Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon in 1969 without life insurance. They signed first-day mailers as a backup plan, which now fetch up to $30,000. Mission Commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Lunar Module Eagle on the Moon on July 20, 1969. Armstrong was the first to the dusty surface, and […]
Apollo 11 astronauts filled out a customs form upon returning to Earth, listing their cargo as “samples of lunar rock and moon.” They landed southwest of Hawaii and were quarantined for three weeks. The American flag planted on the moon was toppled by debris during liftoff. After returning to Earth from the first manned mission […]
Over 394,000 pounds of debris, including 73 probes and satellites, were left on the Moon. The Apollo 15 crew secretly left a 3.3-inch aluminum sculpture called “Fallen Astronaut” to commemorate lost astronauts. NASA objected to selling replicas. Other objects left on the Moon include golf balls and human waste. Scientists estimate that as much as […]
Astronauts spend more time training than in space. Their time is spent in simulators and other training arenas, preparing for upcoming missions. The amount of time in space depends on the mission and the availability of launch vehicles. Astronauts also spend time preparing for future missions, including spacewalks and landing the spacecraft. With the retirement […]
Microgravity in space causes astronauts’ vertebrae to stretch, making them taller. However, it can also lead to muscle wasting and atrophy, so astronauts exercise daily. Crumbly foods are avoided to prevent equipment damage. Dr. Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest stay in space. Astronauts seem to grow up in space. This is due […]
Astronauts can cry in space, but tears don’t fall due to zero gravity. Tears can form a “liquid ball” on the eye and can break free and float. Space can cause dry eyes and changes in eye shape during long flights. You can cry in the zero gravity of space, but the tears won’t roll […]
Skylab 4’s mission studied how astronauts could cope with extended time in space. The astronauts took a day off, blacking out communication with Mission Control, leading to a reduced workload and increased range. This forced NASA to reconsider its treatment of astronaut crews. Part of Skylab 4’s mission goal was to study how astronauts could […]
The International Space Station orbits the Earth at 17,100 mph, allowing its six crew members to witness 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. Sunsets are particularly spectacular due to the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. The ISS can be seen from Earth and its residents sneeze around 100 times a day. Bathing facilities are […]
A 2019 survey of 3,000 children from the US, UK, and China found that 30% of them wanted to become YouTube celebrities, while only 11% wanted to be astronauts. Chinese children preferred being astronauts, with 56% choosing it as their preferred career. In contrast, NASA received over 18,000 astronaut applications in 2017. YouTube has over […]
