Apollo 11: The Lunar Expedition Quiz

Answer: July 19

Apollo 11 was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on July 16, 1969 using the iconic Saturn V rocket. Three days later on July 19, Apollo 11 entered orbit around the Moon. The Lunar Module separated from the Command Module and touched down on the lunar surface on July 20, where it remained for one day before returning to the Command Module on July 21.

The mission concluded on July 24 when the Command Module "Columbia" splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.

Answer: The eagle has wings

The Lunar Module for Apollo 11 was named the "Eagle". The name "Eagle" was chosen by NASA to honor the national animal of the United States. The mission patch for Apollo 11 features a bald eagle attempting to land onto the Moon with an olive branch in its talons.

The Command Module was given the name "Columbia", which was taken from the Jules Verne novel "From the Earth to the Moon." When the Lunar Module separated from the Command Module, Neil Armstrong told the world that "the Eagle has wings."

Answer: Michael Collins

Michael Collins was the Command Module Pilot for the Apollo 11 mission. When Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin departed in the "Eagle", Michael Collins was left behind to tend to "Columbia" until his shipmates returned. At several points during the mission, Michael Collins became one of the most isolated human beings in existence when the "Columbia" was blocked from communicating with the Earth while it was on the far side of the Moon.

Answer: Sea of Tranquility

The chosen landing site for Apollo 11 was the Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquillitatis), a large area of the Moon with deposits of basalt, a type of dark volcanic rock. The area was chosen from images taken by the unmanned Ranger 8 probe in 1965. Upon landing on the Moon, NASA chose to use the call sign "Tranquility Base" for communication purposes. Once the Lunar Module touched down onto the lunar surface, Neil Armstrong told mission control in Houston, "Tranquility Base here.

The Eagle has landed."

Answer: 25 seconds

The descent and landing of the Lunar Module became more difficult than anticipated. Several warning alarms sounded during descent, but NASA officials opted to continue. Neil Armstrong was in control of the Lunar Module and discovered that the terrain of the targeted landing site was too rugged.

He kept the Lunar Module aloft until he spotted a smoother area to set down on. Once the Lunar Module finally touched down on the Moon, it had only 25 seconds of fuel remaining before the crew would have been forced to abort. Upon landing astronaut Charlie Duke, who was seated at the CAPCOM position at mission control said, "Roger, Tranquility, we copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again."

Answer: No

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human being to step foot onto another world. Upon taking his first step, Neil Armstrong told the world "That's one small step for 'a' man, one giant leap for mankind." Due to some static that occurred during the broadcast, part of the quote became garbled.

This has led to some confusion among historians as to what Neil Armstrong actually said. The inclusion of the 'a' changes the context of the quote. Including the 'a' makes it more of an individual accomplishment, while omitting it makes it more of a species wide accomplishment.

Answer: Richard Nixon

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy set the goal for NASA to land on the Moon before the end of the decade. The goal was achieved by July, 1969. Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) was inaugurated for his first term as President in January, 1969. After Neil and Buzz landed on the Moon, they received a personal call from the President at the Oval Office in the White House.

He told the astronauts, "For one priceless moment in the whole history of man, all the people on this Earth are truly one: one in their pride in what you have done, and one in our prayers that you will return safely to Earth."

Answer: Moonquakes

The PSEP (Passive Seismic Experiment Package) was one of two scientific devices to be left on the moon during Apollo 11. The PSEP contained seismographs designed to study moonquakes and other natural impacts. They also recorded the impact produced when the third stage of the Saturn V rocket crashed onto the moon.

The PSEP only functioned for three weeks after the Apollo 11 astronauts departed the Moon. Other PSEP units were sent to the Moon aboard subsequent Apollo missions.

Answer: Yes

Another device that was sent to the Moon aboard Apollo 11 was known as the LRRR or Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector. If someone had a strong enough laser, such as those you would find at an observatory, they would be able to shine that laser at the LRRR placed on the surface of the moon by the Apollo 11 expedition.

The LRRR would reflect the laser light back to the observer. LRRR's were placed at the landing sites of Apollo 14 and 15 as well. The LRRR was highlighted in the "Mythbusters" television series, who used them as evidence to debunk theories that the Moon missions were a hoax.

Answer: It was jettisoned and eventually crashed onto the Moon

On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin departed the Moon in the Lunar Module ascent stage. Once the Lunar Module successfully returned to the Command Module, the ascent stage was jettisoned before the crew began the journey back to Earth. The ascent stage of "Eagle" would orbit the Moon until it eventually crashed at an unknown location on the surface.

The descent stage still stands at the Sea of Tranquility, where it will most likely be preserved for as long as the Moon exists.