The Apollo 15 Moon Letters: A Scandal Involving Astronauts and German Dealers

Title: The Apollo 15 Stamp Affair: Moon Letters and the Scandal that Shook NASA

Subtitle: Germans in the Game and the Trouble for Astronauts

Berlin. Mr. P., a long-time collector, recently made headlines with his acquisition of two highly coveted envelopes related to the Apollo 15 mission. These envelopes, known as “moon letters,” have a fascinating history intertwined with a scandal involving astronauts David Scott, James Irwin, and Alfred Worden.

Mr. P. recalls purchasing the envelopes from a stamp dealer for a significant sum of money, as they held immense value to him as a space travel enthusiast. The moon letters from the Apollo 15 mission became the center of attention due to their connection to the scandal that unfolded.

The “Apollo 15 stamp affair” gained media attention, involving an American of German descent and a German stamp dealer. It was not uncommon for NASA astronauts to carry personal items on their space flights, including envelopes and stamps. However, these items were not meant to be sold as commercial souvenirs.

The idea for the deal came from the son of German stamp dealer Hermann Sieger, who had connections with a German-American contractor working at the Kennedy Space Center. The astronauts agreed to take envelopes and stamps to the moon, with the condition that they would be kept until the end of the Apollo program and then offered privately. In return, each astronaut received $7,000 in savings accounts.

However, the scandal unfolded when it was discovered that Commander Scott had carried 398 unapproved envelopes in his spacesuit pocket, which included a 10-cent Apollo 11 commemorative stamp. These unauthorized envelopes became known as the “moon phase letters” as they only orbited the moon and were not on the moon with the astronauts.

After the landing of Apollo 15, the astronauts were brought aboard the USS “Okinawa,” where they affixed two 8-cent stamps on all the envelopes they carried. These stamps were postmarked by the ship’s post office, bearing the launch and landing dates of the mission. The approved envelopes were signed by the astronauts during their flight from Hawaii to Houston, while the unapproved envelopes had the handwriting added later.

The German-American supplier to the German dealer received 100 envelopes, each accompanied by a typewritten certificate signed by a notary, confirming their presence on the moon during the mission.

The scandal came to light when the German dealer sold 99 envelopes without being aware of the agreement to wait until the end of the Apollo program. NASA launched a formal investigation in 1972, resulting in the three astronauts being warned for their “lack of judgment.” This marked the end of their active space careers, as they were intended to be part of the backup team for the final moon flight, Apollo 17.

The auction house Rauhut & Kruschel in Mülheim an der Ruhr will be auctioning two officially approved covers, including Mr. P.’s moon letters. One of the envelopes, which actually landed on the moon, is expected to fetch a bid of 5000 euros, while the other, which only orbited the moon, has a starting bid of 2500 euros.

Harald Rauhut, the owner of the auction house, considers these moon letters “unusual and rare” and believes they will attract interest beyond stamp collectors.

The Apollo 15 stamp affair not only sheds light on the fascinating world of space travel memorabilia but also serves as a reminder of the ethical boundaries surrounding the commercialization of items carried on historic space missions.Title: The Apollo 15 Stamp Incident: Moon Letters Auctioned for Thousands of Euros

Berlin. Mr. P., an avid collector from a small village in the Hochtaunus, has decided to auction off his valuable collection of moon letters. These letters are part of the infamous Apollo 15 stamp incident, which involved astronauts David Scott, James Irwin, and Alfred Worden. The incident caused a scandal and led to the end of their active space careers.

Mr. P. purchased two envelopes from a stamp dealer for a significant sum of money, attracted by the motifs related to space travel. These envelopes, known as moon letters, were carried by the Apollo 15 crew during their mission. The astronauts agreed to keep the letters until the end of the Apollo program and then sell them privately. In return, each astronaut received $7,000 in savings accounts.

However, the German-American supplier to the German stamp dealer sold 99 envelopes before the agreed-upon time, unaware of the decision to wait. This led to a formal investigation by NASA, which resulted in the astronauts being warned and certified for “lack of judgment.” Their intended roles as a backup team for the Apollo 17 mission were also canceled.

Now, Mr. P.’s moon letters are up for auction. The auction house, Rauhut & Kruschel, will be auctioning two officially approved covers. One of the envelopes, which actually landed on the moon, has a starting bid of 5,000 euros, while the other, which only orbited the moon, has a starting bid of 2,500 euros. These envelopes are considered rare and unusual, attracting interest beyond stamp collectors.

Moon letters have gained attention in the market, with one letter being sold for 11,000 euros at an auction in Hamburg in 2019. Currently, similar envelopes are being traded on eBay for 5,800 euros. However, a moon letter remained unsold at an auction in Stuttgart, with a starting bid of 22,000 euros.

As for Mr. P., he has decided to auction off his most valuable pieces as he approaches his 82nd birthday. He hopes that these letters will bring joy to other collectors and enthusiasts.

The Apollo 15 stamp incident serves as a reminder of the strict regulations surrounding personal items carried by astronauts during space missions. Going forward, only a limited number of approved objects are allowed per astronaut, and they cannot be used for commercial purposes.

In conclusion, the auction of these moon letters from the Apollo 15 mission highlights the enduring fascination with space memorabilia and the value placed on items that have been to the moon. The incident itself remains a significant event in the history of space exploration and the ethical considerations surrounding the commercialization of space artifacts.

How did the American connection in the scandal with the German stamp dealer and Kennedy Space Center contractor add an intriguing twist to the story?

American connection in this scandal adds an intriguing twist. The son of German stamp dealer Hermann Sieger, who had connections with a German-American contractor at the Kennedy Space Center, proposed the idea of the deal. This led to the agreement between the astronauts and the German stamp dealer to carry the envelopes and stamps to the moon.

The scandal came to light when it was discovered that Commander Scott had carried unauthorized envelopes, including a 10-cent Apollo 11 commemorative stamp, in his spacesuit pocket. These envelopes, referred to as the “moon phase letters,” only orbited the moon and were not actually on the moon with the astronauts.

After the landing of Apollo 15, the astronauts affixed two 8-cent stamps on all the envelopes they carried aboard the USS “Okinawa.” The envelopes were postmarked by the ship’s post office, indicating the launch and landing dates of the mission. The approved envelopes were signed by the astronauts during their flight from Hawaii to Houston, while the unauthorized envelopes had the handwriting added later.

The German stamp dealer sold 99 of the envelopes without knowing about the agreement to wait until the end of the Apollo program. This led to a formal investigation by NASA in 1972, resulting in the astronauts receiving a warning for their “lack of judgment.” This scandal marked the end of their active space careers, as they were intended to be part of the backup team for the final moon flight, Apollo 17.

Currently, Mr. P. has decided to auction off his valuable moon letters collection. The auction house Rauhut & Kruschel in Mülheim an der Ruhr will be handling the auction. Two officially approved covers are up for bidding, with one actually landing on the moon and expected to fetch a bid of 5000 euros. The other envelope, which only orbited the moon, has a starting bid of 2500 euros.

Harald Rauhut, the owner of the auction house, believes that these moon letters will attract interest beyond stamp collectors due to their rarity and connection to a scandal that shook NASA.

The Apollo 15 stamp incident not only reveals the fascinating world of space travel memorabilia but also raises important questions about the ethical boundaries surrounding the commercialization of items carried on historic space missions.