Rarely seen footage shows NASA astronauts struggling to walk on the moon
Topics: Space, International Space Station, Science, News, NASA
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: NASA
Topics: Space, International Space Station, Science, News, NASA
The whole 'one small step for man' trope might not be just one step. In fact, it actually includes a lot of slow-motion falling for the poor astronauts involved.
When the Apollo missions landed these adventurous men on the moon, such as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11 and Harrison H. Schmitt on Apollo 17, everyone looked on in awe at the amazing footage of them walking on the moon’s surface.
However, it seems that walking on the moon isn't something that is as easy as walking anywhere else.
See what I mean in the video below:
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While you might see news about the Apollo missions accompanied with still images showing astronauts standing beside the American flag, you might not see the reality of how they bob about, trying to grip onto the rock’s hard surface all while battling a lack of gravity and a heavy astronaut suit.
These clips could go on as a ‘bloopers’ reel or outtakes for the moon landing televised version for how funny they are.
The fact that we can all share the delight of seeing them is thanks to Universal Curiosity on X who shared the NASA footage, with entrepreneur Sahil Bloom reposting it this week and writing: "I can’t believe I’ve lived 31 years of my life without seeing this. Absolutely hilarious. College me stumbling home from the bar finds this so very relatable."
Though falling isn’t a great thing to happen, the fact that there’s a lack of gravity means that you’re not going to be hitting the ground with force. As gravity is weaker on the moon than it is on Earth, which results in the astronauts tumbling slowly and bobbing about on the surface.
Think of a slow mo rolly polly.
The outtakes of NASA astronauts trying to walk on the moon are amazing. pic.twitter.com/MVviyifDQF
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) September 7, 2022
Though it's funny to watch, aerospace technologist James McBarron admitted that he was concerned about the first moon landing and that the astronauts would fall and 'not be able to get up'.
Speaking to Universe Today, he explained: “The suit wasn’t that mobile, and it was a known concern. As it was, on later missions we did have several crew members who fell, but they were able to get up. It just took a little dexterity and creativity.”
In order to get used to walking on the moon, the astronauts are said to have used a hopping and walking method to make their way around the surface.
But they needed to be careful as when they got carried away with it, they’d fall over.
Do you reckon you could do it?