Apollo 11’s Unspoken Plan: Preparing for Moon Mission Failure

Despite careful planning, things can still go awry, emphasizing the importance of preparing for the worst.

In 1969, as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their groundbreaking lunar landing, NASA’s main worry was whether the lunar lander could effectively leave the moon’s surface and reunite with Michael Collins aboard the lunar orbiter.

Had the liftoff been unsuccessful, Armstrong and Aldrin would have faced a harrowing fate, stranded on the moon with the world watching.

To prepare for such a disaster, President Nixon’s speechwriter, William Safire, crafted a message for Nixon to deliver. The plan included contacting the astronauts’ spouses, severing communication with the moon, and having a clergy member recite a prayer akin to a burial at sea. Nixon would then address the nation via television.

The Nixon White House prepared this letter in the event that American  astronauts did not survive the Apollo 11 mission.
The Nixon White House prepared this letter in the event that American astronauts did not survive the Apollo 11 mission.

Thankfully, the somber speech was never necessary. It remains uncertain whether Nixon was aware of its existence, but the astronauts discovered it during a 1999 interview commemorating the 30th anniversary of the moon landing.

Quarantine and Ants: Apollo Astronauts Return from the Moon

After returning to Earth, the crews of Apollo 11, 12, and 14 underwent a mandatory three-week quarantine period to prevent the spread of any possible contagions from the moon. During this period, the astronauts were closely monitored and studied to ensure that they were not carrying any harmful lunar microorganisms. Interestingly, during their quarantine, the […]

On a trip to Nepal, Apollo astronaut…

On a trip to Nepal, Apollo astronaut Stu Roosa met Nepalese who believe the spirits of their dead reside on the Moon. Roosa could not understand why a few of the local citizens treated him like a god, nor why they were distressed when he told them he saw no one else on the Moon.

It is unknown what Neil Armstrong…

It is unknown what Neil Armstrong took with him to the moon personally and the record of his personal property kit was never found. Armstrong made an unscripted visit to a crater and it is speculated he left his late daughter’s bracelet there.