Apparently they got sold (accidentally?) as part of a surplus lot to a NASA intern named Gary George back in 1976. George's father found them in among everything else, and he's kept them safe all these years -- and apparently tried to sell them back to NASA for more money than they were willing to pay ten years ago when the active search for them was still ongoing. Now that the 50th anniversary of the moon landing is coming up Real Soon Now, he's put them up for auction with Sotheby's, who have verified that they are in fact the genuine article. (The tapes have been played once for verification, and once more for the purpose of digitizing their contents.)
The tapes go up for auction on the 21st (of course), with a minimum bid of US$700,000. Follow the link above to see the Sotheby's catalog page for them. And go here for the Gizmodo article on the tapes.
The tapes go up for auction on the 21st (of course), with a minimum bid of US$700,000. Follow the link above to see the Sotheby's catalog page for them. And go here for the Gizmodo article on the tapes.
-- Bob
I have been Roland, Beowulf, Achilles, Gilgamesh, Clark Kent, Mary Sue, DJ Croft, Skysaber. I have been
called a hundred names and will be called a thousand more before the sun grows dim and cold....
I have been Roland, Beowulf, Achilles, Gilgamesh, Clark Kent, Mary Sue, DJ Croft, Skysaber. I have been
called a hundred names and will be called a thousand more before the sun grows dim and cold....