first departed for the moon, helped bring a crippled spacecraft back to Earth and devised new procedures for ops on a space station. NASA Apollo and Skylab flight director Milt Windler died on Thursday (Oct. 1) at 94. Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-10...

collectspace.comMilt Windler, NASA flight director who helped save Apollo 13, dies at 94Milt Windler, one of the four leaders of Mission Control who in 1970 directed the round-the-clock efforts to bring the Apollo 13 crew back to Earth safely, has died at the age of 94. Windler died on T...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

"Lucky," a crocheted golden dragon that served as both the astronauts' zero-gravity indicator and an homage to Apollo 13, helped in keeping any triskaidekaphobia to a minimum... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-10...

collectspace.comHouston, we have a golden dragon: Crew-13's 'Lucky' zero-g indicatorJoshua Kutryk could not quite fathom he had left the planet. And yet all he needed to do to verify that he was in orbit for himself was to locate "Lucky," his and his Crew-13 crewmates' Apollo 13-insp...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

The American Space Museum's next space memorabilia sale includes two separately consigned lots that when matched together form one potentially highly-valued artifact. Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-09...

collectspace.comAstronaut Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 training jacket and trousers up for auctionA two-piece flight suit made for the first astronaut to walk on the moon has surfaced at an auction benefiting a space history museum in Florida. The jacket and trousers were part of a training or spa...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Among Wernher von Braun's lasting legacies are NASA's Saturn V rocket, the National Space Society, U.S. Space Camp and... Walt Disney's first character created specifically for television... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-09...

collectspace.comDisney's Ludwig von Drake inspired by rocket scientists 65 years agoDid you know that the first character that Walt Disney created to specifically appear on television was inspired, in part, by early Space Age rocket scientists? Sixty-five years ago, Disney introduced...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Timed to overlap with World Space Week in October, a new traveling exhibition, Pokémon GO activation and merch drop feature the characters to engage and inform the public about ESA's efforts to explore space... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-09...

collectspace.comPikachu, back from space station, kicks off ESA x Pokémon collabA special visitor made a secret trip to the International Space Station earlier this year to spark interest in the European Space Agency (ESA) and its activities. Pikachu spent 67 days on board the or...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Fifty years after rolling out, here is a look at where Enterprise has landed on board Star Trek's USS Enterprise and on other ships across the decades... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-09...

collectspace.comNASA shuttle Enterprise soars on with Star Trek 50 years after rolloutWhen thousands of Star Trek fans were successful in their write-in campaign to name NASA's first space shuttle after their favorite starship, the effort not only became space history, but added to the...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Whether it "kicked off" or "launched" NASA's NFL Inspiration Tour is a matter of perspective, but the flyover on Sunday (Sep. 13) was the first time the agency deployed its astronaut training jets for an aerial demonstration over a football game. Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-09...

collectspace.comNASA kicks off 'NFL Inspiration Tour' with first astronaut jets flyoverNASA traded space for sports history in a high-profile demonstration of its aeronautics and space capabilities. The agency deployed two of its astronaut training jets for its first-ever formation flyo...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

A small piece of "Star Trek" history was revealed aboard the International Space Station Tuesday (Sep. 8), 60 years (to the day) after the Starship Enterprise premiered on televisions... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-09...

collectspace.comAstronaut on ISS celebrates 60 years of 'Star Trek' with prop badgeSixty years after television audiences first tuned in to see the voyages of the Starship Enterprise, an astronaut on board the International Space Station has paid tribute to "Star Trek" by flying the...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Japan's first citizen and the world's first journalist to launch into space, Toyohiro Akiyama died Wednesday (Aug. 26) at the age of 84. Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-09...

collectspace.comToyohiro Akiyama, first Japanese citizen and journalist in space, dies at 84The first Japanese citizen to launch into space, Toyohiro Akiyma was also the first commercially-sponsored cosmonaut and world's first journalist to file reports while on a spaceflight. Akiyama died a...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

It was not made clear if NASA plans to have it mounted on the inside or outside face of the cornerstone, but if the latter, the President's ink signature might not last long on the moon... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-08...

collectspace.comNASA to declare 'America Has Returned' with Moon Base plaqueNASA has revealed the first component of its Moon Base to be delivered with the next U.S. astronauts to step foot on the lunar surface. The space agency debuted the commemorative plaque to be mounted ...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

First built to spy on Earth, NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon turn its mirrors to the cosmos for a wide-eyed view like none before... Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-08...

collectspace.comNASA launches Roman Space Telescope to provide wide view of cosmosAs NASA's first chief astronomer, Nancy Grace Roman championed the launch of space-based telescopes, providing astronomers the chance to "peer through a keyhole" into the cosmos. Now, an orbital obser...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

For the first time in its history, NASA has a uniquely painted T-38 astronaut training jet among its active fleet of 14. Read more: www.collectspace.com/news/news-08...

collectspace.comLunar livery: NASA T-38 astronaut training jet gets new Artemis lookFor the first time in decades, NASA has rolled out one of its iconic astronaut training aircraft with a bold new look. The space agency debuted a new livery on one of its T-38 jets in celebration of i...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

The Artemis II crew, who flew by the moon in April, will receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the United States' highest distinction for astronauts. Read more at collectSPACE: www.collectspace.com/news/news-08...

collectspace.comArtemis II crew to be presented United States' top spaceflight medalThe first astronauts to fly to the moon in more than 50 years will receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. Artemis II crewmates Red Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen wil...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

The early astronauts ate cubed food to protect against crumbs. The next generation of space explorers will eat cubes as an innovative snack. And you can, too... Read more at collectSPACE: www.collectspace.com/news/news-08...

collectspace.comSpace Snacks for sale, inspired by ESA-funded astronaut food studyA European Space Agency (ESA) research project has resulted in the launch of a new market for space commercialization: snacks. Space Snacks from the Lithuanian company UAB Geld Baltic are freeze-dried...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

As an experienced pilot, the owner of a fleet of F-5 jets and NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman is no stranger to flying over Kennedy Space Center. On Nov. 7-8, his next flight will be as part of Max Power, a two-day exposition of aerospace technology and air show at NASA's Florida spaceport.

collectspace.comWith 'Max Power,' NASA returns air show to Kennedy Space CenterFor the fourth time in its history, NASA's Kennedy Space Center will host a public air show from on its property in Florida. The space agency announced "Max Power," a two-day expo of "American air and...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

After polling its team and its "Future Astronauts," Virgin Galactic has narrowed the choice of names to four finalists. Voting is now open (through Aug. 27) on Horizon, Explorer, Ascend or Apeiron. The ship will be christened (and new livery revealed) before test flights get underway.

collectspace.comVirgin Galactic wants your help naming its new Delta-class SpaceShipAs Virgin Galactic nears christening the first of its next generation SpaceShip designed to launch customers on suborbital flights, it still is missing a key component -- a name. The commercial spacel...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project full-size diorama that for almost 50 years was on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. is now on its way to the Stafford Air and Space Museum in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

collectspace.comSmithsonian ships Apollo-Soyuz diorama to Stafford museum in OklahomaA full-size recreation of the first linkup between U.S. and Russian spacecraft is now on the move from the Smithsonian. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) display has a new home at the Stafford Air ...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

The rock hammer and lunar core tube bit that Alan Bean first used to collect samples of the moon before becoming part of his tools he used to impart texture to the lunar surface in his paintings have now been sold at auction.

collectspace.comAstronaut Alan Bean's moon artifacts-turned-artist's tools 'hammer' in $1M at auctionThe unusual tools that an astronaut-turned-artist famously used to infuse not just what it felt to walk on the moon, but pieces of the moon itself, have now commanded auction results higher than some ...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

As movie fans seek "The Odyssey" IMAX camera and Disney fans look forward to getting the new "Hatbox Ghost," there is now another source for a collectible popcorn bucket: NASA.

collectspace.comNASA center marks 60 years of bus tours with collectible popcorn bucketNASA has jumped on the collectible popcorn bucket bandwagon, or rather in this case, the bus. To mark the 60 years since its start as only a bus tour, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Flori...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Ever since the Mercury 7 pilots each spent a "week in a barrel," its been known that astronauts can bring out a crowd. Now, a group of more than 100 former NASA space travelers are seeing if that can translate to bringing out more people to the polls...

collectspace.comAstronauts For America to deploy space travelers on mission to promote votingA group of retired astronauts will land at college campuses and town halls this summer to promote their next mission. Astronauts For America's nonpartisan "Vote For Freedom" campaign by will see the ...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Swatch has introduced a new MoonSwatch in tribute to the Apollo 11 lunar landing featuring gold sourced from Omega spare parts dating back to the time of the mission...

collectspace.comSwatch: Apply by Apollo 11 anniversary to buy '1969' limited MoonSwatchSwatch is celebrating the 57th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission with a new, limited edition gold model of its MoonSwatch. You can buy the new Mission to the Moon 1969 wristwatch if you can land on...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Though not a record-setting amount, the two pieces are well-known for the role they placed in the first lunar landing. The Space Exploration sale brought in a total of $2.86 million from 130 lots, including flown artifacts and Aldrin's personal watches.

collectspace.comApollo 11's broken switch and mission-saving pen sell for $867K at auctionA dried out marker and a snapped off piece of plastic sold for $857,600 at a Sotheby's auction. What otherwise might be worthless bits of trash commanded the highest bids of the sale due to where the ...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

A tiger, a sable and a German Shepherd lifted off on Roscosmos' Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft on Tuesday (July 14), on a mission to signal to their crew that they had reached orbit...

collectspace.comEx-SpaceX flight doc, two cosmonauts launch on Soyuz MS-29 to ISSThe first former SpaceX employee to fly into space as a NASA astronaut, Anil Menon, lifted off on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, flying with two cosmonauts, Pytor Dubrov and Anna Kikina, the latter the f...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

He spent almost 10 days in orbit after launching on the Soviet Soyuz TM-5 mission. Onboard Mir, Aleksandrov conducted more than 50 science experiments...

collectspace.comInterkosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Aleksandrov, second Bulgarian in space, dies at 74Aleksandr Aleksandrov, the second Bulgarian to fly into space and the first to live on a space station, has died at the age of 74. Aleksandrov flew on Soyuz TM-5, a visiting mission during the Mir spa...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

LEGO has revealed that its next space-themed Icons set will focus on the Hubble Space Telescope. Scheduled for release on Aug. 1, the $139.99 kit creates a detailed desktop model of the spacecraft in celebration of its 35 years of observations.

collectspace.comLEGO reveals Hubble Space Telescope Icons set coming August 1The Hubble Space Telescope has been revealing the building blocks of the cosmos for more than 35 years. Now, it is its turn to be made up of toy bricks. The LEGO Icons Hubble Space Telescope is a 1,25...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

For two decades, aft skirt no. 13 flew at the base of a solid rocket booster on 11 missions, flying with all five of NASA's winged orbiters. Now, as it nears its debut as a one-of-a-kind museum exhibit, collectors have the chance to own a small part of the skirt...

collectspace.comNew collectible cut from booster that launched all five space shuttlesA new, limited edition collectible is both a flown artifact from a historic NASA space program and a souvenir of a one-of-a-kind museum exhibit. MotorArt PlaneTags is set to begin sales of its Space S...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

When an Artemis mission lands with the next astronauts to explore the surface of the moon, they will mark their success in part by deploying the United States' flag revealed on America's 250th birthday...

collectspace.comNASA astronauts will plant US Capitol-flown American flag on next moon landingNASA now has the next United States flag to be deployed on the surface of the moon. A member of the last mission to land on the moon, joined by the most recent astronauts to fly there, accepted the ba...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

The (possible) answer involves a number of United States' icons, from a Revolutionary War flag to the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Spike and the Star-Spangled Banner...

collectspace.comAmerica 250: What is the oldest piece of Americana to have been flown into space?Did you know that the space shuttle once launched the Statue of Liberty into space? In fact, there were two "Lady Liberties" on Discovery. With the U.S. celebrating its 250th birthday, what is the old...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

The four astronauts who flew on the Artemis II mission to the moon in April have been put forward for the Congressional Gold Medal. NOTE: AI rendering of medal for illustration purposes only. It is not the actual Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal design.

collectspace.comArtemis II astronauts proposed for Congressional Gold Medal for moon tripThe first astronauts to fly by the moon in more than 50 years could receive an honor previously only bestowed to the first crew to land there, if a former space shuttle commander's Artemis II Congress...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Astronaut Danny Olivas was among the invited guests for the reveal of space shuttle Endeavour's vertical display on Wednesday (Jun 24). Having twice launched on an orbiter, Olivas is no stranger to the sight of a towering stack. So how does the experience at the California Science Center compare?

collectspace.comAstronaut Danny Olivas reacts to, ranks space shuttle Endeavour's new displayDanny Olivas did not launch on Endeavour, but as a space shuttle astronaut he was thrilled to be among the first people to see the orbiter on vertical display. Olivas joined members of the media for a...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

The California Science Center is now counting down to the Nov. 13, 2026 opening of its new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, featuring the launch pad-like display of the space shuttle Endeavour.

collectspace.comFirst look: November launch set for space shuttle Endeavour's towering displayThere are some sights that photographs cannot do justice. A new one debuts on Nov. 13, as the California Science Center in Los Angeles at long last reveals the space shuttle Endeavour inside the new S...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

In 1988, Abdul Ahad Momand became the first citizen of Afghanistan to fly into space. On Sunday (June 21), he died in Germany at the age of 67 after a struggle with cancer.

collectspace.comInterkosmos cosmonaut Abdul Ahad Momand, first Afghan in space, dies at 67Abdul Ahad Momand, the first citizen of Afghanistan to fly into space, has died at the age of 67. Momand's death was due to cancer, according to his family. In 1988, he flew on a nine-day Interkosmos ...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

It is not tan, nor is it one of Michelle's dresses (as former President Barack Obama joked at the grand opening "will be the top attraction") but now on display in the Obama Presidential Center is the blue NASA astronaut jacket that he was gifted by the final space shuttle crew in 2011.

collectspace.comObama Presidential Center opens with NASA astronaut jacket on displayAmong the artifacts now on display in the newly-opened Barack Obama Presidential Center is a jacket that was only worn for a few minutes. The blue coat is of the type that astronauts wear but this one...
Robert Pearlman
@collectspace.bsky.social

Samokutyaev was the commander of his Soyuz crews and a flight engineer on the ISS Expedition 27/28 and 41/42 crews. He conducted two spacewalks and was on the ISS for the last shuttle mission.

collectspace.comCosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev, 56, is first former ISS crew member to dieAleksandr Samokutyaev, a cosmonaut who served twice as a crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS), including during the final U.S. space shuttle mission in 2011, has died. He was 56. S...