KNOXVILLE – More than half a century after they departed Earth, a remarkable set of King James Bible microfilm fragments that flew with Apollo 14 and were later sealed within a Knoxville church cornerstone is now going to auction. The Knoxville‑linked lot is being offered by RR Auction, alongside a separate Apollo‑flown complete microform Bible. Bidding runs through October 16 at www.rrauction.com.

8310. Apollo 14 Flown Lunar Bible - Rare, Regally Presented Complete Microform of the King James Bible Carried to the Moon's Surface. Estimate $40,000. Image by RR Auction

A Prayer League and a Moon Mission

Following the Apollo 1 fire in 1967, engineer and chaplain John Stout founded the Apollo Prayer League to support astronaut safety — and to fulfill a bold spiritual ambition: send Scripture to space. Because a printed Bible was too large and heavy for flight, Stout arranged for the 1,245‑page King James Bible to be reproduced in microfilm format, small enough to travel aboard spacecraft.

On February 5, 1971, Edgar Mitchell, Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 14, carried approximately 300 microform Bibles in his Personal Preference Kit; about 100 of them descended to the Moon’s surface aboard the Lunar Module Antares. After the mission, following their release from quarantine in February 1971, Mitchell returned the flown Bibles to Stout. To expand distribution, Stout later subdivided portions of these microfilm Bibles into 50‑page and 2‑page ‘Text Fragments.

	8313. Apollo 14 Collection of (36) Flown Lunar Bible 50-Page Text Fragments. Image by RR Auction

Sealed in Knoxville for Decades

The most locally significant portion of this auction is the collection of 36 flown 50‑page fragments with direct ties to Knoxville. According to the lot description:

- These fragments were carried during the Apollo 14 mission by Mitchell.
- On September 24, 1972, the fragments were ceremonially sealed into the cornerstone of the Church of the Savior, United Church of Christ, Knoxville, Tennessee, where they remained in unbroken institutional custody ever since.
- Each fragment is affixed to a 5×7 presentation sheet (Apollo Prayer League format), signed by Stout.
- The reverse of 29 sheets carries ‘Honor Roll’ microfiche swatches listing donors or supporters.
- The lot includes letters of authenticity from Helen Greene and John Stout, plus the five original envelopes used in the cornerstone placement. Inside each envelope are a church dedication program, an Apollo Prayer League newsletter, and a form letter from Pastor John M. Flick.
- The serial codes of the fragments are listed explicitly in the lot description with notation that some are marked with an ‘X’ in the upper-left corner.

Taken together, this set of fragments is unique in both its provenance (flown on Apollo 14) and its long, continuous placement in a Knoxville church cornerstone.

RR Auction is also offering a complete Apollo 14 flown microform Bible. This microform Bible reportedly contains all 1,245 pages of the King James Version and traveled to the Moon’s surface aboard the same mission. It is displayed in a 24‑karat gold reliquary with precious embellishments and accompanied by certificates and documentation.

For Knoxville, the auction highlights a little-known local link to the Apollo program — and to the moment the Bible first went to the Moon. These fragments, sealed in place for over 50 years, are a rare overlap of space history and local faith.

- The lot of 36 flown 50-page fragments is listed as Lot #8313, with an estimated value of $35,000+.
- The auction is part of RR Auction’s Space Exploration sale.
- Bidding closes October 16, 2025, with the 30‑minute rule kicking in at 7:00 PM EDT.
- To participate, initial bids must be placed by 6:00 PM EDT.

It’s a story that brought a piece of the Moon back to Knoxville — and kept it safe there for more than half a century.