Camera used on moon landing sold for €550,000

The Hasselblad 500 was described by Vienna auctioneers Galerie Westlicht as part of the equipment carried by the 1971 Apollo 15 mission – and the only camera ever brought back from the moon. The others were left behind to make room for mineral samples, it said.

In 1962, NASA began to use Hasselblad cameras on space flights, and to request design modifications. The first motor-driven camera, the 500 EL, appeared in 1965 as a result of NASA requests.

The new owner was identified as Japanese businessman Terukazu Fujisawa, the owner of an electronics chain, who placed his winning bid of €550,000 by phone. Bidding started on Saturday at €80,000.