DALLAS — Heritage Auctions’ December 14-15 Space Exploration Auction saw 8,474 bidders vying for more than 1,000 lots, which included many flown items and others of impressive provenance. With 98 percent of lots sold, the auction realized $1,376,342. Highlighting the sale was the only known full-scale exhibition model of the “Friendship 7” Mercury spacecraft by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, the manufacturer of the flown vessel which began the United State’s involvement in the Space Race. Originally donated to the Boy Scouts of America in 1966, this model measures 23½ feet in length and 6 feet in diameter and was the top lot achieving $106,250. A full review of Heritage’s Space Exploration Auction will appear in a future issue.