BOSTON, MA.- The internationally renowned space collection of Leon Ford sold for $678,983 according to Boston, MA based RR Auction.

The live event featured more than 100 premier items from Ford’s collection led by Charles Conrad’s Apollo 12 Lunar Surface-worn Backpack Strap that sold for $62,500. The rare backpack strap from Conrad’s Personal Life Support System (PLSS) was used on the lunar surface during both of his moonwalks on the Apollo 12 mission, on Nov. 19–20, 1969.

“Leon Ford was one of the first significant space collectors— he had keen eye for the highest quality pieces and devotion to building complete sets, resulting in one of the most comprehensive space assemblages,” said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.

“We are honored to have been selected by Ford’s estate and couldn’t be more thrilled with the results of the sale,” added Livingston.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited by:

• Buzz Aldrin’s Apollo 11 Personal Preference Kit (PPK), sold for $50,000.

• Gene Cernan’s Gemini 9A Flown EVA Checklist, sold for $46,875.

• Richard Gordon’s Apollo 12 Oversized Flown Flag, sold for $43,750.

• Mercury and Gemini Astronauts Signed Display, sold for $33,750.

• Al Worden’s Apollo 15 Flown Flag Patch, $27,500.

On-line bidding began June 18 – June 24, followed by a live sale that took place on June 25, in Cambridge, MA.

The rare backpack strap from Conrad’s Personal Life Support System (PLSS), was used on the lunar surface during both of his moonwalks on the Apollo 12 mission, on Nov. 19–20, 1969.

Accompanied by a signed letter of authenticity from Conrad, in part: “This strap helped support the 'PLSS' Backpack on my spacesuit during my historic four-hour moonwalks, becoming directly exposed to the lunar environment as a result! These straps were individually fitted to each astronaut, and designed for one-time use only due to their customization, for later discard with our backpacks on the Moon. We were allowed to keep, and return, a few personal mementos from the Moon as keepsakes, and I included these disposable straps among mine. After this strap’s release from quarantine, and return to me by NASA, it remained a treasured part of my personal space collection until 1992­­­­—Today, it remains among the largest, and finest, fully-documented tools in private hands ever used by Man on the surface of another world!”

Conrad became just the third human to step onto the lunar surface when he began his first moonwalk accompanied by his fellow astronaut Alan Bean. They conducted two EVAs while on the moon, each almost four hours long, during which they collected lunar samples, inspected the Surveyor 3 probe, and deployed the ALSEP, among other experiments and activities.

“As a vital piece of Conrad's spacesuit that helped carry the life support system during his nearly eight hours of exploring the lunar surface, this is a truly remarkable piece,” said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction. “Any artifact from an Apollo EVA is incredibly scarce, highly sought after by collectors, and represents the pinnacle of space collecting.”

Also included in the lot, a signed photo of Conrad next to the American flag during his EVA, with an arrow pointing to the location of the strap on his spacesuit.