Brazil, Kingdom. An Order of Aeronautical Merit, Commander to NASA Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin

(Ordem do Mérito Aeronáutico). Instituted on November 1 1943. In silver gilt, a white enamelled cross, the obverse central medallion features a sword with wings, surrounded by a blue enamel ring inscribed MERITO AERONAUTICO, the reverse medallion features a yellow, green and blue enamelled star, surrounded by a blue enamelled ring inscribed REPUBLICA FEDERATIVA DO BRASIL, with propellor wings on each, wing styled integral bar at 12 o’clock, suspended from a decorative loop and worn on a full length neck ribbon, measures 61.8mm (w) x 73.15mm (h), weighs 87.7 grams (inclusive of ribbon), large enamel chips to obverse and reverse inscription ring, scattered gilt wear, arm intact, remains in near very fine condition. Accompanied by a ribbon bar with dual pins on the reverse, and a small boutonniere, push pin reverse, slightly discoloured, remains in very fine condition.

Contained in its original case of issue, green exterior with Brazilian Coat of Arms, the interior lid in white silk marked CONDAL, the base is a blue velvet medal bed, 98mm (w) x 144mm (h) x 25mm (d), wear to the exterior, hinge and clasp function, remains in near very fine condition.

Accompanied by a detailed map of the Apollo 11 World Tour, measures 525mm (w) x 268mm (h), three hole punched, marked with link identifying the countries visited; an official NASA Memorandum addressed to Mr. Neil Armstrong, Colonel Michael Collins and Colonel Edwin Aldrin regarding information for the overseas trip, dated September 9, 1969, totalling eight pages.

Footnote: The Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16 1969, carrying three astronauts: Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin.

Buzz Aldrin was born on January 20, 1930 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. His father, Edwin Eugene Aldrin Sr. was an Army aviator during the First World War, later working at Standard Oil. Aldrin attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating third in his class in 1951.

When the Korean War broke out, he joined the United States Air Force and underwent basic training in Florida. He served as a jet fighter pilot, flying 66 combat missions in a F-86 Sabre and shooting down two MiG-15 aircrafts. For his service in Korea, he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Air Medals.

Aldrin later attended MIT, earning a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics. His doctoral thesis entitled “Line-of-Sight Guidance Techniques for Manned Orbital Rendezvous” resulted in the nickname ‘Dr. Rendezvous.’ He was selected as a member of NASA’s Astronaut Group 3, making him one of fourteen individuals chosen for the Gemini and Apollo programs.

His first space flight took place in 1966 on Gemini 12, in which he spent over five hours on extravehicular activity. In 1969, Aldrin was the second person ever to set foot on the moon, 19 minutes after Commander Neil Armstrong. As a Presbyterian elder, he was the first person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon when he privately took communion.

They returned to earth by splashing into the Pacific on July 24th. The total duration of the missing was 195 hours, 18 minutes, and 35 seconds. Each astronaut was honored with a Presidential Medal of Freedom. At the end of September 1969, they embarked on a 38-day world tour, visiting 22 foreign countries.

In 1971, Aldrin left NASA and became the Commandant of the U.S Air Force Test Pilot School. He retired from the Air force in 1972, after 21 years of service. He continued to advocate for space exploration, struggled with alcoholism and depression, and created the Aldrin Cycler, a special spacecraft trajectory. In 2015, Aldrin, along with the Florida Institute of Technology pitched a master plan to NASA in which astronauts would create a colony on Mars before the year 2040. Aldrin is currently 92 and resides in Montclair, New Jersey. He is the only living Apollo 11 astronaut.

Provenance: Sotheby's Auction, Buzz Aldrin: American Icon 26 July 2022, Lot 52