PREORDER - Buzz Aldrin Apollo 11 Command Module Foil - Limited Edition!
PREORDER - Buzz Aldrin Apollo 11 Command Module Foil - Limited Edition!
This specimen is an actual, mission-flown fragment of Kapton foil from the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, previously held in the collection of Dr. Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin. This material helped protect Apollo astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their journey from Earth to the Moon and back.
Acquired at public auction, this new Kapton reserve comes from the personal collection of Buzz Aldrin. You can preorder this exclusive specimen right now on this page and find full shipping details, along with information about the mission below.
Three sizes of material are available: a standard 1mm x 1mm square, a 2mm x 2mm square, and a special 1cm x 1cm square for collectors looking for a larger size. All preordered displays will feature individually numbered certificates of authenticity, with each number handwritten beside the seal of authenticity.
We expect to begin shipping 60 days after opening preorders, to account for preparing material, printing cards, and assembling riker display cases.
Preorder now! Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own a rare piece of Apollo 11 history!
📸 All three sizes on display! Saturn V rocket not included
Mission Flown Kapton Foil from Buzz Aldrin's Collection
As noted above, this specimen is a fragment of mission-flown Kapton foil, which provided thermal protection for the astronauts aboard the Apollo 11 Command Module.
Dr. Aldrin personally acquired this material aboard the USS Hornet (CVS-12) just hours after Apollo 11’s splashdown on July 24, 1969. Over the years, small sections of this mission-flown Kapton foil have appeared at auction, and through these rare opportunities, we’ve secured a small reserve of this extraordinary piece of space history.
While we continue to offer identical mission-flown Kapton foil sourced from the decommissioning of Command Module Columbia, our Aldrin-sourced material has remained an exclusive of the original First Edition Mini Museum.
Until now…
📸 Three sizes, 1mm x 1mm, 1cm x 1cm, and 2mm x 2mm
Welcome Back to the Moon!
For the first time in over a decade, this extraordinary Apollo 11 artifact will be available once more!
Every specimen comes with a new custom display card, featuring stunning Apollo 11 imagery and key mission details, along with a signed certificate bearing our seal of authenticity.
Due to the extreme rarity of this material, we are opening preorders to allow collectors to secure their pieces in advance. As with our crowdfunding projects, this approach helps us optimize production, and we’re passing those savings on to you.
In addition to exclusive preorder discounts, all preordered displays will feature individually numbered certificates, with each number handwritten beside the seal of authenticity. The total edition size will be determined once preorders close, and shipments will be fulfilled sequentially—earlier orders receiving the lowest edition numbers.
Note: Current packaging prototypes as seen on the page are subject to change as we edit and improve the specimen. All preorders will include:
- Buzz Aldrin Mission-flown Apollo 11 Command Module Kapton Foil
- Magnified acrylic cube for display and safekeeping
- Handsome 5 1/2" x 6 1/2" glass-topped display case
- New custom folding display card featuring photography, details, and information from the Apollo 11 mission
- Signed Certificate of Authenticity included with the card
- Handwritten individual numbering
Sizing Information
1mm x 1mm size
2mm x 2mm size
1cm x 1cm size
FRONT OF THE INFORMATION CARD
INSIDE LEFT OF THE INFORMATION CARD
INSIDE RIGHT OF THE INFORMATION CARD
BACK OF THE INFORMATION CARD
Preorder Questions? We have answers!
Preorder FAQ
1. When do you expect to ship preorders?
We expect production to last 60 days. This includes time for specimen work, printing of cards, and assembly of our handmade rikers. Specimen production is handled in our workshop, and rikers and cards come from our outside partners. Everything is domestically sourced in the USA so we do not anticipate delays, but it is possible.
2. Will I be charged immediately for my preorder?
Yes. All preorders are charged at checkout. Discounts are already included in the price and any discount codes will not apply.
3. Can I preorder more than one specimen?
Absolutely! You can preorder multiple items or multiple sizes.
4. Can I order other items with my preorder?
Yes. To keep things simple, we recommend placing a second order if you find something else you like on the site. However, we're also happy to split ship your order.
5. Will preorders receive individually-numbered certificates?
Yes. All preorder certificates will have a handwritten edition number next to the authencitiy seal on the inside of the display card. Certificates will be issued in order of purchase, which means the earliest numbers get the lowest numbers.
6. Are these the final card designs?
Yes. It is possible that we may have small changes to the cards, such as the position of certain elements. However, we do not anticipate changing any elements at this point.
LAUNCH: July 16, 1969 - LUNAR LANDING: July 20, 1969 - SPLASHDOWN: July 24, 1969 - TOTAL DISTANCE: 953,054 Miles
Apollo 11
"Beautiful view... Magnificent desolation" ~ Buzz Aldrin
The Apollo program was conceived during President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration and later dedicated to President John F. Kennedy's goal of "landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth" within a decade. President Kennedy proposed this bold agenda during an address to the United States Congress on May 25th, 1961. On July 20, 1969, NASA fulfilled the mission when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to land on the Moon. This was the 11th flight of the Apollo program, and the success was broadcast live to the entire world.
Piloted by astronaut Michael Collins, Command Module Columbia orbited the Moon while fellow astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin explored the surface. The craft carried all three astronauts safely back to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969. The technological and scientific breakthroughs associated with the Apollo program were vast and long-lasting, but it is the human achievement that has held our imaginations for so many years.
📸 The Apollo 11 Command and Service Modules (CSM) as photographed from the Lunar Module (LM)
What is Kapton Foil? Is it Gold or Silver?
Kapton "foil" is aluminized polyimide film. The polyimide film is semi-transparent, so the shiny gold appearance is really light reflecting off the aluminum on the other side.
The entire surface of Columbia was coated with many layers of this foil, with the outermost layers installed aluminized side out to provide maximum reflection of radiation.
📸 Specimen with the magnified lid removed. If you do this, be very careful.
As pictured, we've elected to display the material "gold" side out as it accurately depicts the way it was found on recovery. If you prefer the aluminized side, you can easily flip it over, but do be extremely cautious as the kapton foil floats away at the slightest breeze.
Please Note: The magnified lid is secured to the acrylic cube with special tape, but the specimen inside is directly accessible. If you choose to remove the lid to examine the specimen, please use extreme caution.This cannot be stressed enough. Kapton foil is very light and can easily escape. In addition, due to the delicate nature of the material, fragments can vary in shape.
Kapton foil was used on both the Lunar Module (LM) and the Command Module (CM). NASA Technical Note D-7564 "Apollo experience report: Thermal protection subsystem " (1974), describes the usage in this way:
"This low ratio is achieved with a pressure-sensitive Kapton polyimide tape that is coated with aluminum and oxidized silicon monoxide and that is applied over the entire external surface of the ablator. The installation of a boost protective cover over the conical portion of the CM prevents contamination of the thermal-control coating and the CM windows by aerodynamic heating during boost and by the tower jettison engine plume." (See Page 5, Fig. 4)
