# Buzz Aldrin's famous pen that saved Apollo 11 sells for record $857K The simple fix that rescued the moon mission fetches historic price at Sotheby's auction. - **Source:** [Ars Technica - All content](https://brifing.si/source/b728770c-8dda-457a-8986-84879c9fc42c) - **Published:** 2026-07-15 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/75c59a60-e974-42d5-a861-cf2e50fe959f ## The most important pen in history Buzz Aldrin's dried-out felt-tip pen used during Apollo 11 mission sold for $857,600 at Sotheby's New York. This simple writing tool solved a critical malfunction that enabled astronauts' return from the Moon. ## Critical malfunction on the Moon Armstrong and Aldrin discovered the broken circuit breaker switch that would activate the lunar module's engine. Without a fix, the astronauts risked being stranded. Aldrin radioed the emergency to Houston Mission Control. ## Salvation with a felt-tip pen Aldrin used his pen to push the broken circuit breaker back into place. This ingenious yet simple solution allowed the engine to ignite, beginning their journey back to Earth from the lunar surface. ## Record auction interest The pen and broken switch set witnessed one of space history's most pivotal moments. Drawing intense interest from collectors and space enthusiasts, the artifacts sold for well above estimates. ## Tangible evidence of space history These items represent both humanity's first moon landing and the creative problem-solving it required. Such historical artifacts play crucial roles in preserving space exploration stories for future generations. ## Lessons in science and engineering This incident remains a striking example of how simple solutions can save critical missions. Lessons from Apollo continue to guide modern space missions, demonstrating timeless principles of ingenuity under pressure. ## Sources covering this story - https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/07/apollo-11s-broken-switch-and-mission-saving-pen-sell-for-860k/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._