"BOSTON, MA – (October 28, 14) <br /> <br /> The First Hasselblad Camera used in Space up for sale, Camera that captured the first glorious instantly recognizable images of Earth<br /> <br /> The first Hasselblad camera body and Zeiss lens carried into orbit by Wally Schirra on Mercury-Atlas 8, and attested to by Gordon Cooper as being used during Mercury-Atlas 9 will be auctioned by Boston, MA based RR Auction in November.<br /> <br /> Wally Schirra identified the Hasselblad as his equipment of choice—held in highest regard by photographers for its superior engineering, craftsmanship, and top-of-the-line quality.<br /> <br /> Schirra reportedly purchased the Hasselblad 500c camera at a Houston photo supply shop in 1962, and brought it back to NASA for mission use preparation.<br /> <br /> ""It was not until astronaut Wally Schirra—a known camera enthusiast—naturally sought the finest camera available at the time to accompany him on his MA-8 mission that NASA's photographic identity began to take shape,"" says Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.<br /> <br /> The modifications that were made by the United States Air Force camera laboratory in conjunction with Wally Schirra and fellow astronaut Gordon Cooper included the installation of a 100-exposure film container, an aiming device mounted on the side, and modification of the camera surface, plus the original metal facing was repainted black to minimize reflections.<br /> <br /> Following the camera's initial success with Schirra on MA-8, Cooper used a Hasselblad—along with the same Zeiss lens on the next Mercury mission, MA-9.<br /> <br /> Accompanied by two signed letters from Gordon Cooper attesting to the camera's authenticity.<br /> <br /> A special live auction of the First Hasselblad Camera used in Space is scheduled to take place on November 13, 2014 at 3:00 pm ET, at RR Auction's Boston Gallery.<br /> ©RR Auction/Exclusivepix"
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