NASA's Most Rare Private Photo Collection, Auctioned! Neil Armstrong's Photo Will Cost You $63,000

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is now selling its most rare and private photos. These include a picture of Neil Armstrong holding an American flag on the Moon, Laika the dog in a space capsule, and the selfie of Buzz Aldrin.

The photos are just some of the 2,400 rare NASA images, which are now being sold in an online auction. Christie's is the one hosting this event. According to the auction host's blog, the event will run from Nov. 6 until Nov. 20.

Christie's "Voyage To Another World: The Victor Marti-Malburet Photograph Collection" will have 700 slots that feature thousands of vintage original photographs.

NASA's photographs show numerous historic missions

According to CNET's latest report, the collection of rare photographs contain NASA's historic missions. These include those from the Gemini spaceflight program and Mercury, as well as the Apollo moon missions.

The expensive photos span every milestone of the space agency's previous missions. Astronauts were still using analog, which requires light-sensitive chemistry, photographic papers, and film.

Of course, NASA guided the experts on how to take the photos, together with other specialists from the National Geographic and Kodak.

"Through their cameras, the astronauts-turned-artists were able to convey to mankind the beauty and profundity of their experience into space, forever changing the way we see ourselves and our place in the universe," said Christie's via the main blog post.

NASA's most expensive iconic pictures

Christie's auction sells the only photo of Neil Armstrong on the Moon between $37,800 to $63,000 or around £30,000 and £50,000. The picture, which was taken by Buzz Aldrin in 1969, is currently the most expensive one.

This was followed by "Earthrise," which costs $37,800 or £30,000, and "Blue Marble," which is estimated to sell for around $31,500 or £25,000.

These unreleased photos were kept in the archives of the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston for many decades. They can only be accessed by accredited researchers and other professionals. The rare collection was assembled by private collector Victor Martin-Malburet, for about 15 years. To see the photos, just click here.

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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.