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TITUSVILLE, Fla., Aug. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Now you can find out what it's like to experience the life of an astronaut when you win the chance to spend the day with a legendary one as part of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's (ASF) Semi-Annual Auction of Astronaut Experiences and Memorabilia, which opened online today at www.AstronautScholarship.org/auction.

Forty-two lots of space memorabilia dating back from the early days of Mercury are on the auction block, such as launch pad White Room closeout gloves used on the actual Gemini XII mission in 1966; an international flag flown to the Moon aboard Apollo 15 in 1971; a segment from the actual Apollo 11 spacecraft; a lunar map signed by multiple Apollo astronauts; and a congressional presentation program signed by Mercury astronaut and ASF founder John Glenn.

But the rare memorabilia is just the tip of the launch tower for this charity auction, which aids the ASF in providing scholarships to the best science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate college students across the United States. Seven one-on-one astronaut experiences are also up for grabs, including an exclusive VIP tour of Kennedy Space Center with America's first Space Shuttle pilot, astronaut Bob Crippen; a visit from Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise to speak at your child's school; and an acrobatic biplane ride with Space Shuttle astronaut Sam Gemar as your pilot.

"The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is near and dear to the astronauts which is why we have all donated our personal items and time to this cause," said Apollo 16 Moonwalker and ASF Chairman Charlie Duke, who is offering up a Grand Cayman SCUBA trip as part of the auction. "The auction proceeds are vital to fulfilling our mission and providing scholarships to America's brightest STEM students."

Register and bid online at www.AstronautScholarship.org/auction. The auction concludes Thursday, August 23 at 10 p.m. EDT. Winning bids, over fair market value, should be considered a charitable donation.

Proceeds benefit the non-profit Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, who aids the United States in retaining its world leadership in science and technology by providing scholarships to exceptional college students pursuing degrees in these fields. ASF funds twenty-eight $10,000 scholarships annually and has awarded nearly $3.5 million to students nationwide. For more information, visit www.AstronautScholarship.org.

SOURCE Astronaut Scholarship Foundation