The first model of the Soviet satellite was sold at auction for $847,5 th
The first model of the Soviet satellite “Sputnik-1” went under the hammer at British auction Bonhams to an anonymous buyer for $847,5 thousand Is almost five times higher than the starting price of the lot.
At the auction of the British auction house Bonhams, which took place on Wednesday, September 27 in new York, sold the first model of the Soviet artificial Earth satellite “Sputnik 1” with the Czech radio Maj 620A, Tesla said on its website the auction house.
Starting price of the lot amounted to $48 thousand Presale estimate of $150 thousand However the owner — he preferred to remain anonymous — suggested that the phone price is almost five times more. In the end, the auction house released rarity sold for $847, 5 thousand
“Sputnik 1” is the first artificial satellite of the Earth. It is a polished aluminum sphere with four antennas. Model of an artificial satellite, which was sold at auction, mounted on a stand made of manganese brass. Total weight of the lot is almost 45.5 kg, and its height is nearly 2 m.
As follows from the description of the lot at the Bonhams website, the model is rare, it was created in OKB-1 (now — RSC Energia) in 1957 for testing of electromagnetic compatibility and electromagnetic interference.
Just now, the highlight of the auction house, there are five models of the first artificial satellite of the Earth, one of which is in the Museum of the Russian RSC “Energia”, and the other at the Museum of flight in the U.S. state of Washington, three are owned by private collectors.