Brazil, Republic. An Order Of The Southern Cross, Commander To Nasa Astronaut Buzz Aldrin

(Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul). Instituted in 1932. Type II. Multi-piece construction, in silver gilt, a five point white enamel Maltese cross with large ball finials, a light green and dark green enamelled wreath of half oak and half laurel leaves between each quadrant, the obverse features a light blue enamelled field with five white stars, the exterior dark blue enamelled ring is inscribed BENEMERENTIUM PRAEMIUM, the reverse medallion features a female bust facing left in silver gilt, surrounded by a blue enamelled ring inscribed REPUBLIC DOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DO BRASIL, the badge is surmounted by another half oak half laurel wreath and connects to the ribbon via an elongated loop bearing a delicate leaf pattern, measures 61.9mm (w) x 89.0mm (h), weighs 106.9 grams, enamel chips to reverse inscription ring and wreath suspension, light enamel wear to obverse medallion, worn on a full length original blue neck ribbon, remains in very fine condition.

Contained in its original case of issue, a green leatherette exterior with the Brazilian coat of arms stamped on the exterior, the interior lid with white silk marked H. Stern BRASIL, with a dark blue recessed medal bed, measures 118mm (w) x 200mm (l) x 32mm (d), light wear to exterior, hinge and clasp functional, remains in very fine condition. A small boutonniere pin with silver ribbon and blue rosette, in very fine condition.

Accompanied by a full newspaper page of Aerospace from September 1969, with page stating TRANQUILITY BASE MOON 1969 and several image of the moon. Lightly creased, minor discolouration near the edges, in very fine condition.

A letter from the Honorary Secretary of the Tourist Guides Association of India addressed to Aldrin offering a welcome note dated October 1969. Contained in an envelope.

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