1961 Soviet space capsule selling at NYC auction
A 1961 Soviet space capsule is being auctioned in New York City.
The capsule was used on a test run for the spacecraft that carried the first man into outer space. Its pre-sale estimate is $2 million to $10 million. Sotheby's is offering it Tuesday on the 50th anniversary of the manned mission.
Update story: Soviet space capsule sold for $2.9M at NYC auction
The capsule being sold is the Vostok 3KA-2. It carried a cosmonaut mannequin and a live dog into space weeks before the manned flight of Vostok 3KA-3, a duplicate capsule.
Sotheby's said the anonymous owner bought it privately from the Russians years ago.
The capsule is made of aluminum alloy and measures just over 7 feet in diameter. It was classified as a "secret" until 1986. Its interior has been stripped for security reasons.
More information: http://www.sothebys.com/
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