Ready Your Recorders! NASA Wants Your Apollo Moon Landing Memories

News
By Elizabeth Howell
published

NASA wants the public's help to create an oral history of the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Apollo 11's lunar module touched down safely on the moon on July 20, 1969, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. With the big anniversary coming up soon, NASA's Explorers: Apollo program will release a commemorative audio series that includes stories submitted by the general public, sharing their views on space exploration and the Apollo moon landings.

All recordings should be submitted to apollostories@mail.nasa.gov. Recordings received before June 14 will have the best chance of getting featured in the series, NASA said. The ultimate deadline for submissions is Dec. 31. NASA has released detailed recording instructions in a statement.

Related: 'Apollo's Legacy': Science, Politics — and the Return to the Moon

NASA's suggested questions for participants include:

  • What does exploration mean to you?
  • What do you think it would be like to see humans walk on the moon again?
  • When you think of the moon, what comes to mind?
  • What do you want to know about the moon?

NASA is inviting the public to share their Apollo stories and views on its 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. (Image credit: NASA)

If you remember the moon landing, NASA has some additional prompts for you to consider:

  • Where were you when humans walked on the moon for the first time? Describe who you were with, what you were thinking, what the atmosphere was like and how you were feeling.
  • What was your life like in 1969?
  • Do you remember learning about space in school? If so, what do you remember?

As the agency remembers the Apollo moon landing program, which saw 12 people walk on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972, NASA is gearing up for the possibility of additional human landings in the near future. A few weeks ago, President Donald Trump's administration set a 2024 deadline to land the next astronauts on the moon, and the president's recent fiscal 2020 NASA budget request amendment includes $1.6 billion for that initiative.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.  

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace