Lot 32: FLOWN STS-7 Challenger Brake Segment
This featured segment of a wheel brake flew aboard Space Shuttle, Challenger, on STS-7 and is from the personal collection of the mission pilot Astronaut Rick Hauck. The brake is showcased on a 12" x 9" wooden plaque and includes a crew patch, alongside two engraved gold plates; one acknowledging BF Goodrich, the maker of the brake segment, who presented the brake disk segment to Hauck, and the other detailing the mission summary.
This disk was part of the brake assembly on the shuttle orbiter that helped in bringing the massive vehicle to a safe stop at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. The brake pads must be replaced after each flight, due to the extreme wear incurred during landing.
STS-7 was commanded by Robert Crippen, piloted by Hauck, and was the first to have a woman astronaut, Sally Ride. In addition, the mission set a record for the largest crew to fly in a single spacecraft (five) at that time. Hauck has maintained this piece in his collection since returning to Earth and signed a certificate of authenticity to this end.
ASF reserves the right to disqualify the high bidder, to reject the high bid, and to accept a bid from a lower bidder, for any reason within their discretion, which shall be exercised in good faith.
The auction concluded on April 18, 2009 at 5:00 pm EDT.
Bids: 35 Winning Bid: $860 Bidder: 119