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Neil Armstrong's Widow Discovers Moon Camera In Bag

Posted by samzenpus on from the where-did-I-leave-that dept.

hypnosec writes Over 40 years after Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 trip, a hidden bag full of artifacts has been discovered by his widow Carol Armstrong. Carol found the bag after Neil's death shortly after he underwent heart surgery. The bag contained a total of 20 items including the priceless 16mm movie camera that recorded Apollo 11's descent to the surface of the moon, an optical alignment sight used by the crew for docking maneuvers, and a waist tether among other things. The bag and its contents are now on loan to the National Air and Space Museum for preservation, research and eventual public display.

118 comments

  1. On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    I hope not from his widow/estate. Wouldn't all this shit have to have been stolen?

    1. Re:On loan??? by Saysys · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Past the statute of limitations; he's dead; and I'm sure we can agree that Neil f*ing Armstrong can keep a memento/be forgiven for overlooking a memento or two. And how do you know no one said "shit Neil, keep it if it means so much to you". I know I would have.

    2. Re:On loan??? by fremsley471 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Well there were questions raised, but it's all settled now- they're her mementoes now.

      http://spacenews.com/obama-sig...

      I agree with the Bill, but am re-reading Michael Collins' excellent autobiography and he's not completely effusive about many of his colleagues - he also shares the bewilderment over the David Scott Apollo 15 mailbag. [talking about heroes with leaden feet, the book's autobiography is by Charles Lindbergh].

    3. Re:On loan??? by peragrin · · Score: 1, Troll

      that is my thought. it is just equipment. Unless the camera had original footage on it, it wouldn't matter. none of it would have been used for future flights.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    4. Re:On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shit, compared to the stuff people brought back from WWII/Vietnam, this is child's play. Get over it.

    5. Re:On loan??? by msauve · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty sure a statute of limitation doesn't mean you get to keep stolen goods after you're discovered. FWIW, Wikipedia says "The general rule is the limitation period begins when the plaintiff's cause of action accrues or is made to be aware of the injury that might have happened a long time ago..." And, the claim would be against his estate and heirs. But, there's no doubt a lawyer around here who can clarify if that's not right.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    6. Re:On loan??? by fremsley471 · · Score: 1

      Read the preview first. Sigh. Lindbergh wrote the foreword to Collins' autobiography. Also, Collins had high praise for most of his colleagues, but a minority get some criticism.

    7. Re:On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You're right, stealing movie props from the hollywood moon landing movie set is nothing compared to what they stole in WWII.

    8. Re:On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Everything we know of so far was equipment that was to be disposed of (left on the moon or in the LM to burn up). So there was no scientific reason to keep it, no film left in it or anything. It was literally junk.

      Not to denigrate the memory of Neil Armstrong IMHO, Neal could have any and all of the stuff he wanted as far as I'm concerned, but ethics does seem to say one shouldn't just haul stuff home from work, even if it is surplus junk.

    9. Re:On loan??? by zlives · · Score: 1

      also jurisdiction...

    10. Re:On loan??? by number6x · · Score: 5, Informative

      The astronauts were paid their regular military salaries, plus hazardous duty pay. It was a pittance. In order to compensate these men more fully The United States Congress authorized, through legislation, that astronauts could keep spent NASA equipment as mementos. It was always one of the 'unwritten rules' at NASA during that era. It wasn't until years later that it was questioned by some bureaucrat and the legislation was needed to end and questions

      So no theft or questionable loans were involved.

    11. Re:On loan??? by Krishnoid · · Score: 1

      The astronauts were paid their regular military salaries, plus hazardous duty pay. It was a pittance.

      Too bad -- they should have negotiated better terms up front.

    12. Re:On loan??? by gatkinso · · Score: 0

      If that was NASA stuff, it most certainly is US Government property. Good luck getting *any* government to act reasonably.

      --
      I am very small, utmostly microscopic.
    13. Re: On loan??? by jd2112 · · Score: 2

      I DARE you to say that to Buzz Aldrin.

      --
      Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
    14. Re:On loan??? by sribe · · Score: 4, Insightful

      ...ethics does seem to say one shouldn't just haul stuff home from work, even if it is surplus junk.

      WTF? Seriously???

    15. Re:On loan??? by stephanruby · · Score: 0

      Past the statute of limitations; he's dead; and I'm sure we can agree that Neil f*ing Armstrong can keep a memento/be forgiven for overlooking a memento or two. And how do you know no one said "shit Neil, keep it if it means so much to you". I know I would have.

      I don't think that's what happened.

      The original story goes that Buzz Aldrin was supposed to be the first one to walk on the moon, but during the trip, an order from mission control came in that said that Neil Armstrong was supposed to be the first. Buzz Aldrin had been politically outmaneuvered. And Buzz was so upset about that, he retaliated by supposedly 'forgetting' his own camera on the moon. Obviously, most of the shots on that camera were shots of Neil Armstrong, so most of the photographs we have now (except for the video feeds from the lander) are actually pictures of Buzz Aldrin, not Neil Armstrong.

      So upon hearing that Buzz Aldrin had accidentally left his camera on the moon, it would certainly make sense that Neil Armstrong would grab something as well. In any case, it would be really cool if Buzz Aldrin had also lied about not bringing the camera back with him, but in his case, it's actually less likely. If I had been Buzz, I would have also left the camera on the moon in the rage of the moment.

    16. Re:On loan??? by hey! · · Score: 2

      I don't think the monetary value was the reason the astronauts kept these things. All the stuff that went to the Moon was essentially treated as disposable. Rather than recertify some gizmo as ready for the next moon shot, NASA simply bought another one. So guys took stuff as mementos of the greatest adventure of their lives rather than have it tossed away or sold for surplus at a tiny fraction of their original cost.

      Honestly, if the astronauts *did* take them as a way to augment their salary I *would* have a problem with this, but what they took was essentially worthless. Look at this particular trove; except for the camera it's all just junk. Even the camera is no big deal unless you need to take one to the moon. From a practical standpoint you'd probably be better off springing for a consumer Bell and Howell 16mm than trying to use this thing.

      You see stuff this in surplus vendors all the time, optical or mechanical geegaws the military paid tens of thousands of dollars being sold for a few bucks All that money went to meet some oddball requirements that nobody else has.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    17. Re:On loan??? by Julz · · Score: 1

      I too am quite surprised to hear that he had these things in his possession. I'm not thinking about the "stolen" label but more about the thought that everything that was in/on the "mission" would've been logged, tagged and bagged on arrival back on terrafirma. After all there were some pretty strict procedures in force around and during these "missions". Does anyone else think that this is a little odd? I've put quotes around the missions as I'm a believer that something isn't quite right about the whole lunar excursions.

      --
      When shit hits the fan get some of these https://youtu.be/pY-GncsZ-UE
    18. Re:On loan??? by ckatko · · Score: 1

      "Hey honey! I just got back from being IN FUCKING SPACE. Check out this cool stuff I brought home."

      "Oh my God! That's government property! Who would even imagine taking something from the government that you used in space! You take that back right now!"

    19. Re:On loan??? by dbIII · · Score: 1

      And Buzz was so upset about that, he retaliated by supposedly 'forgetting' his own camera on the moon

      With respect, they hadn't got a lot of sleep and they were a bit busy at the time. I don't think we need to make up some moon rage story to cover a very trivial mistake of losing one of many cameras.
      Buzz is still alive. Why not put the story to him?

    20. Re:On loan??? by GrantRobertson · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I used to work at the California Museum of Science and Industry. Every once in a while they would do a purge of really old stuff that had been stored in the basements for decades. They would rent a giant dumpster and hire people to haul stuff out to fill it up. We were not only told that we could have anything we found in there, but we were given time to dig through it during work time. Why? Because it fed our scientific nerdyness, making us more enthusiastic science museum employees. Because the more stuff we could find a new home for, the less they had to pay to haul away.

      The only rule was that those who decided what to throw out couldn't then go and get it out of the dumpster.

      Of course, that was before eBay. Nowadays, I am sure they have someone whose job it is to post that kind of stuff on eBay and sell it to help fund the museum.

      There is absolutely NO ethical problem with taking home surplus from work, if it is truly surplus and you have permission.

    21. Re:On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL, compared to inventing ICs and computers, putting a few men into a giant tube full of kerosene, what is "not right" about the lunar excursions???

    22. Re:On loan??? by ganjadude · · Score: 1

      does it? Iknow at my old job, when we got new servers eventhough the top bosses wanted the equipment destroyed/recycled, the lower management almost always gave us the parts to take home (minus the HDD) Same for netowrking equipment and pretty much any other scrap

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    23. Re:On loan??? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

      Too bad -- they should have negotiated better terms up front.

      A differnt day and age. Getting to the moon was more important than becoming a 1 percenter.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    24. Re:On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      This anonymous coward dullard is a Democrat. Their kind has no morals. He fears everyone he suspects may be better than himself. That is the way of his kind. He talked long and hard about how we don't deserve what we have. That is the way of his kind. That is why he considers it a crime for a black person to be "too" successful, but it is fine to steal from anyone who has done better than himself. He thinks that everyone deserves to be cast into the same fate of mediocrity as himself, their successes tarnished, while he deserves our thanks for being the orchestrator of the larceny.

      Does it make sense? Only about as much as the parent comment, so...no, not in the least.

    25. Re:On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is the way all my old jobs have been. I still have servers running on some ancient 2U rack units I got for free when we upgraded way back when, and $200 of parts got it into tiptop shape.

      Hell, we could even keep hard drives after they were zeroed and dismantled. That's how I built my HDD platter coffee table.

    26. Re:On loan??? by dwywit · · Score: 1

      Junk!?!?!?

      I mean, an emergency wrench for an Apollo mission? That thing would have magical powers x20, but only when wielded by an astronaut. Might be handy in the home toolbox, though.

      --
      They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
    27. Re:On loan??? by bughunter · · Score: 4, Funny

      "And this! Number Seventeen! This is the cover for the waste management unit in my Moon Suit. I peed on the fucking Moon, baby!"

      --
      I can see the fnords!
    28. Re:On loan??? by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 0

      Shut up about faking the moon landing and you can keep the this NASA camera.

    29. Re:On loan??? by garyebickford · · Score: 1

      I once went to UC Irvine's Surplus Store. They had a complete excimer laser there, for anyone who had a hankering. It was huge - I think it involved several racks of hardware. It was probably one of the first ever built. I don't recall the price but I think it was about $200.

      --
      It's easier to be a result of the past, but more fun to be a cause of the future! http://www.spacefinancegroup.com/
    30. Re:On loan??? by Hussman32 · · Score: 1

      Not sure if you have deeper sources, but the public line is that Armstrong was always supposed to go first, although Buzz definitely wanted to go first. They picked Neil because he was senior, and it would have been impossible for Buzz to crawl over Neil with his EVA suit.

      http://www.businessinsider.com...

      But then again, if you know something, I'm curious.

      --
      "Who are you?" "No one of consequence." "I must know." "Get used to disappointment."
    31. Re:On loan??? by khallow · · Score: 1

      Look at this particular trove; except for the camera it's all just junk. Even the camera is no big deal unless you need to take one to the moon.

      Used facial tissue that was found in Armstrong's Moon stash, $50 easy,

    32. Re:On loan??? by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      He was on the moon, and he peed into a waste management unit, but he did not pee *on* the moon (not even to write his own name).

    33. Re:On loan??? by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      And definitely coming back from the moon was more important than a mid mission salary negotiation.

    34. Re: On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Statute of limitations only applies to the crime of theft. Courts have long ruled (and upheld the last time an astronaut tried to sell a camera in 2011) that there is no limitation to the Feds exerting their "rights", such as property ownership. However in this specific case, congress passed a law in 2012 specifically assigning ownership of mementos, including hardware that would have been discarded or destroyed during the mission, such as this camera, to the astronauts that hold them.

    35. Re: On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why is this not +5 with all the fools claiming statute of limitations? This exact story came up in 2011 and was settled by congress in 2012. There is no ambiguity. Discussion over. The wife LEGALLY owns the camera and it is on loan.

    36. Re:On loan??? by houghi · · Score: 1

      I take away surplus time at work to read /.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    37. Re:On loan??? by Rhaban · · Score: 2, Informative

      He was on the moon, and he peed into a waste management unit, but he did not pee *on* the moon (not even to write his own name).

      He peed. While on the moon. He peed. On the moon. He peed on the moon. Just not... "on" the moon.

    38. Re:On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, Yes. It is what it is... just a bunch of items. I'd stick it at a museum, but honestly who'd want to look at a camera and a bunch of other junk "that's been to the moon".

      If it was a moon rock or if there were a film on the camera that's never been seen before then sure it would be worth looking at.

    39. Re:On loan??? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      ethics does seem to say one shouldn't just haul stuff home from work, even if it is surplus junk.

      Really? Who told you that?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    40. Re:On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The piece you are forgetting is that no Law may be retroactive. So, the items are in fact stolen, because the legislation that legalized the theft was, in fact, unconstitutional.

      I am tempted to file suit now that I have standing as a bilked taxpayer.

    41. Re:On loan??? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Okay, now I want to know what would happen if he did pee on the moon. The Apollo spacecraft had a "toilet" that was basically a tube with a condom on one end and open space on the other, with some kind of valve to stop the cabin atmosphere being sucked out when not in use. So it seems like you might be able to pee into vacuum okay, if your moon suit had some way to expose your genitals safely.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    42. Re:On loan??? by nukenerd · · Score: 1

      at my old job, when we got new servers even though the top bosses wanted the equipment destroyed/recycled, the lower management almost always gave us the parts to take hom

      We used to be like that. Then some 'elf & safety idiot got all legal and worried that someone might cut his finger on something and sue the company $1,000,000 for giving it to him. After that everything had to be destroyed.

      This is in a world when we are supposed to be recycling things. In practice we just took scrap stuff home after that - that's where I got this keyboard. As I have said before: green, safe or handy? Pick one.

    43. Re: On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So he peed on it, just not at it.

    44. Re:On loan??? by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      My source is "Alex" Filippenko

      I would have hoped that out of the thousands or people who took his introductory Astronomy class at Berkeley, that someone would back me up on this.

    45. Re:On loan??? by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      Buzz is still alive. Why not put the story to him?

      Ask him what? That he thought he was supposed to be the first one on the moon? Or that he left the exposed film on purpose????

      My source is "Alex" Filippenko. Granted, you don't need to believe him either, nor even believe me that he really said that, but I was hoping that out of the thousands or people who took his introductory Astronomy class at Berkeley, that someone would back me up on this.

    46. Re:On loan??? by Mr.+Droopy+Drawers · · Score: 1

      Any citations by him?

      I would expect a contemporary of Neil Armstrong -- or Buzz Aldrin -- would be a better source than someone that could be their son. He would have been 10 years old at the time of the EVA. Not sure I'd trust my 10 yr old to remember ANYTHING 40 years later.

      --

      To Copy from One is Plagiarism; To Copy from Many is Research.

    47. Re:On loan??? by prisoner-of-enigma · · Score: 1

      The original story goes that Buzz Aldrin was supposed to be the first one to walk on the moon, but during the trip, an order from mission control came in that said that Neil Armstrong was supposed to be the first.

      This is pure drivel and has been debunked on numerous occasions. Armstrong was the first out because there was not enough room in the LM cabin for Aldrin to get out first when both were wearing suits. Further, the mission was practiced for months on Earth and every action was scripted and planned down to the minute. To suggest that Mission Control would alter this plan while the astronauts were on the way to the moon -- thus invalidating months of training and safety protocols -- is ludicrous. Armstrong got out first because he had to, and everybody -- including Aldrin -- knew this before they were even strapped into the CM.

      --
      In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, Make us your slaves, but feed us. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
    48. Re:On loan??? by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I suspect that in older more formal English, that the sentence "he peed on the moon" would imply that extra material was being left on the moon. The modern usage though is still inherently vague and thus should be clarified if the comic effect wasn't intended. Modern English is very vague which can really confuse non-native speakers.

    49. Re:On loan??? by sharknado · · Score: 1

      Okay, now I want to know what would happen if he did pee on the moon.

      I think the moon would get wet.

    50. Re:On loan??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you have no idea whether or not the stuff is stolen, why are you acting so shocked?

    51. Re:On loan??? by dbIII · · Score: 1

      So your "source" was a ten year old?
      I don't know why you didn't work it out for yourself that your "source" was not involved at the time and was passing on a rumour that they can not confirm for mere dramatic effect.
      I'll bet that he's not willing to put his shaggy dog story to Buzz either. I'm also willing to bet that the details of the story have grown with the telling to each bunch of students.

    52. Re:On loan??? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      When I was 14 they saved my parents ass at the Bendix surplus sale by refusing my $1 bid on a 2 story tall milling machine.

      If I had won I would have been responsible for hauling it away. Wasn't old enough to enter a legal contract so they told me to go away.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    53. Re:On loan??? by bughunter · · Score: 1

      Okay, now I want to know what would happen if he did pee on the moon.

      I think the moon would get wet.

      I think he'd get laid.

      But not on the moon.

      --
      I can see the fnords!
  2. Alleged... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    "recorded Apollo 11's alleged descent to the surface of the moon"

    Thank you.

    1. Re:Alleged... by geekd · · Score: 5, Funny

      Buzz Aldrin needs to punch you in the face.

    2. Re:Alleged... by bobbied · · Score: 1

      I'll do it for Buzz, he's getting long in the tooth these days..

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    3. Re:Alleged... by taustin · · Score: 2

      No, he's really not. And given what a bunch of pansy ass wimps the conspiracy theorists generally are, I'm sure Buzz could handle it on his own. He certainly did Bart Sibrel in 2002, and he keeps as busy a schedule as ever.

    4. Re:Alleged... by mrsquid0 · · Score: 1

      Only a violent and deranged mind would participate in the fraud perpetuated upon the world by the people who pretend that the Moon landings did not happen.

      --
      Just because you are paranoid does not mean that no-one is out to get you.
    5. Re:Alleged... by bobbied · · Score: 1

      Ok.. I'll help Buzz then and take over when he's done. Who am I to take away his satisfaction of having the first punch?

      Everybody knows we now have confirmation that there are footsteps on the moon, amazingly exactly where we said we went and picked up rocks.. Seems we have independently obtained pictures now.

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    6. Re:Alleged... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You took Poe's law and you made it real.

    7. Re:Alleged... by The+New+Guy+2.0 · · Score: 1

      You're starting to rate "nominal" around here... remember what that means when NASA says that!

    8. Re:Alleged... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope someone will some day take you to the moon so you can see it's not a hoax.

      And then leave you there.

    9. Re:Alleged... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope someone will some day take you to the moon so you can see it's not a hoax.

      And then leave you there.

      Nah, too dangerous.

      To the moon.

      That infinite high-grade vacuum between his ears could suck up the entire relatively dense lunar atmosphere so fast it could destroy Armstrong and Aldrin's footprints if he opened his mouth

    10. Re: Alleged... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least Godwin's Law hasn't come into play yet.

      Because even a space Nazi would never reveal their hidden moonbase.

    11. Re:Alleged... by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Just when I think slashdot is boring and it's time I unsubscribe, something like this happens and I have to go make some popcorn and then continue watching.

  3. Any souvenirs brought back to give... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...to Mr. Gorsky to help him out on his quest?

  4. Neil's swag. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seems everyone borrows office stationary.

    1. Re:Neil's swag. by konohitowa · · Score: 1

      Your trolling would be more effective if you could post with a 5 digit account rather than as AC. Then again, someone might actually take the bait no matter how mangled and old that worm is.

    2. Re:Neil's swag. by bobbied · · Score: 1

      Prove it....

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    3. Re:Neil's swag. by taustin · · Score: 1

      You remind me of the over-excited Chihuahua that is so happy to meet a new friend it humps your pant leg until it pees all over the carpet.

    4. Re:Neil's swag. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, Hollywood doesn't even care about the Star Treck stuff and dot heads swear that was real too!
      How come none of those guys brought back some alien stuff instead of assorted junk? LOOK! I have a checklist! I went to the moon too! - Ask Brian Williams, he'll remember.

    5. Re:Neil's swag. by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      I remember, before the Bruce Perens incident, when slashdot ID numbers were hidden.

      It's sort of distasteful how it's become the opposite of what it was back then, something to show off about.

      No, this isn't my first account, obviously. There are accounts lost to the ether in my past. Probably that's the case for a lot of other people here.

      BTW, "Mae Ling Mak, Naked and Petrified", thought you're probably to young to remember. Before the newbs changed it to Natalie Portman (did Miss Mak sue or something?)

  5. Re:tax payers want their shit back by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    What are you talking about? These are Hollywood movie props this actor stole from the moon landing movie set. Nothing more.

  6. Any film in the camera? by konohitowa · · Score: 0

    Did they find any film showing Brian Williams right there with them?

    1. Re:Any film in the camera? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's widely known Williams was on the flight after Apollo 11, although Conrad, Gordon and Bean couldn't be reached for comment. Williams became famous for the story of a fish he caught at the sea of tranquillity.

    2. Re:Any film in the camera? by bobbied · · Score: 1

      Let me guess... It got away?

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    3. Re:Any film in the camera? by konohitowa · · Score: 1

      That was hilarious. Probably one of the funniest HuffPo parodies I've seen in a long time. Although, to be fair, even they probably aren't quite that stupid. You might want to turn it down a few notches. Unless you were going for DailyKos or LGF. Then I'd say it was pretty spot on.

    4. Re:Any film in the camera? by konohitowa · · Score: 1

      Forgot to add: I think you meant "your ilk's". Comes off sounding much more in line with the people you were trying to make fun of.

  7. Re:tax payers want their shit back by bobbied · · Score: 1

    another government employee taking for himself. plus interest

    Seems that this treasure trove will find it's way into the nation's museums. Neil delivers again!

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  8. Re:Did he take any pieces of the moon with him? by chipschap · · Score: 2

    Neil Armstrong was a great and honorable man. Nothing that trolling idiots or conspiracy-theory loonies can say will ever change that, or make them into the tiniest fraction of the man he was.

  9. Re:Did he take any pieces of the moon with him? by CptChipJew · · Score: 1

    You mean like the shit ton of moon rocks they brought back and that are on display at every space center in the country?

    --
    Vonal Declosion
  10. Re:Did he take any pieces of the moon with him? by bobbied · · Score: 1

    I'd take pieces of the Moon to give to people or to show off to strangers.

    I know of one moon rock you can actually touch if you wanted too. I think was at the CosmoSphere in Hutchison KS http://www.cosmo.org/mu_artifa...

    In fact, I'd strongly suggest that if you really insist we didn't go to the moon that you visit both the Cosmosphere in Kansas and the Smithsonian Air & Space museum in Washington DC and go though their exhibits that have the artifacts and facts on the subject. I'm sure you will learn something.

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  11. Re:Did he take any pieces of the moon with him? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Professionally collected samples are on display, not "pocketed" extra rocks.

  12. Re:Did he take any pieces of the moon with him? by ClickOnThis · · Score: 4, Informative

    You're trolling, but here I am responding. Sigh.

    The 16 mm movie camera was no doubt physically attached to the lunar module cabin, and the flight plan simply didn't call for detaching and abandoning it. Consider that it also probably was used to record other things, such as descent, ascent, rendezvous, etc.

    The Apollo 11 astronauts did leave behind a small fortune in camera equipment: the Hasselblad cameras used to record the moonwalks. They only brought back the exposed film. This was done to lighten the lunar module, and to compensate for the moon rocks they did in fact bring back.

    --
    If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  13. Obligatory Onion article by ClickOnThis · · Score: 4, Funny

    http://www.theonion.com/articl...

    --
    If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    1. Re:Obligatory Onion article by The+New+Guy+2.0 · · Score: 1

      This seems to be as well planned as an STS-33... we've got Slashdot matching The Onion, and quoting telegraph.co.UK... how does a news site that ends in UK become the leader on this story?

  14. Re:Did he take any pieces of the moon with him? by stephanruby · · Score: 2

    The Apollo 11 astronauts did leave behind a small fortune in camera equipment: the Hasselblad cameras used to record the moonwalks. They only brought back the exposed film. This was done to lighten the lunar module, and to compensate for the moon rocks they did in fact bring back.

    No, Buzz Aldrin did leave exposed film on the moon, out of retaliation against Neil Armstrong.

  15. Research? by camg188 · · Score: 1

    The bag and its contents are now on loan to the National Air and Space Museum for preservation, research and eventual public display.

    I'm curious what kind of research they would do on these items. You would think NASA already knew everything there is to know about these items back in 1969.

    1. Re:Research? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They need to do research to find out everything they forgot.

    2. Re:Research? by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      I'm curious what kind of research they would do on these items. You would think NASA already knew everything there is to know about these items back in 1969.

      NASA might, but if the museum is going to put it on display, they're going to have to do research on identifying and the background of everything. Plus look up anything interesting that can be added to the display.

      Then there's the research into the best way to display the items for the public display.

      It's one thing to put up an artifact for display. Another to actually put it context and background. And it's possible that maybe the camera wasn't Armstrong's or used on the moon, but a duplicate made for familiarization purposes (to help the astronauts get comfortable with the cameras, NASA actually produced a bunch for them to take home to use in all situations.) This could very well be one of them. Plus, if there's any film, they need permission to develop and identify it.

    3. Re:Research? by Golden_Rider · · Score: 1

      It's one thing to put up an artifact for display. Another to actually put it context and background. And it's possible that maybe the camera wasn't Armstrong's or used on the moon, but a duplicate made for familiarization purposes (to help the astronauts get comfortable with the cameras, NASA actually produced a bunch for them to take home to use in all situations.) This could very well be one of them. Plus, if there's any film, they need permission to develop and identify it.

      They already did a lot of work to identify every single item and determine what each and every bit has been used for (using mission photographs and radio transcripts, plus clues like bits of paint). Link from summary: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a1... - click each item on the clickable map to see what it is and what role it played during the Apollo 11 mission.

  16. Re:Did he take any pieces of the moon with him? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So why don't we go to back to the moon to collect these artifacts and make some bucks in the process?
    And lets be nice and and leave some our cameras behind so future generations can fund their editions too...

  17. My stapler....its my stapler... by TiggertheMad · · Score: 2

    Armstrong risked his ass in countless ways flying to the goddamned MOON, he can keep all the extra cameras and junk he wants to. If ANYONE earned this stuff its the guys who put their lives on the line for science, the USA, and the general advancement of humanity.

    I see zero problem with this.

    --

    HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
    1. Re: My stapler....its my stapler... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I heard the US military goes into harms way too. I suppose they should be able to take souvenirs too? Maybe a couple fragmentation grenades? Or since I figure you'll bitch about their lethality, maybe a computer or humvee?

    2. Re: My stapler....its my stapler... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about copies of secret records?

  18. Preserve the Apollo 11 landing site. by riverat1 · · Score: 1

    At this point I would say that the area around the Apollo 11 landing spot should be off limits to preserve it as the first place any human set foot on a body off of the Earth. Anyone going in there would just mess up the area by leaving additional footprints and looting what's left there. We ought to put a dome over it to keep it pristine.

    1. Re:Preserve the Apollo 11 landing site. by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      So why don't we go to back to the moon to collect these artifacts and make some bucks in the process?

      For one thing, it would be a desecration of one of the most important sites in human history.

      For another, the cost to salvage the artifacts would be enormous. It would not be cost-effective to mine gold from low-earth orbit, if it were there. What would something have to be worth to profit from salvaging it from the moon?

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    2. Re:Preserve the Apollo 11 landing site. by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      Sorry riverat1, I responded to the wrong post. This was directed at AC.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  19. Re:Did he take any pieces of the moon with him? by The+New+Guy+2.0 · · Score: 1

    Take the news seriously! They magically moved from "the moon" to "the bag" which his widow hasn't touched in 20 years... wait a minute!

  20. Re:Did he take any pieces of the moon with him? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Indeed. Neil was a great man. Alas he is gone now and the torch is passed. The truth is Neil was pretty humble and low key. Could you imagine the stories we could have heard from someone more flamboyant than he? Did Neil ever make $13M/year? Is Neil's estate worth $40 BILLION ? NOPE
    You want to make that kinda coin you gotta rap like Brian Williams.
    "You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
    Love like you'll never be hurt,
    Sing like there's nobody listening,
    And live like it's heaven on earth.”
    you gotta rap like Brian Williams.

  21. Re:Did he take any pieces of the moon with him? by Ford+Prefect · · Score: 1

    No, Buzz Aldrin did leave exposed film on the moon, out of retaliation against Neil Armstrong.

    He didn't.

    --
    Tedious Bloggy Stuff - hooray?
  22. Re:Warning: Contains discussion of 1960s... by Tablizer · · Score: 0

    Yes, the 1960's are a liberal hoax! They didn't happen. We went from 50's to 70's. Real 'muricans don't like even numbers because such feels like "equality", a commie concept. But some smelly hippies tried to fake it and pretend the 70's were the 60's and mis-dated their psychedelic drug-soaked records and concert posters.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  23. Unauthenticated Rumor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Rumor is there was a weed pipe in the purse as well, as well as a tiny last pinch of long since petrified moon weed that NASA sent. Many of us believe we went to the moon searching for a new source of dank nuggets and that the moon buggy sent in later missions was for the astronauts to go "rolling with their homies" looking for lunar grow operations.

  24. Oh wow by TuxWithoutPants · · Score: 1

    they let him take home stuff from the studio they faked the landing in? What will they allow next, the map to the entrance of the Hollow Earth?

  25. Re:Warning: Contains discussion of 1960s... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Real 'muricans don't like even numbers because such feels like "equality", a commie concept.

    If there were a sprinting race between two people and a commie was in charge of setting the rules, he would move the faster sprinter a few yards behind the slower sprinter so that both would come first in the race. That's the commie version of equality for you.

  26. Missing item by geantvert · · Score: 1

    A rumor says that there was not 18 but 19 items in the bag.
    Any idea what the missing item could be?

    1. Re:Missing item by geantvert · · Score: 1

      My guess is something any man would take for a long trip: condoms

  27. He's dead? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So I feel really bad now.. I didn't know he died :/

  28. Why? by MagickalMyst · · Score: 1

    If we went to the moon in the sixties, then why haven't we gone back in the last 40-50 years?

    --
    Political correctness is really just herd psychology pushed by insecure people who desperately seek social conformity.