posted 01-22-2018 11:33 AM               

Space exploration requires the development of advanced equipment, which involves a great deal of documentation, tests and prototypes. The European Space Agency (ESA) is no exception to this rule, which concerns many other fields of activity.

Some of its objects that have now accomplished their task are in fact still stored by ESA although they no longer serve any purpose. At its press conference at the beginning of the year at the agency's headquarters in Paris, the general director Jan Woerner has announced that a selection called "ESA's Space Rarities" will be the subject of an exceptional auction. The venue chosen for this event is the Cité de l'Espace in Toulouse.

If this sale obviously arouses the interest of collectors, it will also be an opportunity for the general public to admire many objects that have forged the astronautical history of Europe since an exhibition of the lots will be organized at the Cité de l'Espace before the day of October 25 is devoted to the auction.

What objects will be on sale? For now, the list is being established.

posted 10-14-2018 12:18 AM               

First ESA Space Rarities Auction rescheduled

For the inauguration of the SPACEBRAINS foundation on 12 April 2019, the first ever official auction of ESA space-related items will be held in Toulouse, France,

ESA Director General Jan Wörner announced this auction of ESA's "space rarities" at his press conference on 17 January. This sale will be of interest to collectors, but it will also be an opportunity for the general public to see many objects that have forged the history of astronautics in Europe, with the item being exhibited at the Cité de l'Espace the day before.

The auction will be conducted by Marc Labarbe of Toulouse, in partnership with ESA. A highly experienced sales house in France and a member of La Chambre Nationale des Commissaires-Priseurs judiciaires, Labarbe has organised several prestigious international art sales, including collections of artifacts and memorabilia on the themes of Concorde, world aviation, design and industrial art.

The catalogue is still being finalised, but when asked what objects will be on sale, Jan Wörner said with a wink, "We will not be selling launchers." Stay tuned!

The SPACEBRAINS foundation will support young European researchers and entrepreneurs with futuristic projects in the space field.

posted 04-11-2019 04:43 AM            

First 'Space Rarities' auction

The countdown has begun! For the inauguration of the 'Spacebrains' foundation, the first ever official auction of ESA space-related items will be held in Paris, France, on Yuri's Night, 12 April 2019.

On Yuri's Night, at 19.00, the Spacebrains foundation has directed Paris-based auction house Artcurial to sell a set of 16 lots related to the European space adventure, gathered by ESA, with most items having flown on space missions.

This is an unusual way to celebrate the 58th anniversary of Gagarin's Vostok 1 mission, the first flight of a human in space, because this will be a new opportunity to acquire items with the heritage of international space missions.

Spacebrains is a new initiative supported by ESA, a non-profit association created in August 2018 with a new approach, aiming to be the beacon that monetises such wealth to offer a unique opportunity for daring ideas that link space to disruptive technologies, supporting young European researchers and entrepreneurs with futuristic projects in the space field.

For this first auction, 16 lots of a wide range of items are presented, each unique and accessible only in the context of this sale, be it a space stamp franked on board the Mir space station, flown space patches, one of Ariane 5's booster bolts recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, the full scale model of Cupola (the European-built panorama window module installed on the International space station), one of the five flown Omega Speedmaster X33 Skywalker watches, or an official manufacturer's Exomars spacecraft model.

The auction will be preceded by a public exhibition from 30 March to 9 April at Artcurial, 7 rond-point des Champs-Elysées, Paris. Download the catalogue.

The auction is organised by the Spacebrains foundation and all profits generated by this sale will be used by the foundation to support young European researchers and entrepreneurs with projects in the space field. ESA receives no financial compensation from this auction and subsequent sales.