# Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 mission-saving felt-tip pen goes to auction

A felt-tip pen used by Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission, which famously prevented a critical failure, is being auctioned. The pen served as a makeshift tool to fix a broken switch, allowing the lunar module to launch from the moon. This artifact highlights ingenuity under pressure in one of humanity's greatest achievements.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### World
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jul/15/buzz-aldrin-apollo-astronaut-mission-felt-tip-pen-auction) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:57:38 GMT

### Technology
- [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/07/apollo-11s-broken-switch-and-mission-saving-pen-sell-for-860k/) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 22:10:41 +0000