Question 1

True or false: The Apollo 11 computer had less processing power than a modern smartphone.

Accepted Answer

True. The Apollo Guidance Computer had about 64KB of memory and ran at 0.043 MHz. A typical smartphone has millions of times more computing power.

Question 2

True or false: Michael Collins was the only person aboard the Apollo 11 Command Module while his crewmates were on the Moon.

Accepted Answer

True. As Command Module Pilot, Collins orbited the Moon alone in the Columbia module while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were on the lunar surface. This is a documented fact of the Apollo 11 mission.

Question 3

True or false: The Apollo 11 moon landing was faked and filmed in a Hollywood studio by Stanley Kubrick.

Accepted Answer

False. This is a persistent conspiracy theory. Evidence from thousands of photos, lunar samples, and independent tracking stations proves the landings were real.

Question 4

True or false: Apollo 11 nearly ran out of fuel during the final descent to the lunar surface.

Accepted Answer

True. The lunar module had only about 30 seconds of fuel left when Armstrong landed. Mission Control was tense, but the landing succeeded.

Question 5

True or false: President Nixon had a speech ready in case the astronauts were stranded on the Moon.

Accepted Answer

True. Speechwriter William Safire wrote 'In Event of Moon Disaster' for Nixon in case the lunar module couldn’t launch. It would have eulogized Armstrong and Aldrin as heroes who died on the Moon.

Question 6

True or false: The astronauts could see stars clearly from the lunar surface due to no atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

False. Despite no atmosphere, the glaring sunlight on the Moon's surface kept the astronauts' eyes from adapting to darkness, so stars were invisible to the naked eye. They could only see stars by shielding their eyes from the bright ground and sky.

Question 7

True or false: Neil Armstrong's intended first words from the lunar surface included the word 'a' before 'man'.

Accepted Answer

True. Armstrong stated his prepared line was 'That's one small step for a man...' but the 'a' was barely audible, leading to widespread misquotation.

Question 8

True or false: The American flag planted on the Moon was knocked over by the lunar module's exhaust.

Accepted Answer

True. The flag was knocked over by the blast from the lunar module's ascent engine as the astronauts lifted off from the Moon.

Question 9

True or false: Michael Collins walked on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission.

Accepted Answer

False. Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit aboard the command module Columbia while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the lunar surface.

Question 10

True or false: Neil Armstrong's famous line was 'One small step for a man' but he accidentally said 'for man.'

Accepted Answer

True. Armstrong claimed he said 'a man,' but audio analysis suggests he dropped the 'a.' The intended phrase was 'one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.'

Question 11

True or false: The American flag placed on the moon by Apollo 11 remained standing after the lunar module ascended.

Accepted Answer

False. The flag was knocked over by the exhaust from the lunar module's engine when it launched. Buzz Aldrin observed it fall, so it did not remain upright after the module left.

Question 12

True or false: The Lunar Module's ascent engine had a backup thruster in case of failure.

Accepted Answer

False. The ascent engine had no backup. A failure would have stranded the astronauts. Engineers trusted its single-point design.

Question 13

True or false: The Apollo 11 crew had to declare their cargo to U.S. Customs upon returning to Earth.

Accepted Answer

True. After splashdown, the astronauts filled out a customs form listing 'moon rock samples' and 'moon dust' as cargo. The form is now a famous artifact.

Question 14

True or false: Buzz Aldrin took communion on the lunar surface shortly after landing.

Accepted Answer

True. Aldrin, an elder at his church, privately celebrated communion using a kit given by his pastor. He asked for radio silence to avoid controversy.

Question 15

True or false: Buzz Aldrin took communion on the moon shortly after landing.

Accepted Answer

True. Aldrin, an elder at his church, privately took bread and wine, reading from John 15:5. NASA kept it quiet to avoid a religious controversy.

Apollo 11 Moon Landing Trivia Questions