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Al Worden's 'Fallen Astronaut' Statue by Paul Van Hoeydonck

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Al Worden's 'Fallen Astronaut' Statue by Paul Van Hoeydonck

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Auction Date:2022 Oct 20 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Al Worden's 'Fallen Astronaut' statue by Paul Van Hoeydonck, evidently an early example or prototype created by the artist in 1971 prior to the Apollo 15 flight. The sculpture consists of a 3.25è long stylized aluminum figure representing an astronaut in a spacesuit, cast in a 5è tall blue acrylic tube, etched on the bottom: "July 71, P. V. Hoeydonck, 5/M." This represents the first iteration of Van Hoeydonck's sculpture, which was originally set inside an acrylic tube so that it could stand upright on the moon. The sculpture had to comply with several safety regulations‰ÛÓit had to be non-magnetic, with no sharp edges, and be small and lightweight. Shortly before launch, NASA decided that the plastic tube was a potential fire hazard, and Van Hoeydonck rushed an unencapsulated statue to Apollo 15 CDR Dave Scott to be taken on the lunar landing mission. The astronauts left the 'Fallen Astronaut' statue on the lunar surface, along with a plaque honoring the fourteen known fallen space explorers.

In the aftermath of the mission, Van Hoeydonck planned to release a limited edition of the sculpture through Waddell Gallery in New York, but canceled the project under pressure from NASA and the Apollo 15 astronauts, who cited concerns over the commercialization of the memorial. He would finally release a limited edition, based on the original prototype of the statue, in 2018; Al Worden joined Van Hoeydonck to reveal the new 'Man in Space' limited editions during events held in Berlin and DÌ_sseldorf in January 2019. In fine condition. Accompanied by several photographs of Worden and Van Hoeydonck together, as well as a slipcased book containing imagery related to Van Hoeydonck's 'Fallen Astronaut' project.