The Mistake During The Moon Landing That NASA Kept Out Of The Public Eye

In the few hours Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins spent on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 lunar mission, a completely unexpected issue surfaced that threatened everything. And though the world eventually watched the astronauts return safely home, reports on the most famous space mission would've been awfully different were it not for Buzz Aldrin's quick thinking.

Waiting for Help

On July 24, 1969, just after noon, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins were floating on a raft in the Pacific Ocean, waiting patiently for helicopters from the USS Hornet to pluck them from the water.

Boarding the Naval Craft

Once brought aboard the naval craft, the three bold astronauts were hailed as heroes. Seamen rushed to greet them on the flight deck, but they were quickly hurried to the Mobile Quarantine Facility, where a special guest welcomed them home.

A Presidential Congrats

President Nixon congratulated Buzz, Neil, and Michael, highlighting their contributions to the U.S.A., Earth, and humanity. Yet, in the midst of the celebration, Buzz and the crew couldn't help but think about how the mission nearly ended in catastrophe.

Magnificent Desolation

Buzz Aldrin made the avoided disaster public in his his 2009 book Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon. Apparently, mankind's giant leap nearly faltered on the Moon.