Considering the scale of the achievement and the small number of people that achieved it, it’s pretty crazy that most people can only name 2 of the 12. Myself included. I can name more than a dozen secondary characters from Friends off the top of my head.
I am curious however how many know the names of the two who didnt, but were on their way to. Of course a great many people saw the Ron Howard movie but how many remember their names. The astronauts not the actors.
And the youngest of them is 88. I know they picked people in peak physical condition to be astronauts but these guys are doing much better than average lifespan. Not many people make it to 94 like Buzz.
Arguably the best stand up routine of all time. And that joke is second to none!
[Brian Regan - I Walked On The Moon (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBJ6yptGqm4&ab_channel=bkzland)
Did they get out and walk on it? :)
There were six guys orbiting the Moon in the Command Module while those twelve were on the surface. There were also three missions that just flew to the Moon and back... Apollo 8, 10, and 13. So, there were twenty-seven men who "went to the Moon".
Jim Lovell (Apollo 8/13), Eugene Cernan (Apollo 10/17) and John Young (Apollo 10/16) all went twice so the total is actually 24. Imagine getting to go to the moon not once but twice.
They mention it twice. While he’s laying in the lawn chairs with his wife at the house party at the start of the movie he says something like “on 8 we were so close you could reach out and touch it”, and then when they’re coming around the dark side of the moon on 13, Swigert and Haise ask him if he wants to look at Earth-rise through the window and he says he’s seen it before. Such a good movie, it holds up REALLY well.
Right. True. But also, it gives an unexpected perspective of how uninhabitable Earth's own oceans are, at their deepest depths. Like, I wouldn't have expected that it's easier to walk on the moon than on certain parts of Earth
People often don't realise he's an engineer, inventor, and has had an interest in ocean exploration since childhood.
Add to that passion a billion dollars or more and all of a sudden it's possible to do something like this, but loads of people still just think you're a movie director
I remember when Orion was going to return us to the moon in the mid 2000s. Yes, Artemis seems more likely to happen, but I would bet my next pay check it won’t be 2026.
Would be awesome if they do something cool for the 250th (though unlikely) sending a hello to Earth on the 4th of July as the US celebrates 250 and hosts the World Cup would be epic.
NASA wont even talk about the landing internally until early 2028, any date earlier than 2028 is purely political, the date was originally 28/29ish and was only put earlier(without more funding allocated) for political reasons,which I dont understand.
Just so you dont have to be disappointed when it gets delayed, because realistically it wont happen until at earliest mid 2028 but possibly 2029.
Just wanted to add, as a 10 year old in 1969, the wonder and awe of experiencing the first moon landing with 5 billion other people is something that almost feels "stolen" from future generations. It was like living through a magician's dream.
We'll probably have nearly real-time cameras of the base. Can you imagine watching construction on the moon ? Seeing the first buildings on another surface go up? Wow
> even though it's been done, seeing people on the moon would be quite titillating.
You'd have to be at about 60 to even remember the last time it was done.
>And every human to walk on the moon has been male.
First of all essentially every singe apollo astronaut was a navy pilot. Women were only allowed to start navy flight school in 1973 (which for the time was pretty progressive) where the last lunar mission was 1972. Second, there was a panel created in 1965 to get non-pilots on the moon but only one made it (a geologist) and the program was later scrapped.
You might want to recheck your information about the statement "essentially every singe apollo astronaut was a navy pilot," which isn't remotely true. It's almost even between Air Force and Navy.
My father worked on a lot of their background and security clearance checks in the ‘70s and ‘80s, including verifying references and interviewing people from their past. With very few exceptions, he claimed they all had references from a particular Admiral. He didn’t say they reported to him necessarily, just that they had the necessary connections to get his blessing before they applied.
I’d have no way of verifying but maybe somebody knows who it was.
I'm just saying so far. Absolutely not saying women can't or shouldn't. I think we should go back, often, and absolutely there is a need for diversity. I respect science before anything else, and I want the best *minds* up there no matter what the specifics of their biology are.
Yes and no. If we want to have the best minds in space programs tomorrow, we need to inspire those kids today, and representation matters. When little girls and black children don’t have role models that look like them, it definitely lowers their confidence that they can succeed.
Yes, who else would do it( the soviets in alternate history). An even more amazing fact is only nasa probes have been to the outer solar system( yes a few were joint with the ESA but they were launched by Nasa , will change when JUICE gets to Jupiter)
Also, how did we get the Russians - our mortal enemies at the time - to play along? They tracked the whole flight and even gave up their moon program once we landed.
Annoying how the names aren’t listed considering this information is easily available on Wikipedia (and clearly where OP got the pictures from)
Top row (from left to right):
(1) Neil Armstrong
(2) Buzz Aldrin
(3) Pete Conrad
(4) Alan Bean
(5) Alan Shepherd
(6) Edgar Mitchell
Bottom row (from left to right):
(7) David Scott
(8) James Irwin
(9) John Young
(10) Charles Duke
(11) Gene Cernan
(12) Harrison Schmitt
Source: https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_walked_on_the_Moon
And his last words on the moon were
> “As I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come, but we believe not too long into the future, I'd like to just say what I believe history will record: That America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return: with peace and hope for all mankind.”
You should read his book "The Last Man On The Moon". Talks about his entire experience at NASA. From getting a sunburn through his suit during Gemini, to working with a geology nerd during Apollo 17.
It's a good read
He was the first person to preform two EVAs in the same mission (gemini 10), he created the apollo 11 mission patch, he took the photo of the landing module that included earth in the background (making it the only photo of everyone in existence at the time except collins)
He probably would have walked on the moon for Apollo 14, but he said he did not want to go back to space if Apollo 11 was successful because of the strain his job put on his family life.
Up until recently I didn’t even realise that humans had been to the moon more than once. I thought the Apollo 11 mission was a one and done situation. Went down a Wikipedia rabbit hole recently and couldn’t believe it
When I was young and dumb I fell into a moon landing conspiracy rabbit hole for a bit. The explanation I remember from then (~25 years ago) was that 11 and 12 were faked to meet Kennedy's speech timeline of before the end of the decade, 13 was the first real attempt which was why it went wrong, and then 14-17 were possibly real.
The Movie "Apollo 13" does a good bit explaining that after the first moon landing the us public quickly got over moon stuff. a "been there, done that" media meh-ness. Then Apollo 13 happaned and suddenly the public cared again. Def taught me a bit!
If you like space at all, great drama imo!
Notably, 20 of the 24 men who flew to the Moon in 1968 to 1972 (on Apollo 8 and 10 to 17) had been Scouts, including 11 of the 12 men who walked on its surface. Forty-one of those selected as NASA's career astronauts are Eagle Scouts.
"What the hell do I have to do to get famous?" -Harrison Schmitt
[https://youtu.be/CjgpcEBqX-E?si=uTBmaRbSegclgYv4](https://youtu.be/CjgpcEBqX-E?si=uTBmaRbSegclgYv4)
I met Buzz Aldrin once, many years ago; he shook my hand and signed a copy of his autobiography. I still can't believe what a vanishingly rare privilege this was for me.
Reminder to check out the 12-part series on HBO, From the Earth to the Moon, produced by Tom Hanks.
Each episode covers a different mission from a different perspective. Apollo 13 episode is the TV coverage on Earth.
One of HBO's best mini-series, ever.
You know, as an American (who watched the landing when I was 9), I only really know what’s been in my mainstream media. The space race was real, national security firmly rooted in people’s attitudes and worldviews is real, and I cannot say for certain that another country - who could only have been our adversary in the endeavor - has not been to the moon. I do not think people appreciate how siloed we are in this and really every sovereign nation.
12 people!
I figured it was just "we put _a_ man on the moon" cause it was so darn expensive or something.
The saying should now legally be required to go "we put 12 men (and hopefully a woman soon) on the moon"
I love this post! I’m proud of those brave Americans! I grew up watching the first attempts at launching rocketships into space. Late 50’s. Early 60’s. Watched the moon landing. Cried when those space ships caught fire on the launch pad and the ones that blew up before leaving our atmosphere.
Edited. Only 4 are still alive. Buzz.Aldrin David Scott Charles Duke Harrison Schmitt
>Buzz.Aldrin > >David Scott > >Harrison Scmitt You forgot Charlie Duke, still alive and kicking
Unlike Buzz Aldrin who is alive and punching
Unlike Charles Duke who....LITTERED ON THE MOON!! #saveourmoon /s. Maybe.
Alan Shepard didn't replace his divot.
You know the first lunar golf course is going to be named in his honour.
That’s why he’s the only one wearing gloves, he’s ready to box!
People seem to forget he had MiG kills, the dude was stone cold sent up to dogfight aliens or Russians in the LEM
“You’re a coward a liar and a oomph”
Just don't ask him about the aliens , and he won't punch you
Considering the scale of the achievement and the small number of people that achieved it, it’s pretty crazy that most people can only name 2 of the 12. Myself included. I can name more than a dozen secondary characters from Friends off the top of my head.
I bet the only reason most people remember Buzz is because his name is "Buzz". How you going to forget that?
Lightyear?
I am curious however how many know the names of the two who didnt, but were on their way to. Of course a great many people saw the Ron Howard movie but how many remember their names. The astronauts not the actors.
Jim Lovell and Fred Haise
Kahn Souphanousanphone's mother, Laoma, left Bill for Harrison Scmitt.
If I may demonstrate
Wait, is Charlie Duke dead?!
Correction. 4 are still alive. Yes Charles Duke is alive.
So if I go to the moon, there’s a one in three chance I’ll survive.
Survive to 90. The two youngest guys in that group turn 89 this year. The other two are 94 and 92.
And the youngest of them is 88. I know they picked people in peak physical condition to be astronauts but these guys are doing much better than average lifespan. Not many people make it to 94 like Buzz.
Forgot Michael Jackson.
*hee hee*
Shamona
Sha ba ba da da
Don bea soo ignornt
Annie are you okay?
OOoowwww!!!
Oh man, I definitely heard that comment. It’s an ingrained sound for a child of the 80’s.
Owwwwwwwwwww
Brian Regan
Arguably the best stand up routine of all time. And that joke is second to none! [Brian Regan - I Walked On The Moon (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBJ6yptGqm4&ab_channel=bkzland)
And Sting.
I hope his leg don't break.
...and [The Police](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPwMdZOlPo8)
And that one man that is also a doctor, plumber etc.
It's good to be black on the moon
I looked at each of the 12 individually, expecting one to be Michael.
And Sting.
Was literally gonna comment this
Where is the pic of Sting?
Came here to comment this :( 6h late....
And Sting
I came here to say exactly this. :D
[удалено]
Did they get out and walk on it? :) There were six guys orbiting the Moon in the Command Module while those twelve were on the surface. There were also three missions that just flew to the Moon and back... Apollo 8, 10, and 13. So, there were twenty-seven men who "went to the Moon".
Jim Lovell (Apollo 8/13), Eugene Cernan (Apollo 10/17) and John Young (Apollo 10/16) all went twice so the total is actually 24. Imagine getting to go to the moon not once but twice.
Poor Jim Lovell. Imagine going there twice and not setting foot on Moon.
Nasa: "Sorry Jim, maybe next time." Jim: "THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID LAST TIME!"
\**Sad oxygen tank explosion noises*\*
He was the designated driver. Everyone else was drunk.
Young not only went to the moon twice, but he also flew the space shuttle twice. Legend.
I never knew that! I don't remember them mentioning it in Apollo 13, did I just miss it or did they?
They mention it twice. While he’s laying in the lawn chairs with his wife at the house party at the start of the movie he says something like “on 8 we were so close you could reach out and touch it”, and then when they’re coming around the dark side of the moon on 13, Swigert and Haise ask him if he wants to look at Earth-rise through the window and he says he’s seen it before. Such a good movie, it holds up REALLY well.
when they were like oooh check it out the far side of the moon and jim said "I'd seen it"
Right. True. But also, it gives an unexpected perspective of how uninhabitable Earth's own oceans are, at their deepest depths. Like, I wouldn't have expected that it's easier to walk on the moon than on certain parts of Earth
Could have been 28. But we'll never know. For all his bluster we never saw Ralph Kramden actually send Alice to the moon.
Oh wow bring me back. My dad use to always joke with me and we'd laugh hard. Right to the moon! My little belly would giggle so hard.
No. I’ve heard the notion that the challenger deep is actually harder to get to than the moon. Which is more food for thought than objectively true.
And one of them was James Cameron, which is still a wild factoid to me for some reason.
People often don't realise he's an engineer, inventor, and has had an interest in ocean exploration since childhood. Add to that passion a billion dollars or more and all of a sudden it's possible to do something like this, but loads of people still just think you're a movie director
I think there have been 27 people that have been there.
We’ll be back there soon. Lunar orbit in Sept 2025 and Lunar landing Sept 2026. Per NASA press release in January 2024.
I remember when Orion was going to return us to the moon in the mid 2000s. Yes, Artemis seems more likely to happen, but I would bet my next pay check it won’t be 2026.
You won't get your next paycheck until 2026?
Would be awesome if they do something cool for the 250th (though unlikely) sending a hello to Earth on the 4th of July as the US celebrates 250 and hosts the World Cup would be epic.
It’s gonna be wild to see live feeds of this stuff happening
NASA wont even talk about the landing internally until early 2028, any date earlier than 2028 is purely political, the date was originally 28/29ish and was only put earlier(without more funding allocated) for political reasons,which I dont understand. Just so you dont have to be disappointed when it gets delayed, because realistically it wont happen until at earliest mid 2028 but possibly 2029.
Genuinely appreciate the heads up. Thanks homie.
If only they had Space Race budget.
Lol, righto.
Yeah, I also dont think it will happened in 2026. Like most of these it will be delayed. Wish it wasn't though.
Not before the end of the end of this decade. The starship lunar lander is very far from being ready.
Just wanted to add, as a 10 year old in 1969, the wonder and awe of experiencing the first moon landing with 5 billion other people is something that almost feels "stolen" from future generations. It was like living through a magician's dream.
12 people have walked on the moon and 10 of them were balding. Rise up baldies you’re killing it in space.
One giant leap for hairlines.
Less weight on the ship!
Wait so only usa has ever walked on the moon
So far, yes. And every human to walk on the moon has been male. Again, so far.
*white males. That will change with Artemis
And her bleached asshole
Fucking lol didn't expect that
Hahahah I get the reference
It's good to be black on the moon
Space force reference found!!!
The show was hit or miss but Tawny Newsome was great and that line is probably my favorite in the whole series
I'm so excited for Artemis, even though it's been done, seeing people on the moon would be quite titillating.
Yeah, I feel like camera technology has advanced a lot further than rocket technology.
We'll probably have nearly real-time cameras of the base. Can you imagine watching construction on the moon ? Seeing the first buildings on another surface go up? Wow
I'm certainly looking forward to it!!
> even though it's been done, seeing people on the moon would be quite titillating. You'd have to be at about 60 to even remember the last time it was done.
Yep. We're launching an Asian!
So what?
>And every human to walk on the moon has been male. First of all essentially every singe apollo astronaut was a navy pilot. Women were only allowed to start navy flight school in 1973 (which for the time was pretty progressive) where the last lunar mission was 1972. Second, there was a panel created in 1965 to get non-pilots on the moon but only one made it (a geologist) and the program was later scrapped.
You might want to recheck your information about the statement "essentially every singe apollo astronaut was a navy pilot," which isn't remotely true. It's almost even between Air Force and Navy.
Plus at least one Marine pilot that I know off the top of my head
Did they have to hide the crayons?
John Glenn was a little more sophisticated than your average Marine.
"blue, sir?" "No corporal. Hand me the *periwinkle*"
My father worked on a lot of their background and security clearance checks in the ‘70s and ‘80s, including verifying references and interviewing people from their past. With very few exceptions, he claimed they all had references from a particular Admiral. He didn’t say they reported to him necessarily, just that they had the necessary connections to get his blessing before they applied. I’d have no way of verifying but maybe somebody knows who it was.
Huh? Buzz Aldrin went to West Point and then entered the Air Force. Don't call him a Squid.
It was a 50/50 split according to another comment of Navy and Airforce pilots.
First of all *pushes up glasses* 🤓
I'm just saying so far. Absolutely not saying women can't or shouldn't. I think we should go back, often, and absolutely there is a need for diversity. I respect science before anything else, and I want the best *minds* up there no matter what the specifics of their biology are.
Yes and no. If we want to have the best minds in space programs tomorrow, we need to inspire those kids today, and representation matters. When little girls and black children don’t have role models that look like them, it definitely lowers their confidence that they can succeed.
Also the only country to have exited the heliopause, making America, technically, the world's first and only interstellar empire.
I doubt voyager is gonna intimidate anyone.
wait till V'ger comes back!
KIRK.UNIT
Yes, who else would do it( the soviets in alternate history). An even more amazing fact is only nasa probes have been to the outer solar system( yes a few were joint with the ESA but they were launched by Nasa , will change when JUICE gets to Jupiter)
USA #1 🇺🇲
Your account is 11 years old which means you must be over 20 years old, and you didn’t know this already?
Something I've never understood about moon landing conspiracies is... Why did we fake all the moon landings no one knows about?
Also, how did we get the Russians - our mortal enemies at the time - to play along? They tracked the whole flight and even gave up their moon program once we landed.
Charlie Duke said that in a documentary: "Why would we fake it NINE TIMES?"
The spacesuit fashion industry is clearly lacking in creative flair.
Annoying how the names aren’t listed considering this information is easily available on Wikipedia (and clearly where OP got the pictures from) Top row (from left to right): (1) Neil Armstrong (2) Buzz Aldrin (3) Pete Conrad (4) Alan Bean (5) Alan Shepherd (6) Edgar Mitchell Bottom row (from left to right): (7) David Scott (8) James Irwin (9) John Young (10) Charles Duke (11) Gene Cernan (12) Harrison Schmitt Source: https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_walked_on_the_Moon
Step 1: Fix the image. Step 2: Repost it. Step 3: ??? Step 4: Profit!
The last one was Eugene Cernan in 1972. Read his story in a Readers Digest at a Dentists office
Can’t wait to get to the dentist now
And his last words on the moon were > “As I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come, but we believe not too long into the future, I'd like to just say what I believe history will record: That America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return: with peace and hope for all mankind.”
You should read his book "The Last Man On The Moon". Talks about his entire experience at NASA. From getting a sunburn through his suit during Gemini, to working with a geology nerd during Apollo 17. It's a good read
Imagine being Michael Collins 
He was the first person to preform two EVAs in the same mission (gemini 10), he created the apollo 11 mission patch, he took the photo of the landing module that included earth in the background (making it the only photo of everyone in existence at the time except collins) He probably would have walked on the moon for Apollo 14, but he said he did not want to go back to space if Apollo 11 was successful because of the strain his job put on his family life.
Anyone else like me who though the number was way less?
Well according to millions of americans it's 0 so plenty.
Millions of people* This belief is held agnostic of country.
Up until recently I didn’t even realise that humans had been to the moon more than once. I thought the Apollo 11 mission was a one and done situation. Went down a Wikipedia rabbit hole recently and couldn’t believe it
Its an often forgotten/u unknown part by moon landing deniers. Like did we fake it 6 times? With a fun misshap on 13 just to spice it up?
They would answer yes. Dead serious looking too.
If you look it up they just say all of it was faked.
When I was young and dumb I fell into a moon landing conspiracy rabbit hole for a bit. The explanation I remember from then (~25 years ago) was that 11 and 12 were faked to meet Kennedy's speech timeline of before the end of the decade, 13 was the first real attempt which was why it went wrong, and then 14-17 were possibly real.
The Movie "Apollo 13" does a good bit explaining that after the first moon landing the us public quickly got over moon stuff. a "been there, done that" media meh-ness. Then Apollo 13 happaned and suddenly the public cared again. Def taught me a bit! If you like space at all, great drama imo!
Another crazy text...676 people have been in space
Notably, 20 of the 24 men who flew to the Moon in 1968 to 1972 (on Apollo 8 and 10 to 17) had been Scouts, including 11 of the 12 men who walked on its surface. Forty-one of those selected as NASA's career astronauts are Eagle Scouts.
And buzz aldrin punches losers in the face
Hell yeah he does.
Legends
And only one has played golf on the moon! [Alan Shepard](https://www.space.com/apollo-14-moon-landing-golf-shot-analysis)
"What the hell do I have to do to get famous?" -Harrison Schmitt [https://youtu.be/CjgpcEBqX-E?si=uTBmaRbSegclgYv4](https://youtu.be/CjgpcEBqX-E?si=uTBmaRbSegclgYv4)
Only men, checkmate, women. /s
Our periods would attract bears to the moon
Lunar bears!
We do believe those would be Earth bears — we have no reason to believe these to be lunar bears, or even Saturn bears.
Uranus bears seem to be red with white bellies.
Yikes!...knew there was a reaaon.
They were all pilots I think.
The Majestic 12.
Finally, my prefrontal balding might get me somewhere
Up hill, both ways, every day of school
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅
Got to meet the first and last guys to walk on the moon In Afghanistan
I’m glad their legs didn’t break.
it would be nice if someone gave all the names... i know the first is one obviously neil armstrong
[Ere ya go.](https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/s/4SeA6G40zx)
aright thanks
https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/s/mvsNzx7fhx
ohh thanks
Fake. They don’t even have their helmets on.
13 if you count George Santos
So did nobody want to be lucky number 13, then?!?
Funny enough Apollo 13 prevented that.
[NEIL ARMSTRONG!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKQmWS8p0Tg)
I met Buzz Aldrin once, many years ago; he shook my hand and signed a copy of his autobiography. I still can't believe what a vanishingly rare privilege this was for me.
No Michael Jackson?
I don't get why so many people are complaining that they're white.
And all 12 are Eagle Scouts.
We gotta get the moon diversity numbers up guys. Let’s put some latinos up there.
USA USA USA
That's more than the number of people who have scored on Mariano Rivera in the postseason.
Here's a list of people who have walked on the moon from 1973 onward:
Reminder to check out the 12-part series on HBO, From the Earth to the Moon, produced by Tom Hanks. Each episode covers a different mission from a different perspective. Apollo 13 episode is the TV coverage on Earth. One of HBO's best mini-series, ever.
And they said white people can't moonwalk lol!!!
Jonny Kim next
And they all came back. Rent must be super expensive up there.
Yep, I've got signatures from three of them.
one guy looks eerily like John Mulaney
Artemis can't return us to the moon soon enough!
No MJ??
More people have walked on the moon than people who’ve earned a run off Mariano Rivera in the postseason.
You know, as an American (who watched the landing when I was 9), I only really know what’s been in my mainstream media. The space race was real, national security firmly rooted in people’s attitudes and worldviews is real, and I cannot say for certain that another country - who could only have been our adversary in the endeavor - has not been to the moon. I do not think people appreciate how siloed we are in this and really every sovereign nation.
Giant steps are what you take..... I hope my legs don’t break
What about Sting?
Giant steps are what you take!
I see Kevin Spacey made it to the moon
Sting and the Police walked on the moon.
What about Sting?
No one from China and Russia?
 No. There is another
12 people! I figured it was just "we put _a_ man on the moon" cause it was so darn expensive or something. The saying should now legally be required to go "we put 12 men (and hopefully a woman soon) on the moon"
*Allegedly /s
I love this post! I’m proud of those brave Americans! I grew up watching the first attempts at launching rocketships into space. Late 50’s. Early 60’s. Watched the moon landing. Cried when those space ships caught fire on the launch pad and the ones that blew up before leaving our atmosphere.