Pawn Stars: Rick Harrison’s Low Offer Derails Deal For Apollo 13 Heat Shield!

The Pawn Stars series showcased a tense moment on the latest episode when Rick Harrison turned down a chance to own a fragment of the Apollo 13 heat shield. In the episode, the seller came with high hopes, asking for $50,000 for the space relic. The deal, however, quickly fell apart due to Harrison’s dramatically low offer.

The seller explained that his father had possessed this space relic, receiving it as a gift while working at NASA. However, the lack of official documentation made it extremely difficult to verify its authenticity. There were also no identifiable markings to prove the object’s genuineness. Even though the object was linked to one of the most well-known space missions in history, the lack of evidence became a significant hurdle for Rick.

Pawn Stars: Why Rick Harrison Passed On The First Superman Action Figure

In one of the memorable episodes of Pawn Stars, Rick has an absolute chance to buy the very first Superman doll from 1939. It was the first-ever superhero action figure. John, the seller, revealed its rarity, stating that it still comes with authentic packaging. Harrison was highly impressed and acknowledged its historical value.

However, the deal did not go through. John quoted $6,000, citing a similar doll that sold for over $10,000 at auction years earlier, but Harrison countered with just $2,000. After much negotiation, the side agreed, and John just refused to drop below $5,000, while Harrison wouldn’t go higher. In the end, the seller walked away with the collective, and Harrison again missed an opportunity to have what could have been a precious collective.

Pawn Stars: Rick Harrison Offers Just $2,000 For Apollo 13 Relic Valued At $50,000

During a tense episode of History Channel’s Pawn Stars, Rick Harrison refused to purchase a piece that the seller claimed was part of the Apollo 13 heat shield. Harrison called in  Mark, the administrator of the Clark County Museum, to identify the real value of the item. As Mark inspected, the fragment resembled what one would expect from the Apollo 13 heat shield. He said that if it were authentic, it would carry significant historical value, given the mission’s disastrous history. 

Mark, on the other hand, also emphasized that without any paperwork, it would be hard to establish its authenticity. He said it would be nearly impossible. NASA launched Apollo 13 in April 1970 with the intention of landing on the moon. An oxygen tank exploded during the mission, turning it into a fight for survival. This forced the astronauts to loop around the moon to get back to Earth. This led to damage to the heat shield. Still, the fragment is very rare and can be a potentially profitable collectible.

Though the story is fascinating, Harrison refused to give in to the seller’s asking price. He offered $2,000, which was far below the seller’s $30,000 minimum. Given the significant valuation gap, there was no room for negotiation. The episode ended with an unanswered question: if this was part of the Apollo 13 heat shield, Rick may have missed out on a priceless artifact. For now, its actual value is still unknown. Keep coming back to TV Season & Spoilers for all the latest reality TV updates.