Russian Soyuz capsule up for sale

One careful owner, 197 days on the clock: Soyuz TM-26

By BBC News Online's Ivan Noble

A used Russian Soyuz capsule is up for sale in the United States, with the owners looking for at least $2m.

The Soyuz TM-26 space capsule was launched on 5 August, 1997, on a mission to repair the crippled Mir space station after it collided with a Progress cargo ship.

Cosmonaut coaches are included

Superior Galleries

The capsule was used by both Russian cosmonauts and US astronauts while attached to Mir.

Now, it will be auctioned at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, California, as part of an agreement between Space Media Inc and RSC Energia, builders of Russian spacecraft since the Sputnik.

It is only the second spacecraft ever to be offered for public sale, say auctioneers Superior Galleries of Beverly Hills.

The first, Soyuz TM-10, was sold at Sotheby's in 1993 for $1.65m.

"It's the first flown space capsule with a US connection to come on the market. That for me is the historical connection," Superior Galleries' Michael Orenstein told BBC News Online.

"The kind of person who might buy such a thing would likely be a wealthy individual who wants a tax write-off and would donate it to a museum," he said.

Invitation

TM-26 'shows extensive blackening and scorching'

The auction comes as the Russian space agency Rosaviakosmos prepares to launch the first space tourist, Dennis Tito, on Saturday.

Mr Tito is paying $20m to go to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz TM.

Whoever buys the Soyuz capsule will also receive an invitation for two to attend a Russian space launch, a guided tour of Star City, outside Moscow, and a tour of RSC Energia.

Postage paid

Shipping, packing and customs will be handled free of charge, but, warn the auctioners, "the successful buyer should allow up to 24 weeks for delivery".

'The interior walls are covered with electronic control panels.'

The capsule now on sale took cosmonauts Anatoly Solovyov and Pavel Vinogradov to Mir and was also used by astronauts Michael Foale, Dave Wolf and Andrew Thomas, who went to Mir on Space Shuttle flights.

It returned to Earth on 19 February, 1998, and, say Superior Galleries, "shows extensive blackening and scorching from re-entry with minor faults as would be expected".

"Cosmonaut couches are included," they add.

Price estimate

The 2.2-metre (7-foot) diameter, 2.8-tonne capsule is bell shaped and its main parachute is missing, having been used as it descended.

"The interior walls are covered with electronic control panels."

"There is an inward-opening hatch at top, steeply curving sides pierced with three portholes and a multitude of pin plugs for electrical attachments, with two compartments for main and reserve parachutes," the catalogue reads.

The auctioneers' estimated sale price is $2-2.5m.

The Soyuz capsule will be sold during a space sale on 5-6 May, but Superior Galleries are also taking internet bids via eBay and icollector.com.