Interesting Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Moon Landing

The miraculous 1969 moon landing is one of the most well-documented events in human history, the astronauts brought a camera all the way there to make sure of it. However, despite that, many facts have fallen into obscurity. Here are 20 interesting things that you might not know. 

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1. The Journey Took Three Days

The astronauts' journey to and landing on the moon took 75 hours and 49 minutes from Earth. Their return journey took slightly less time, at two days and 23 hours. 

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2. They Didn't Land Where They Planned

The astronauts missed their landing site by about four miles due to the gravitational pull of the moon and some extra speed gain they didn't account for. This forced them to face some rougher terrain than expected. 

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3. The Small Step Was Not Small

Everyone knows Armstrong's famous line "One small step for man..." However, the small step was more of a three-and-a-half-foot leap from the foot of the ladder to the surface of the moon. 

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4. The Landing Was Not Completely Smooth 

Nervewrackingly, the astronauts had to deal with a series of warning alarms they had never heard before before landing. They were the result of the guidance computer not being able to complete all of its tasks. The astronauts had to wait for the go-ahead from computer technicians down on Earth before landing.

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5. Armstrong Had One Minute To Land The Lunar Module

Armstrong had only 60 seconds to land the lunar module before having to abort the mission due to quickly dwindling fuel supplies, a task they would never be expected to complete with less than two minutes of fuel remaining. Armstrong pulled it off with only seconds to spare.

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6. Aldrin Took Communion On The Moon

The astronauts had some waiting time before venturing outside, so naturally, Buzz Aldrin used the time to take communion. It was the first Christian sacrament ever performed on the moon. 

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7. The American Flag Was Challenging To Erect

Erecting the American flag on the moon was a more difficult task than expected as they had to piece through the moon's rocky surface. They finally got it in the ground only to be knocked over by Apollo 11's engine exhaust as they lifted off.

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8. The Module Stayed On The Moon For 21 Hours

The module stayed on the moon for a total of 21 hours. Of those, the astronauts spent two and a half outside on the moon's surface, collecting samples. 

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9. They Landed Back On Earth In The Pacific

44 hours after leaving the moon's orbit, the astronauts landed back on Earth with a splash in the Pacific Ocean. They were recovered by an American aircraft carrier and taken to Hawaii in isolation suits.

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10. They Were Quarantined For Three Weeks

As scientists didn't know what kind of space germs to expect, the astronauts were quarantined for three weeks upon their return. They were taken to a mobile quarantine facility, then the roomier NASA Lunar Receiving Laboratory at Johnson Space Center before being released. This was repeated for two more missions before being deemed unnecessary. 

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11. 650 Million People Watched The Broadcast

650 million people worldwide watched the footage of the men landing on the moon, taken by a camera that Armstrong mounted. An estimated 94 percent of American households that owned TV sets tuned in.

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12. JFK Wasn't So Interested In Space Exploration

John F. Kennedy who was president as NASA was planning the moon landing wasn't actually all that interested in space exploration, according to interviews from just a few years previous. For him, the moon landing was all about beating the Soviets.

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13. Nixon Was Full Of Anxiety About The Mission

While John F. Kennedy rallied the nation in support of the moon landing, Nixon had a different approach. Knowing that a failed moon landing would reflect poorly on him, he was extremely anxious about the whole thing. He even had a statement prepared in case the men didn't return. 

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14. Armstrong Nearly Didn't Survive Training

According to Armstrong, some of the training simulations were much harder than the actual moon landing. When he was backup commander for the Apollo 9 test mission, he had to eject as the vehicle crashed down and burst into flames, narrowly saving his life.  

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15. Apollo 11's Trajectory Calculations By Katherine Johnson 

Katherine Johnson was one of the few African-American women hired as "human computers." She was in charge of the calculations for Apollo 11's trajectory. 

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16. The Flag Was Created Specially

The American flag that the astronauts planted on the moon was made specially for the moon landing by Sears. An aluminum rod holds the flag open so it appears to be flapping in the moon's nonexistent breeze. 

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17. They Gathered Almost 50 Pounds Of Moon Rock Samples

The astronauts brought 47 and a half pounds of moon rock and soil samples back to Earth. Minerals armalcolite, tranquillityite, and pyroxferroite were discovered from these samples, one of which was also later found on Earth.

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18. Apollo 11's Computer Had Only Two Kilobytes Of Memory

A super old-school computer with only two kilobytes of memory was enough to bring Apollo 11 to the moon. It weighed 70 pounds and was far less powerful than a smartphone.

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19. They Could've Been Locked Out

It was very important for Aldrin to remember to leave the door to the eagle ajar when he left the spacecraft behind Armstrong. Otherwise, it would start pressurizing again and they would have a hard time re-entering.

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20. Apollo Engineering Influenced Many Inventions

Apollo engineering influenced many surprising products including Nike air running shoes, Dustbuster vacuums, and anti-fog ski goggles. Products like this were originally intended for the astronauts's use and the technology translated well into consumer goods. 

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