the early american and soviet space programs auctioned off today at bonhams' auction house. cassandra hatton was the organizer. >> they're so rare. they made three for each astronaut. >> reporter: many of the museum- quality artifacts were originally from the astronauts who used them, including buzz aldrin and michael collins. in 2012, a federal law gave them the right to keep or sell their souvenirs. why would an astronaut sell these kind of mementos? >> well, you know, they-- they experienced it themselves, right, and i'm sure, like anybody else, they wouldn't mind having the money. >> reporter: this flag traveled to the moon on apollo 11. >> and this is the kind of item that has the broadest appeal for collectors. it's not just space collectors that get this. it's a really kind of patriotic piece. the flags are really, really popular. >> sold. >> reporter: it sold for $38,000 before commission. >> so these are space shuttle drink and coffee or tea containers. it's another thing that kind of humanizes them. >> reporter: also humanizing the astronauts-- photographs, like