Did Alan Shepard hit two golf balls on the Moon?
USGA GOLF MUSEUM The Mystery Behind Alan Shepard's 'Moon Shot' Revealed February 5, 2021 By Andy Saunders On Feb. 6, 1971, Alan Shepard used this makeshift club, which resides in the USGA Museum, to hit two golf balls on the Moon.
Where was the first shanked ball in the Apollo 13 lunar module?
CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator) Fred Haise, who was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 13, applied some astute commentary from his position in Mission Control: “Looked like a slice to me, Al.” The location of the first “shanked” ball can be seen in the crater to the right.
Where did the idea for the moonshot come from?
Shepard got the idea for his golf moonshot in 1970, when famed golfer Bob Hope visited NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC, now Johnson Space Center) in Houston, the training hub for astronauts, for a television special.
What did Neil Armstrong take to the moon?
Armstrong and Aldrin collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of lunar material to bring back to Earth as pilot Michael Collins flew the Command Module Columbia in lunar orbit, and were on the Moon's surface for 21 hours, 36 minutes before lifting off to rejoin Columbia. SATCAT no.
Is there an olive branch on the moon?
Description - This is the gold replica of an olive branch, the traditional symbol of peace, left on the Moon's surface by Apollo 11 crewmembers. Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, placed the small replica (less than half a foot in length) on the Moon. The gesture represented a wish for peace for all mankind.
What equipment was left on the moon?
Besides the 2019 Chinese rover Yutu-2, the only artificial objects on the Moon that are still in use are the retroreflectors for the lunar laser ranging experiments left there by the Apollo 11, 14, and 15 astronauts, and by the Soviet Union's Lunokhod 1 and Lunokhod 2 missions.
What happened to the golf ball on the moon?
On the moon, a golf ball will travel much farther because the comparatively weak surface gravity will accelerate it back to the surface more slowly. During that time, the ball travels with a constant horizontal velocity, at least in theory. On Earth, however, air resistance impedes the ball's travel.
What did Neil Armstrong leave on the Moon for his daughter?
braceletRoger Launius, the former NASA chief historian and a former senior curator at the National Air and Space Museum, agreed, saying, “there is no evidence to support the assertion that he left a bracelet of his daughter on the moon.” Though apparently fiction, the moment is a critical one.
What was brought back from the Moon?
Between 1969 and 1972 six Apollo missions brought back 382 kilograms (842 pounds) of lunar rocks, core samples, pebbles, sand and dust from the lunar surface. The six space flights returned 2200 separate samples from six different exploration sites on the Moon.
Who left a Bible on the moon?
It was further amended on Aug. 14 to identify David Scott (not James Irwin as was previously stated) as the Apollo 15 astronaut who left behind a Bible on the moon. Original article on Live Science.
How many bags of poop are on the moon?
96 bagsThe six Apollo missions that landed on the moon produced 96 bags of waste. According to the NASA History Office, white jettison bags, or trash bags, are definitely still on the moon, some containing astronaut poop. Aldrin tweeted about it in April, saying, “Well, I sure feel bad for whoever finds my bag.”
Is the US flag still on the moon?
Images taken by a Nasa spacecraft show that the American flags planted in the Moon's soil by Apollo astronauts are mostly still standing. The photos from Lunar Reconaissance Orbiter (LRO) show the flags are still casting shadows - except the one planted during the Apollo 11 mission.
How far did the golf shot on the moon go?
But in the Moon's airless environment with just one-sixth the gravity of Earth, Shepard later estimated that his modest pitch shot carried the ball about 200 yards (600 feet).
How many golf balls have been hit on the moon?
two golf ballsLunar Golfing Alan Shepard, part of the Apollo 14 mission, stands as the only person to hit golf balls on the moon. During the mission, Shepard took a few swings and ended up leaving two golf balls to live on the moon forever. Apparently, he fitted an 6 iron head to the handle of a lunar sample collection device.
How many people have hit a golf ball on the moon?
There are two golf balls on the moon. They were taken there by Alan Shepard in 1971, during the Apollo 14 mission. Shepard was the first American into space, and the fifth person to ever walk on the moon… but most impressively, he was the first (and only) person to ever play golf outside of the earth's atmosphere!
How many items have been left on the moon?
O'Leary should know: she is one of a team who worked to compile all the objects left behind by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 landing. All told, the group identified an eclectic list of 106 objects, plus the footprints marking Armstrong and Aldrin's steps.
What has been found on the moon?
Scientists detected water on the moon, and for the first time they can say they literally found it while on the lunar surface. A Chinese lunar lander returned more than 60 ounces of soil and rock samples from its trip to the moon in December 2020.
What did Apollo 12 leave on the moon?
Bean performed just over one day and seven hours of lunar surface activity while Command Module Pilot Richard F. Gordon remained in lunar orbit....Apollo 12.Spacecraft propertiesLunar landerSpacecraft componentLunar Module (LM)Landing dateNovember 19, 1969, 06:54:35 UTCReturn launchNovember 20, 1969, 14:25:47 UTC57 more rows
Can you see items left on the moon?
That means that there would be no way to discern the Lunar Excursion Module or any of the other equipment left on the moon. It is just too small to pick up, even with the world's best telescope.
Who played golf on the moon 50 years ago?
But one “out of this world” moment trumps them all – that time 50 years ago when astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. played golf on the moon.
Who tossed the first ball of the solar wind experiment?
Sitting near Shepard’s first ball is a pole from a solar wind experiment, tossed by crewmate Edgar Mitchell. (NASA/JSC/ASU/Andy Saunders)
Why did the Shepard ball stay airborne longer than it would have been on Earth?
The absence of aerodynamic forces on the ball, and lack of the spin-induced “magnus effect” caused by the ball’s dimples, meant that it followed a perfectly parabolic flight. It also stayed airborne longer due to lower gravitational forces pulling it back to the ground.
What is the USGA?
The USGA promotes and conserves the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions. It acts in the best interests of the game for the continued enjoyment of those who love and play it. The USGA: Celebrating 125 Years. GIVING.
What is the moon bunker?
The moon is effectively one giant, un-raked, rock-strewn bunker. There were no “preferred lies” as a fully-suited astronaut would struggle to tee the ball up on the surface. The pressurized suits severely restricted movement, and due to their helmet’s visors, they struggled to even see their feet.
Why did the ball stay airborne longer?
It also stayed airborne longer due to lower gravitational forces pulling it back to the ground.
Who was the pilot of Apollo 13?
CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator) Fred Haise, who was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 13, applied some astute commentary from his position in Mission Control: “Looked like a slice to me, Al.”. The location of the first “shanked” ball can be seen in the crater to the right.
Who was the guy who joked about hitting a ball on the moon?
Supposedly, when Shepard (who was known as a bit of a joker) gave Bob Hope a tour of a NASA facility in the early 1960s, Hope joked about hitting a ball on the moon. The idea stuck with Shepard, since one of the things the astronauts had been expected to do from the very beginning was act as science ambassadors to the general public.
What did astronauts do with zero G bubbles?
Other astronauts played with zero-G bubbles or did zero-G somersaults or repeated Galileo’s “hammer and feather drop” experiment in vacuum. Shepard would hit a golf ball.
Why was the contingency sampler folded up?
Unlike the other sampling gear that was stowed outside in the descent stage, the contingency sampler folded up like a modern tent pole so it could be stowed inside the cabin and carried out with the commander. One of his first tasks was to deploy the sampler to collect a contingency sample in case something went wrong and they had to leave without completing the rest of the science.
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Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Did the smugglers smuggle a club?
It’s often said that he “smuggled” a club aboard, but that’s actually not true at all.
Why did Hope golf on the moon?
Hope took his golf club everywhere, according to the USGA, and Shepard was inspired to do a quick golf session on the moon to demonstrate the moon's gravitational pull, which is one-sixth that of Earth, according to NASA. Shepard, the commander of Apollo 14 and a long-time NASA astronaut, used his connections to discreetly ask for help keeping ...
What was the golf club on the Apollo moon?
Why "unusual and interesting"? Technically speaking, the golf club was a Wilson Staff Dyna-Power 6-iron head attached to a sampling tool — a five-piece tool loosely held together by string when not fully assembled — that was made of aluminum and Teflon. Golf clubs usually don't come apart as Shepard's moon club did, but Shepard needed the modification to fold it into the cramped quarters of the Apollo lunar lander.
Where did the golf club that was tucked away go?
The rules surrounding giving space artifacts to astronauts were different in the 1970s, so Shepard kept the club before donating it to the USGA Museum in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, roughly an hour west of New York City, in 1974.
How far can a golfer drive the ball?
By comparison, a 2019 report using golf tournaments' gender categories shows that an average amateur male golfer on Earth can drive the ball 216 yards (198 m), and an average female golfer 148 yards (135 m), although those distances have increased significantly since Shepard's flight.
Who said there was no way to go to the moon?
Shepard, however, explained the golf club's construction to Gilruth and then made the director a promise. Apollo 14 astronauts Edgar Mitchell and Alan Shepard practice deploying equipment before their trip to the moon.
Who was the golf club director at NASA?
Shepard also made sure to clear his golf shot with senior management, approaching then-MSC director Bob Gilruth to get buy-in. At first, Shepard recalled in a 1998 NASA oral history, Gilruth said "there was absolutely no way." Shepard, however, explained the golf club's construction to Gilruth and then made the director a promise.
When did Bob Hope get the idea for the moonshot?
Click here for more Space.com videos... Sorry, the video player failed to load. (Error Code: 100013) Shepard got the idea for his golf moonshot in 1970, when famed golfer Bob Hope visited NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC, now Johnson Space Center) in Houston, the training hub for astronauts, for a television special.
How many Apollo 11 medals were minted?
The mission, dates, and surnames of the Apollo 11 crew are featured on the reverse of the medal. Only three of the medals were minted - one for each of the mission’s crewmembers.
Who made the Apollo medallion?
Minted by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Mass., the tradition of commemorative Apollo medallions began with Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham, who wanted a commemorative memento to take into space. The Smithsonian notes that the medals could be purchased through the NASA astronaut office.
How much is the Apollo 11 timeline book?
The Timeline Book has a pre-sale estimate of $7 million to $9 million.
How much did Armstrong's photo sell for?
A rare signed photo of Apollo 11 astronaut Armstrong making his ‘giant leap for mankind’ was recently sold in a separate auction for $52,247.
How much did Neil Armstrong's gold medal sell for?
A gold medal that flew aboard the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon with Neil Armstrong has sold for $2,055,000 by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions.
When is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing?
July 20 marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing and the historic mission continues to be a source of fascination.
Who was the pilot on Apollo 11?
Collins, who was the Command Module pilot on Apollo 11, recently revealed a previously unseen photo of the famous Moon landing crew members that he “found at the bottom of a box.”
Who was the golfer who tucked a golf club into his space suit?
But Admiral Alan B. Shepard Jr. has them all beat … by a mile. During the Apollo 14 mission to the moon, Shepard tucked a specially-crafted club and two golf balls into his space suit. His “shot heard around the galaxy” on Feb. 6, 1971 is arguably the most famous in golf’s history.
Why did Bob Hope visit NASA?
In 1970, Bob Hope visited NASA headquarters in Houston to prepare for a television special that would involve the Apollo astronauts. As part of the day, he was strapped into a training device that simulated the one-sixth gravity encountered while walking on the moon.
When were medals used in the Olympics?
Medals. Medals were not used in the ancient games but have been used since the modern Olympic games began in 1896. Loading... Loading... All winners in the 1896 and 1900 Olympics were presented with an olive branch and a silver medal.
Who invented the Olympic Oath?
The Olympic Oath. The idea that an Olympic oath should be taken by athletes was championed by Pierre de Coubertin and was first used at the Antwerp games in 1920. An athlete from the host country holds a corner of the Olympic flag and recites the oath on behalf of all competitors. The original oath was:
What do doves represent in the opening ceremony?
As part of the games’ Opening Ceremony doves, a traditional symbol of peace, were released. This act has become a tradition and doves are always released at some point during the games’ Opening Ceremony.
What are the 5 rings in the Olympic Games?
Five rings are used to represent each of the inhabited continents – Africa, Americas (North and South) Asia, Australasia and Europe.
Why were the Games awarded to Belgium?
Instead the games were awarded to Antwerp Belgium in recognition for the suffering endured by the people of Belgium during the war.
Where did the flames go in the 1936 Olympic Games?
In 1936 it was decided that the flame should be transferred to a torch and carried in relay from Olympia, Greece to Berlin where, as part of the Opening Ceremony the final relay runner ignited a new cauldron.
When was the first judge's oath taken?
The first Judges’ Oath was taken in 1972. The Judges Oath is:
What is Medal Golf?
Medal play, also known as stroke play, is golf in its simplest form: every stroke on every hole is recorded until the player has holed out. The strokes are tallied over the designated number of holes played and the player with the lowest number of strokes is declared as the winner.
Why is the golf tournament format used?
Because it’s the only real way of determining who the best golfer is, in its entirety, for the competition being played, it’s the format that’s used in club championships, the four major tournaments, as well as most other tour events.
What is the truest test for any golfer?
Medal golf is by far the truest test for any golfer that there is, which also means it is extremely unforgiving when mistakes are made.
What happens if a golf drive ends up in the trees?
For instance, if a bad drive ends up in the trees, bushes, or the thick stuff, it will be much wiser to punch out to the fairway in such a situation , rather than going for glory and try and pull off the miracle shot for the green. It’s far more likely for the amateur golfer to miss the desired outcome than to actually pull it off.
Does the USGA answer questions?
The USGA does a great job of answering some FAQs here, but if you do have some more questions of your own, feel free to drop them in the comments below and we will be sure to cover them in a future article.
Do medal golfers wear gimmies?
One of the most important factors in medal golf is that no “ gimmies” apply.
Is medal golf time sensitive?
Another important aspect to take note of is that medal golf is incredibly time-sensitive. Amateurs usually take many more shots to get the ball into the bottom of the cup, which would ultimately take a longer amount of time. Therefore, if you do find yourself playing in a medal format competition, try and speed up play as much as you can.
